BNM expected to keep OPR steady through 2026 – UOB
UOB Global Economics & Markets Research reports that Malaysia’s inflation remained stable in January, slightly below its own forecast and in line with consensus. Despite solid 4Q25 GDP, price pressures are seen as contained, reducing the urgency for policy changes. UOB therefore maintains its view that Bank Negara Malaysia will hold the Overnight Policy Rate […]
Policy divergence shapes regional currencies – MUFG
MUFG analysts Lin Li, Michael Wan, Lloyd Chan and Khang Sek Lee highlight an Asia‑centric week dominated by geopolitics, inflation and monetary policy. They expect the Bank of Korea to keep rates on hold through 2026, the Bank of Thailand to cut by 25bps, and China’s loan prime rates to stay unchanged pending clearer policy […]
Cautious stance with structural easing tools – DBS
DBS Group Research economist Chua Han Teng expects the People’s Bank of China to keep the 1-year Loan Prime Rate at 3.00% on February 24, as January data are still unfolding. The report says policy remains cautiously accommodative, reflected in a lower USD/CNY fixing below 7.0, with reliance on structural tools and broader easing anticipated […]
BOT seen delivering final 25 bps cut – UOB
UOB Global Economics & Markets Research highlights that Thailand’s economy remains a low‑growth, low‑inflation outlier, even as authorities project modest improvement in 2026 and 2027. Despite some upside risks to near‑term growth, UOB expects 2026 to mark the cyclical trough and continues to forecast a final 25 bps policy rate cut at the upcoming BOT […]
US GDP set to show the economy slowed at year-end after impressive Q3
The United States (US) Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will publish the first preliminary estimate of the fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 13:30 GMT. Analysts forecast the US economy to have expanded at a 3% annualized rate, slowing down from the 4.4% growth posted in the previous quarter, as the extended US government shutdown, […]
Geopolitical tension lifts prices – Rabobank
Rabobank’s Molly Schwartz notes that crude Oil has reacted sharply to shifting US–Iran headlines, with prices rising to $72 per barrel, the highest since early August. She highlights that markets are focused on whether negotiations deteriorate into military confrontation, as Washington has moved significant assets into the region, and that the next 10 days could […]
Japanese Yen remains weak against US Dollar, Japan’s National CPI cools down
The Japanese Yen (JPY) shows weakness against the US Dollar (USD) during the Asian trading session on Friday. The USD/JPY pair holds onto gains near its weekly high of 155.20 posted on Thursday. The pair is under pressure as the US Dollar continues to outperform due to signals from Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes […]
USD/THB: Gradual downside bias projected – UOB
UOB economists Enrico Tanuwidjaja and Sathit Talaengsatya note that the Thai Baht’s rally paused in January as a sharp Gold correction disrupted retail Gold markets and generated two-way FX flows. The Bank of Thailand continues to smooth volatility and scrutinize Gold-linked FX. Source link
Slower sales and softer PMIs – TD Securities
TD Securities’ Global Strategy Team expects UK Retail Sales growth to slow sharply in January and anticipates some loss of momentum in both Manufacturing and Services PMIs. While consumers are seen as resilient and PMIs remain in expansion territory, the underlying trend is viewed as more moderate, with UK growth in 2026 described as cautious […]
Political succession risks and policy outlook – Rabobank
Rabobank’s Bas van Geffen analyses reports that President Lagarde may leave the ECB early, arguing this is not required to safeguard ECB independence but could help France retain influence on the Executive Board. The bank expects Germany and France to keep board seats but not the presidency, and stresses that successors to Lane and Schnabel […]
