2 October, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS Macro snapshot External demand retreat weighs on trade surplus and manufacturing activity. Balance of payments surplus and return of foreign portfolio inflows halt 4- month slide in the baht. Constructive growth outlook, budding
1 October, 2018
By Lim Yee Ping, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics and Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic
HIGHLIGHTS September 2018 BI meeting Bank Indonesia (BI) lifted its policy rate by 25bp after a similar move by the US Federal Reserve (US Fed) overnight. BI to issue guidelines for domestic non-deliverable forward
1 October, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS Vietnam: Growth remains robust Vietnam’s economy expanded 7.1% yoy in 1H18 and we forecast GDP growth to be reported at 6.8% yoy for 3Q18. Depreciation pressures on the dong have eased but still
27 September, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS August 2018 industrial production Singapore’s industrial production index (IPI) expanded 3.3% yoy in August The country recorded weaker readings in the electronics, biomedical, petrochemical and transport engineering clusters. We expect MAS to stand
21 September, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Lim Yee Ping, Economist, CIMB Research
HIGHLIGHTS August 2018 consumer price inflation Inflation slipped to a 42-month low of 0.2% yoy in August, the last month of a tax holiday, before the SST came into effect on 1 September The
5 September, 2018
By Lim Yee Ping, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics and Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic
HIGHLIGHTS August 2018 CPI inflation Both headline and core inflation were unchanged in August, at 3.2% yoy and 2.9% yoy, respectively, as easing food prices offset higher education costs. Non-O&G wholesale price inflation eased
4 September, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS Macro snapshot A dip in agriculture exports and slower tourist arrivals weighed on the current account, but net financial outflows abated, relieving pressure on the balance of payments. Gains in consumer confidence and
29 August, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS July 2018 industrial production The industrial production index (IPI) came in ahead of our forecast at 6.0% yoy in July due to resilient pharmaceutical and chemicals output growth. However the prognosis for the
28 August, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Sofea Azahar, Economist, CIMB Research and Economics
HIGHLIGHTS 2Q18 GDP Thailand’s economy expanded by 4.6% yoy in 2Q18 after an upwardly-revised GDP growth reading of 4.9% yoy in 1Q18. Domestic demand rebounded strongly, led by private consumption and investments. Subdued inflation,
27 August, 2018
By Michelle Chia, Economist, CIMB Research and Economic and Lim Yee Ping, Economist, CIMB Research
HIGHLIGHTS 2Q18 GDP and current account Malaysia’s economy expanded by 4.5% yoy in 2Q18, the weakest since 4Q16, partly due to supply shocks in agriculture (palm oil and rubber) and mining (natural gas). We
