Taiwan's May IP weak, but late summer turnaround still in place
Jun 24, 2015 12:35 pm UTC| Commentary
Taiwans industrial production contracted by 3.2% y/y in May (Apr: 1.3%; Mar: 6.7%), the weakest print since March 2013. The release also came in significantly weaker than consensus forecast (1.4%). On a seasonally adjusted...
Japan's ageing population, another concern for economy
Jun 24, 2015 10:58 am UTC| Commentary
It is widely agreed that Japans ageing population not only constrains labour supply, but also aggravates the governments debt burden. The first baby boomers, aged 65-70, grew up during Japans rapid economic growth era and...
Wage growth, a key concern for Japan's private consumption
Jun 24, 2015 10:51 am UTC| Commentary
Abenomics has been successful in boosting corporate profits via a weaker JPY, but this has yet to result in improved consumption through higher wages.This years spring wage negotiation reportedly might raise local workers...
Liquidity in Japanese Government Bond market
Jun 24, 2015 10:42 am UTC| Commentary
JGB market volatility this year has drawn complaints about the BoJs massive JGB purchases under the current monetary easing programme. The BoJ targets buying JGBs at about JPY 80tn per year, double the JPY 36.9tn of new...
German Ifo indicates descent is starting
Jun 24, 2015 10:29 am UTC| Commentary
The Ifo business climate for trade and industry fell more steeply in June than the average of economists had been expecting (to 107.4, down from 108.5). Unlike in the previous month, not only business expectations for the...
Operational profits of Japan’s exporters and large manufacturers improved due to weaker JPY
Jun 24, 2015 10:24 am UTC| Commentary
JPY has boosted overseas repatriated profits. While the weak JPY may have inflated import costs at SMEs, lower global energy prices likely offset this impact to some extent.SMEs with direct overseas investment may even...
Japan’s government debt burden rising
Jun 24, 2015 10:13 am UTC| Commentary
Japans government debt has been rising sharply for a long period due to declining nominal GDP, lower government revenue, increasing fiscal stimulus and automatic stabilisers."Although we do not see an immediate default...