Markets Archives - Page 452 of 782

The Specter of Complacency in Singapore

Singapore’s ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), enters 2016 enjoying the comfort of a magnificent electoral victory in the 2015 general elections. In that election — the first since the death of patriarch Lee Kuan Yew — the PAP won almost 70 percent of the popular vote. It was not the ruling party’s highest-ever vote, but coming off the back of the 2011 general election, in which the party scored its lowest vote since independence (60 percent), it was a tremendous relief.

Japan’s Abe Affirms ‘Comfort Women’ Measures with South Korea

On 28 December, the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea announced that the issue of comfort woman was ‘resolved finally and irreversibly’. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed anew ‘his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences’.

The Reality of Social Change in Singapore

Last year was a year of retrospection and affirmation for Singapore. Marking the country’s 50th year of independence, 2015 saw a yearlong series of state-sponsored events and projects to celebrate the nation’s achievements.

The effect was a carefully choreographed campaign — known as SG50 — that indulged in widespread nostalgia, popular heritage and the re-telling of the country’s journey from a developing to a developed nation.

Sri Lankans are Looking for Results from Their Government

Tough economic issues are getting harder to ignore for Sri Lanka’s new political leaders. Sri Lanka witnessed a change of government in early 2015 with the surprise defeat of the political strongman and war-winning president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Negative Sentiment Carryover in Emerging Markets

Meet the New Year – same as the old year. EM starts 2016 on a weak footing, with negative sentiment carrying over from 2015. The global backdrop remains poor, with the Fed likely to continue its tightening cycle with another hike in March. Commodity prices remain near the lows, while China data suggests that the slowdown (albeit modest) continues.

India Seeks Leadership Role on Behalf of WTO Developing Nations

India felt snubbed following the World Trade Organization’s talks in Nairobi in December, and the resulting decision to table Doha, so the country’s leaders have become much more vocal about WTO affairs than usual. In fact, reports have now surfaced that India seeks to lead a contingent of WTO member states from the developing world intent on having a greater voice in the organization’s affairs.

Market Drivers doing the Driving

The start of a new calendar year does not necessarily mean the rise of new market drivers. In fact, the key issues investors face at the start of 2016 are the same that dominated Q4 2015.

These issues center around pace of Fed tightening, the outlook for the world’s second largest economy and its markets, the impact from the drop in oil prices, and commodity prices more generally, Europe will deal with the centrifugal forces that threatening it, and whether Japanese economy can find better traction.

Despite Slowing Growth, India’s Modi is Optimistic

On the back of expanding global trade and buoyant exports, the Indian economy managed to grow at more than 9 percent annually between 2005–6 and 2007–8. However, following the global financial crisis, and subsequent sluggish world output and trade trends, economic growth in India has been lacklustre and remains well below potential.

South Korea is Facing Western Socioeconomic Ills

South Korea has been celebrated for the twin successes of its rapid economic development and democratisation. However, the political and economic progress that has taken place has increasingly come under challenge in recent years. The worsening gap between the rich and the poor, and certain undemocratic policies have been cause for growing concern among the public. Two of the most controversial issues of 2015 reflect these concerns: new labour reforms and the adoption of government-mandated history textbooks. Both of these issues brought about widespread protests.

Philippine President Aquino’s Hits and Misses

President Benigno Aquino III completes his six-year term much less popular than when he began it. His approval rating has dropped from a high of 79 percent at the beginning of his term to 54 percent as of September 2015. So what explains his falling popularity?