Market

In what ways did India’s leading economic officials guide the country’s economy in 2024?
26Dec mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, Market

In what ways did India’s leading economic officials guide the country’s economy in 2024?

Appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 11 after serving as Revenue Secretary from December 2022 to 2024, where he played a pivotal role in key financial reforms and securing favourable Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluations for the country.Spearheaded financial infrastructure advancements as Secretary of Financial Services (February-November 2022) and contributed significantly to the energy sector as the Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of the Rural Electrification Corporation.In a career spanning over three decades, Malhotra has held critical roles in finance, taxation, and public policy, showcasing his leadership in driving financial inclusion and revenue enhancement.Did you know?Malhotra is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (...
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The lack of faith in the US economy
26Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, USA

The lack of faith in the US economy

While official sources and the media highlight strong consumer-spending and jobs data in the US, or tout high US stock-market valuations, more than three-quarters of Americans view economic conditions as poor (36%) or fair (41%). This disconnect between performance and perception can have far-reaching consequences; it already helped to propel Donald Trump to victory in last month’s presidential election. So, what is causing it?Here, it is worth considering how market participants deal with asymmetric information – when one party has more or better information than another party or parties. Imagine you were seeking to make a purchase. As a buyer, there is a limit to the information you can glean about your options through direct observation. So, you make your decision based on your beliefs...
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Can China’s economy withstand the perfect storm of trade war 2.0?
25Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China, Market

Can China’s economy withstand the perfect storm of trade war 2.0?

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in 2025, the looming threat of a trade war poses significant challenges to China’s economy. With new tariffs and economic measures on the horizon, the world’s second-largest economy faces a critical juncture, particularly as it contends with a property slowdown, deflationary pressures, and weakening export growth. This op-ed examines how these factors converge to reshape China’s economic outlook and the global trading system. Exports have been a cornerstone of China’s economic growth, contributing nearly three-quarters of GDP growth in 2024, according to Goldman Sachs. However, the anticipated tariffs—ranging from 10% to a staggering 60%—could significantly erode this growth engine. Economists from institutions like UBS and Nomura...
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The market for aviation services in Asia-Pacific will quadruple in the next 20 years.
24Dec mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Asia, Market

The market for aviation services in Asia-Pacific will quadruple in the next 20 years.

Singapore, 24 September 2024 – The commercial aircraft services market in the Asia-Pacific region will more than double in value to US$129 billion from US$52 billion today, by 2043 according to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast (GSF). This is driven by a demand for some 19,500 new aircraft for the region, supported by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.81% in passenger air traffic in the region. Driven by the rise in annual air traffic, fleet growth and the requirement for more digitally-enabled and connected aircraft, the growth in demand for services will be reflected in solutions implemented across all phases of the aircraft from delivery to end-of-life, including fleet maintenance, aircraft modernisation and training. Among the various segments of the services bu...
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Today’s airfare: $1,100 for Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines from New York to Southeast Asia
24Dec mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Market, Singapore

Today’s airfare: $1,100 for Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines from New York to Southeast Asia

Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to Singapore Airlines and their premium economy excursion fares valid for round trip travel departing from New York (JFK/EWR), United States to several destinations in South East Asia via Singapore (SIN) on their nonstop service. TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: Valid for travel commencing on/after 01FEB 25 and on/before 20MAY 25..BLACKOUT DATES: -/-SALES RESTRICTIONS: Tickets must be issued on/after 20DEC 24 and on/before 06JAN 25. Booking class: RPrice: from $1,100 ($991 base fare + taxes & surcharges).Day/time restrictions: -/-Advanced reservation/ticketing restrictions: -/-Minimum stay: -/-Maximum stay: 6 months after departure from fare origin.Stopovers: -/-Cancellations: ticket is non-refundable in case of cancel/no-show.Changes: charge $100.00 for reis...
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The economic implications of a speech that has been suppressed in China
24Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China, Market

The economic implications of a speech that has been suppressed in China

At this time of year, many policymakers want to know how fast their economies will grow in the year ahead. China’s leaders set themselves a still tougher question: how fast their economy “should” grow. They are seeking not a forecast but a target. A boy poses with a Chinese national flag in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.. (Reuters)A boy poses with a Chinese national flag in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.. (Reuters)The Central Economic Work Conference will conclude as The Economist goes to press. At the event, Communist Party officials will have debated whether to stick with this year’s growth target of “around 5%”. Their answer, which is not usually revealed until March, will guide fiscal and monetary policymaking in the year ahead, as well as the borrowing and spending p...
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As the Canadian currency continues its downward path, economists see more space for decline.
24Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, USA

As the Canadian currency continues its downward path, economists see more space for decline.

“We do have more room to fall,” said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay. The Canadian dollar has been trading below 70 cents U.S. in recent weeks and is nearly four per cent below where it was in September. Schamotta predicts the coming months will be “a very turbulent period for Canada” as uncertainty stemming from incoming U.S. president Donald Trump‘s policy proposals weigh on business investment and consumer confidence — which means a weaker loonie in the short term. Article contentHowever, that’s not the only factor at play. The outperforming U.S. economy, which is pushing U.S. yields higher — well above yields in Canada — is attracting more investments south of the border. There’s also a widening differential in monetary policy between the Bank of Canada a...
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People are less optimistic about the direction of the US economy.
23Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, USA

People are less optimistic about the direction of the US economy.

US consumer confidence tumbled in December from the previous month amid Americans' growing uncertainty over the economic outlook in the year ahead. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index declined by 8.1 points in December to 104.7, below the 113.2 expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The expectations index, which includes the short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, sank 12.6 points to 81.1 in December, its largest month-over-month decline since November 2020. That was just slightly higher than the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead. Stocks hit session lows after the Conference's Board's release and then pared losses. "Consumer views of current labor market conditions continued to improve, consistent with rece...
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23Dec mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Asia, Market, World

Malaysia Leads Southeast Asia in Digital Investments

Malaysia retained its position as Southeast Asia’s top data center hub in 2024, attracting $23 billion in investments and solidifying its status as a leading digital hub, Knight Frank said Monday. The global property consultant, in its Data Centre Research Report 2024, noted Malaysia ranked first in the SEA-5 Data Centre Opportunity Index for the second straight year, with an annual take-up of 429 MW, surpassing regional peers. Strategic investments from tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Oracle drove the growth, contributing $23.3 billion. Malaysia hosts 54 operational data centers with a combined capacity of 504.8 MW, led by Johor in IT capacity and Klang Valley as a core market. Emerging hubs include Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, and Kedah. Malay...
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Core inflation in Singapore continues to fall, reaching 1.9% in November.
23Dec mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Market, Singapore

Core inflation in Singapore continues to fall, reaching 1.9% in November.

Singapore’s core inflation continued its decline in November to a three-year low, beating economists’ expectations, on the back of easing food and services costs. Core inflation, which strips out private transport and accommodation costs to better reflect the expenses of households here, fell to 1.9 per cent year on year, from 2.1 per cent in October. This is the lowest since November 2021, when core inflation was 1.6 per cent. Economists polled by Bloomberg had estimated the median core inflation to be 2.1 per cent. Overall – or headline – inflation rose to 1.6 per cent year on year in November, up from 1.4 per cent in October but lower than the Bloomberg poll of 1.8 per cent. The slight increase was led by a more gradual decline in private transport costs. On a month-on-m...
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