Asia Pacific to provide highest economic growth of any global region through 2007

The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts 5.9 percent annual economic growth for the Asia Pacific ex Japan through 2007, making the region the fastest-growing globally. However this growth is not evenly spread, with China and India leading the charge, while other Asian economies struggle or show limited growth.

Indonesia backtracks on utility price increases

A series of popular demonstrations and other criticism has forced the Indonesian government to reduce or postpone price increases for such basic items as telephones, fuel, and electricity, announced 3 weeks ago.

Developing Asian economies on hold...

It seems that business is walking a tight rope at present in developing Asia despite the general optimism of the IMF. Which side of the cliff it ends up on is at present unknown.

Japan's double whammy

The last 4 months has seem some optimism returning to the Japanese consumer, industrial and equity markets. Yet hopes are dampening for any substantial recovery in the near term. The double whammy is continued concerns for US consumer sentiment, and the decrease in the US dollar apropos the Yen.

China Business Strategy - More than economic growth alone

China's rapid economic growth is indisputable, but the cautious and wary are focusing on other economic factors as well to guide their business strategy.

EIU bearish on Japanese economic recovery

Some economic analysts started going on the record last week that the 'Japanese recession was over'. The Economist Intelligence Unit however finds no compelling evidence that a broad based recovery is underway.

Australia's future is in Asia, not US - Keating

Previous Australian PM Paul Keating has always talked sense, if somewhat abrasively. Yesterday at the Rat's old alma mater Curtin University, Keating sketched a view of Australia in the world which has gone walkabout since the Howard Anglo Saxon US-centric world-view has gained currency in an increasingly isolated Australia.

Asia Economic Monitor July Update

The July 2002 Update of the Asia Economic Monitor (AEM) has been posted on the Asia Recovery Information Center (ARIC) web site.

Mixed news for Asian business and economy

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), representing the 30 richest nations, released their leading indicator index today, and it's good news for economic prospects in Europe and Japan. Other economic portents are looking good for the rest of Asia, albeit in the shadow of increasing tension in India and Pakistan over Kashmir, and a slower than expected US recovery which affects any export-related recovery.

Asia upbeat, but no return to growth rates of recent past

While we have been upbeat on Asia for several months, and there is no doubt that Asia is leading global recovery and almost all Asian stock markets have outperformed those in Europe and the Americas, it is still timely to note that the golden era of massive growth in economies and wealth in the last decades of the last century are not the status quo, but a thing of history.

Shanghai FDI: The simple facts

We've said it several times before. Shanghai is becoming a magnet for foreign investment and heading for a second revival as the glamour trading city of the world.

Asian stock markets de-couple from global economic short term trends

Something funny has been happening in Asian stock markets in the past week. Contrary to recent history, they are ignoring US stock performance the day before and finding a mind of their own...

China puts positive spin on growth to fellow Asian economies

China's official government newspaper 'The People's Daily' showed some sympathy to the perception that China's economic growth and increasing competitiveness may hurt it's smaller neighbours reliant on manufacturing exports.

East Asian Economies looking good - Asian Development Bank

ADB forecasts for China, South Korea and the ten South East Asian economies have been revised upward, with a caution that a weaker US rebound or an extension of the 'war against terrorism' in the Middle East would endanger economic revival.

South Korea first to recover, first to face inflation

South Korea seems to be one of the first economies to shake off the global downturn. But the nation might also be one of the first industrialized economies to confront price pressures.

Taiwan's economy to rise 2.29% in 2002

Taiwan's economy is expected to grow 2.29% this year after suffering its first ever decline in 2001.

Asia the place to be right now

More evidence that global recovery is most pronounced in Asia

Hong Kong Positives from Business Week

Hong Kong's economy is shaky. Everyone knows that. But its not only APMF columnist Frank Yu who is upbeat about a Hong Kong that can say Yes...

Japan Stock Market bullish while economy stays gloomy

While the Japanese stock market reached record 10 month highs last week, the economic outlook hardly matches investor sentiment. At least not at the moment...

China's economic growth dominates Asia

China's economy has been the consistently good performer in Asia (and the world) for 4 or 5 years. China's economy grew 7.3% on 2001, and is expected to grow 7% in 2001.

China, Japan and Business Reform - China by a mile...

Japan provides an example of how not to bring about reform. China provides an example of how you can reform vigorously and still keep your economy growing - Overholt.

Japan WILL change - academic economist

Mitsuaki Okabe, an economist at Keio university, has predicted that Japan will make the radical restructuring necessary to change.

Japanese banks get ready to bail out real estate companies

Continued incestuous relationships between Japan's elite banks and the massive construction industry are just one example that Japan has not yet bitten the bullet on reforming an economy nurtured on priviledge.

The Sadness of Japan - (Economist)

This week's cover of 'The Economist' depicts a sad looking Japanese mannequin with an interesting spin on the Japanese economy.

Singapore's Future? - Elsewhere..

For many years Singapore's forward looking legislators have been encouraging Singapore business to extend their interests abroad. Now it is more important than ever...

Singapore's Chinese New Year Present

On the eve of Chinese New Year Singapore PM Goh Chok Tong announced that the government had reviewed this years growth estimates upwards to 1 to 3%.

Krugman Kronicles

Paul Krugman's always challenging economic analyses have been featured on the Rat's column, in this and previous incarnations, regularly.

China and innovation

The claim that China can't innovate is repeated so often that it has already become a stereotype.

PR for pollies

Raoul's previous article here on the good press Gloria Arroyo - cheif honcho of the Philippines - is receiving internationally is not entirely an accident. According to a trusted friend of the Rat, Gloria is paying 1.2 million to a US PR agency to build her image.

Global economy in recovery mood

IMF managing director Horst Koehler told the World Economic Forum today that though still weak, the IMF "..hopes ... and I call it cautious optimism - that really a recovery is under way...". South East Asia this week also showed strong signs of recovery.