Markets

As it tussles with multiple crises of political legitimacy and governance, Malaysia has reached a decisive point in its more than half-century history as an independent nation. What started as a shocking but not exceptional scandal has turned into a...

In South Korea 410,000 young people in their 20s are looking for work and unemployed. This is up from 330,000 in 2013 and is a 15-year high. But this deepening societal crisis should come as little surprise. In South Korea...

The veteran socialist backbencher has risen quickly from obscurity and he is almost certain to become the opposition leader this weekend. His passionate rhetoric has blown away his rival centre-left candidates. The veteran socialist backbencher has risen quickly from obscurity...

On September 17, the Federal Open Market Committee will announce its decision on monetary policy in one of the most keenly watched US Fed policy meetings of recent times. Since reaching zero (officially 0%-0.25%) in December 2008, the federal funds...

Of the many slogans coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, ‘Make in India’ is the most important. It promises to make India an important investment destination. However, like most other slogans, it is important be clear about what has...

Even for mining companies that are used to rapid change in the business environment, the past 12 years have been nothing short of extraordinary. A long period of low commodity prices made executives wary of expansion to meet demand. Even...

India, the world’s third largest economy measured in purchasing-power parity terms, became a middle-income country in 2007. It has one of the world’s youngest populations, with some 260 million people below the age of 25, and its economy is once...

Singapore’s 2015 general elections will be the most widely contested since independence. Eight opposition parties and a handful of independents will vie for 89 parliamentary seats. A tactical question hangs over many of the 2.46 million eligible voters as they...

In a familiar refrain, EM assets start the week on a soft note, with markets picking up where the left off on Friday. With China markets reopening after a two-day holiday, the Shanghai dropped -2.5% and has fed into wider...

1) Reports suggest the PBOC will impose a 20% reserve requirement on financial institutions trading FX forwards, 2) The HKMA had to intervene this week at the strong side (7.75) of the HKD peg, 3) Swiss authorities are getting involved...

As South-East Asian countries gear up for their ASEAN Economic Community, coming into effect by the end of this year, Indonesia should look into setting up special economic zones together with bordering countries. These special zones are in line with...

Back in 2001, former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill coined the acronym BRIC to highlight the immense economic potential of the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China in the decades to come. They would be the economic...

On 25 August 2015, Singapore’s President Tony Tan officially dissolved the parliament, triggering early parliamentary elections. While these elections, by law, could have waited until January 2017, 2015 is particularly advantageous for the incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP). On 25...

The capital markets are quieter today.  Equities remain heavy, but losses are comparatively mild.  Core bond yields are slightly softer.  The US dollar is firmer against the major and most emerging market currencies.  The news stream is light and the...

It ain’t easy being an autocrat. Take China’s current President and Party Secretary, Xi Jinping. Since coming to power, Xi has shown himself to be unhindered by former norms of collective decision-making, and collective blame. Rather than portraying all decisions...