China is slowing down as some predicted several years ago. However, the big question now seems to be will it be a hard or soft landing? BAML is out with a new report on which countries will be impacted assuming there is a China hard landing. It is important to note they do not predict a hard landing, rather they examine who will be the hardest hit assuming it does happen. China Hard Landing...
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Time and time again various markets inflate into bubbles before eventually popping and causing investors to lose huge sums of money. It doesn’t matter how often a bubble pops, many investors simply seem to never learn. Now, the Singaporean government is trying to deflate a housing bubble that has seen home prices skyrocket, in some cases to more than 50 years worth of rent! Housing Sector In Singapore Is Vital The housing sector in...
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Singapore is often regarded as a bell weather for the global economy. A “canary” of sorts, when global trade starts to decline, Singapore’s economy often contracts sharply. During the 2008 Financial Crisis, for example, Singapore’s economy contracted by nearly 13 percent. And yet while indicators across the world point to a slowing global economy, Singapore Straits times Index is up nearly 10 percent over the course of the last week. Still, the bad economic news...
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Asia’s economy has boomed in recent years, yet what has been the secret ingredient that has empowered this economic boom? One common element that has been found across all of Asia’s so-called Tiger economies has been a steady rule of law largely free from party politics. Many analysts will quickly point out that the efforts of global multinational corporations (MNC’s) to reduce costs and outsource business processes, has been one of the main drivers...
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With Europe still fighting to put its debt crisis behind it and economic outlook in the U.S. looking uncertain amid still high unemployment and political infighting, many analysts have been looking to China and the rest of Asia to drive the economy forward. Amid growing regional demand for consumer goods and booming real estate markets, these analysts have had plenty of reasons for high hopes. Now, however, with manufacturing data on the decline across...
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Carson Block of Muddy Waters Research spoke today with Bloomberg Television’s Erik Schatzker and Sara Eisen on “Market Makers” about short selling, his investment strategy, on plans to move to move to other emerging markets and his unchanging thesis on Olam International Ltd (SGX:O32). Block said, on Olam: “Numbers are not that good if you scratch the surface” Video and excerpts below: Block on whether Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is doing a disservice to the business of...
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The People’s Action Party (PAP) suffered a defeat in a recent by-election, pointing to an increasing powerful opposition network and a continued decline in support for the long ruling People’s Action Party in the nation of Singapore. While this does not mark the first defeat at the polls for the PAP, the party went into this election feeling assured of victory. The PAP’s candidate not only lost, but lost by a wide-margin, with Worker’s...
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The booming island nation of Singapore has dipped into a recession. The city-state, home to only 5.3 million people is seen as a sort of “canary” for global economic growth. Singapore is heavily reliant on exports and when the global economy starts to head south, the country can be quickly thrown into recession. As an important trade and financial hub events in Singapore could point to larger underlying issues in the global economy. Singapore...
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The Internet, social media in particular, has become one of the most powerful tools for expressing opinions around the world. The ability to reach millions of readers and organize activist campaigns has made the Internet a favorite medium for protesters. The Arab Spring was greatly empowered by social media and online activism. The result was a series of powerful revolutions, civil wars, and protests movements that swept several governments out of power, and challenged...
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SE Asian economies have plowed ahead, while the rest of the world has been mired in uncertainty. With China looking less and less attractive and Western countries currently on the verge of tipping back into recession, SE Asia is becoming a sort of safe haven for intrepid investors, willing to invest in emerging markets. Will 2013 bring more good news, or will the world’s troubles finally catch up with the region? Both the Philippines...
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In 2011 Singapore’s ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), saw its popularity slip to a near all-time low. While the party still gained some 60.1 percent of the vote, this represents the second lowest total since the PAP gained power in 1965. Further, most observers agree that the opposition managed to muster its strongest show yet, nabbing 6 of the 87 seats in parliament. Could the drop in approval ratings mean that Singapore’s...
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