Region – Asia's two distinct dynamics
If the US-led global trend is a sort of reversion to mean, then Asia has two very differentiated dynamics. On the one hand, there's Japan and Taiwan, which look like breaking structurally to the upside. On the other, there's China, which is more sluggish than at any time in the last 30 years.
Region – monthly slide pack
Our most out-of-consensus view is that Fed cuts are likely bad news for China's cycle. For Japan, we think the market needs to price in a bigger likelihood of another BOJ hike. The CBC in Taiwan likely stays on hold in the next few months, while the BOK looks set to cut soon.
Region – exchange rates and inflation
Currency weakness boosting inflation has been a regional theme. But currency strength wouldn't automatically mean a CB policy pivot. That's true in Japan, where other factors have been driving prices, and in China, where currency weakness hasn't yet been an obvious obstacle to policy loosening.