Showing 1 - 4 of 4
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Stuck in neutral
Asia focus, Published on 27/01/2020
» Amid ongoing uncertainties including trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions, global economic growth prospects look dim for 2020, partly due to a disappointing performance in major Asian economies.
A shortcut to convenience and cash
Spectrum, Erich Parpart, Published on 25/03/2018
» Pakdee Tanapura, head of the Thai Canal study team at the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association, argued that because of current congestion in the Malacca Strait, the Thai Canal would provide another channel for ships.
Hawkish fed tone rattles asia, But only briefly
Business, Published on 19/12/2016
» Recap: Hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve of a faster pace of policy tightening next year weighed on Asian stock markets last week. Most recovered late in the week after investors concluded the reaction had been overdone. Anticipation of a year-end spending spree by consumers lured by tax breaks kept the Thai bourse steady.