Singapore retail sales continue to struggle

May 15, 2015 09:58 am UTC| Commentary

Singapores retail sales in March came in weaker than expectations, with ex-auto sales particularly weak at -3.2% y/y, following the Lunar New Year-related bounce in February. Car sales, especially smaller cars, increased...

Outlook for the week ahead (18 to 22 May)

May 15, 2015 08:08 am UTC| Commentary

Economic data: Sentiment amongst both analysts and corporates is likely to have dipped in Germany and analysts look for the ZEWindex and Ifo business climate to decline in May. US core inflation is expected to have held at...

Malaysia posts solid Q1 GDP, despite headwinds

May 15, 2015 08:05 am UTC| Commentary

Malaysias Q1 GDP grew 5.6% y/y, better than consensus forecast of 5.5%, with growth remaining strong despite external headwinds from lower commodity prices and weaker growth elsewhere in the region. Despite the upside...

China's inflation remains subdued

May 15, 2015 07:21 am UTC| Commentary

Chinas CPI inflation edged up to 1.5% y/y in April from 1.4% in March on last years lower base. CPI inflation was -0.2% m/m in April, reflecting still-soft consumer sentiment. Both core inflation (1.5% y/y) and services...

A stronger USD and weak global demand causes US manufacturing sector to struggle

May 15, 2015 07:19 am UTC| Commentary

The US manufacturing sector is struggling with a stronger USD and weak global demand, which has weighed on production recently.Somewhat better growth is expected in April and look for manufacturing production growth of...

India's diesel subsidy wrecked havoc

May 15, 2015 07:17 am UTC| Commentary

Indias policy of subsidising diesel, which (as was also pointed out by IMF) not only subsidised the rich rather than the poor but alsotook away the focus from conservation of a scare natural resource, has resulted in...

China's trade data weakened; trade surplus widened

May 15, 2015 05:52 am UTC| Commentary

Chinas exports unexpectedly fell 6.4% y/y in April, while imports declined 16.2% y/y, showing few signs of recovery in either external or domestic demand. In the first four months of 2015, while exports to the US and ASEAN...