Blogs

A flurry of concerns about bottlenecks in production and transportation has sparked concerns over lower growth and higher inflation, or stagflation, a combination of miseries we thought we had left behind in the 1970s. However, as we examine where the hold-ups are and what is causing them, our view is that much of these supply chain disruptions are likely to ease in coming months.

Hong Kong has endured much in the past two years, so it is not surprising that commentaries are being written about the impending death of Hong Kong. But as Mark Twain said of rumours of his own death, the death of Hong Kong is greatly exaggerated. The economic dynamo on China’s south coast has certainly suffered convulsions in the past two years.

China’s rise gives it a greater footprint on the world economy. Whenever something happens there, the rest of the world feels its impact much more than before. This is especially the case in Southeast Asia which is part of China’s hinterland. So, when three big developments are underway simultaneously – a slowing economy,

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has just celebrated its 54^th birthday but it was not entirely a happy occasion. The past few months have brought an unrelenting flow of bad news for the region. After initially managing the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well last year, the region has suffered a troubling surge in infections and deaths this year

Recent market commentaries on China have focused on a few concerns. One is whether economic growth is slowing more than expected, since that could bring a premature end to the bounce-back from the COVID downturn – and that would be bad for the global recovery.