Focused Thinking
Central Banks
The recovery in Japan's economic activity is still rolling on, but the growth momentum is likely to weaken
2 min read | January 2019
Technology
Due to various macro and micro issues (US-China trade war, US fed aggressive rate hike, sluggish IT demand, Intel CPU shortage), there has been a slowdown in demand from 2H18
4 min read | January 2019
Emerging Markets
We believe the performance of Asia FX/local markets over the coming year can be categorized into three episodes.
0 min video | December 2018
Volatility
Despite a difficult year, investors remain keen to use alternative risk premia strategies. However, current approaches may be less diversified than they appear, especially given cross-contamination in cash equity factors. A more diversified approach making use of fixed income has led to better returns and a more resilient portfolio
1 min read | December 2018
Economics
Oil prices have fallen sharply. This drop, if sustained, will have a greater impact on emerging markets than developed markets.
3 min read | November 2018
Economics
Since the escalation of US trade protectionism this year, increasingly centered on China, a US-Sino trade friction is a lose-lose proposition for the world economy, especially for Asia, home to some of the most open economies in the world.
7 min video | November 2018
Central Banks
Since the 2008 global financial crisis, major changes have taken place in Asia central banks’ reaction functions. Many have demonstrated a strong commitment to inflation targeting and domestic price stability, while some others are choosing between counter-cyclical and pro-cyclical policies.
5 min read | November 2018
Japan in focus
How X-Elio completed Japan’s largest solar sale – and what it says about the sector’s evolution
4 min read | November 2018
Emerging Markets
Computing architecture is advancing owing to memory hierarchy innovation. While the performance of processors and storage continues to improve, the gap between their performances widens.
3 min read | November 2018
Central Banks
Current account deficits in Indonesia and the Philippines are not necessarily a bad sign; equally, current account surpluses in Northeast Asia are not necessarily a good sign. The key is what is driving them.
4 min read | October 2018
Economics
Euroyen bonds offer size and speed for banks seeking regulatory capital. Are more deals on the way?
4 min read | October 2018
Economics
The ongoing investment recovery in Thailand is likely to be unsustainable with the election potentially resulting in another adverse political environment, particularly for private investment.
2 min read | September 2018
Central Banks
Despite the lessons learned from past crises, currency crises still occur from time to time and spread contagiously when they happen. After receiving substantial capital inflows, some EM economies are under pressure this year.
3 min read | September 2018
Japan in focus
From the 1950s to the 1990s Japan often found itself in disagreement with the US over trade. Although the trade war in automobiles in the 1980s was to do with the US’s current account deficit, there was significant trade friction from the 1950s to the 1970s related to textiles and steel, which took place before the US had a pronounced current account deficit.
2 min read | August 2018