Asia Economics Update Malaysia under little pressure to hike rates Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) held its overnight rate at 3.0% at its meeting today, as was widely expected. Despite a pick-up in GDP growth, there is little pressure on BNM to hike rates in 2013. 7th March 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's economy is running short of drivers Australia’s economy retained good momentum in Q4, despite a downturn in private investment. The outlook for the next two years hinges on the strength of non-mining sectors as the mining boom cools. We... 6th March 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update EM manufacturing recovery stutters The latest PMI surveys suggest that the recovery in emerging world manufacturing has lost a little steam recently. Part of the weakness can be explained by the effects of the Chinese New Year, which... 4th March 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly ASEAN to slow, but it will remain a bright spot Weak global trade held back growth across most of Asia last year. But strong domestic demand helped much of South East Asia outperform. Not only did Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia... 4th March 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update February PMIs show continued weakness The February PMIs for emerging Asia were weak, with little sign of upward momentum across the region. Despite policy easing at home, the uncertain outlook for the developed world means Asia’s... 1st March 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Focus Crumbling BRICs - will the largest EMs regain their vigour? The recent slowdowns in the BRIC economies are largely structural in nature and so are unlikely to be reversed without wide-ranging economic reform. Slower growth in the BRICs is likely to shave half... 28th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India's budget: further deficit reduction tough to achieve Today’s budget statement reveals that India’s central government has been able to lower its fiscal deficit from 5.7% of GDP a year ago to 5.2% in the current fiscal year. It appears determined to go... 28th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Regional recovery continues Economic activity across emerging Asia is showing further signs of recovery. Growth has been strongest in South East Asia, where domestic demand has continued to shrug off the impact of weak exports... 28th February 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Inflation set for a modest rebound Emerging market (EM) inflation looks to have found a floor in late 2012 and is set for a modest rebound over the first half of this year. Food inflation is likely to pick up in the coming months and... 27th February 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update A different take on "currency wars" The “Swan Diagram” – developed by the Australian academic Trevor Swan in the 1950s – offers a fresh perspective on global “currency wars”. It suggests that macro imbalances in those EMs that have been... 25th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore budget focuses on productivity Today’s FY 2013 budget focused on raising medium-term growth by boosting productivity. The government resisted short-term pump priming but, with unemployment low and a number of today’s measures... 25th February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly India's budget: A test of policy credibility Following a year in which India’s growth weakened, external deficit widened, and sovereign ratings came under pressure, the upcoming budget will be a crucial test of the government’s policy... 25th February 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Policymakers step-up rhetoric while EM currencies fall Talk of “currency wars” remains rife among EM policymakers but most EM currencies have actually weakened over the past month. This partly reflects growing investor fears of official intervention, but... 22nd February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore will need to settle for slower growth Singapore’s new official population forecasts have created a stir among an electorate worried about overcrowding and heavy immigration. But from an economic point of view, the biggest takeaway is that... 21st February 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Overall EM inflows not at danger levels but country risks remain Capital flows to emerging economies are not yet running at a rate that should be a major cause for concern. But estimates of flows in aggregate miss some of the key risks facing individual economies. 21st February 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Malaysia's growth rate has peaked Global copper mine supply grew at its fastest rate in eight years in the closing months of 2012 and mine output is likely to grow just as quickly this year. This should enable smelters to raise their... 20th February 2013 · 1 min read
