Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Asia Economist and CEO

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

The storms in the South China Sea continue to rage on.<ul>
<li>
Indonesia standing up to China: President Jokowi visited the Natuna Islands on board the same navy warship that had recently clashed with Chinese fishing vessels. He held a Cabinet meeting on board the vessel as well.</li>
<li>
The Philippines’ stance is less clear: President-elect Duterte, who has been less supportive of the country’s military alliance with the US, queried the US Ambassador on the extent of US support for the Philippines in case of a…</li>
</ul>

The storms in the South China Sea continue to rage on.

Indonesia standing up to China: President Jokowi visited the Natuna Islands on board the same navy warship that had recently clashed with Chinese fishing vessels. He held a Cabinet meeting on board the vessel as well.

The Philippines’ stance is less clear: President-elect Duterte, who has been less supportive of the country’s military alliance with the US, queried the US Ambassador on the extent of US support for the Philippines in case of a…


China on Weaker Ground in the South China Sea

<ul><li>The global environment appears more and more threatening to Asian economies, with rising risks of currency market volatility in Asia. In this context, we see the credibility of central banks and how appropriately valued their currencies as crucial determinants of resilience in the face of potential shocks.</li><li>We examined inflation differentials to identify which currencies could be under threat and which would be relatively more robust.</li></ul>

The global environment appears more and more threatening to Asian economies, with rising risks of currency market volatility in Asia. In this context, we see the credibility of central banks and how appropriately valued their currencies as crucial determinants of resilience in the face of potential shocks.We examined inflation differentials to identify which currencies could be under threat and which would be relatively more robust.

Asian Currencies: What Inflation Differentials Show

The Indonesian economy has been underperforming despite the tremendous advantages it possesses - a favourable demographic dividend, abundant natural resources, open capital markets and a decent manufacturing base. However, with some of the cyclical negatives easing and improvements in policies towards a more open economy, we believe Indonesia's growth trajectory could surprise positively. One concern we have, however, is the possibility that the Rupiah may come under increased pressure in the…

The Indonesian economy has been underperforming despite the tremendous advantages it possesses - a favourable demographic dividend, abundant natural resources, open capital markets and a decent manufacturing base. However, with some of the cyclical negatives easing and improvements in policies towards a more open economy, we believe Indonesia's growth trajectory could surprise positively. One concern we have, however, is the possibility that the Rupiah may come under increased pressure in the…

Asia Economic Research, Centennial Asia Advisors

Asees Bajaj

Asia Economic Research

Policy reforms being stepped up<ul>
<li>
Negative Investment List (DNI) Regulation signed: The government signed a regulation on the DNI which was first announced in Feb 16, which lists fields of businesses that are open and closed to foreign investment with varying percentages of ownership. The regulation aims to increase investor interest in different sectors, such as cold-storage, movies and pharmaceutical industries.</li>
<li>
The government is also looking to speed up stimulus: With 193 of the 203 regulations…</li>
</ul>

 Policy reforms being stepped up

Negative Investment List (DNI) Regulation signed: The government signed a regulation on the DNI which was first announced in Feb 16, which lists fields of businesses that are open and closed to foreign investment with varying percentages of ownership. The regulation aims to increase investor interest in different sectors, such as cold-storage, movies and pharmaceutical industries.

The government is also looking to speed up stimulus: With 193 of the 203 regulations…


Indonesia: Joko Government Makes Policy Headway, but Internal Rifts Rising

<ul><li>The nation’s second largest party, Golkar, concluded its Congress and elected former Speaker of Parliament Setya Novanto as the new Chairman. While activists have expressed concerns over corruption allegations against Setya, his election and the reconciliation among warring factions that ensued bode well.</li></ul>Implications: President Jokowi strengthened <ul><li>The key positive for Indonesia is that Setya is close to Luhut Panjaitan, President Jokowi's co-ordinating minister for political and security…</li></ul>

The nation’s second largest party, Golkar, concluded its Congress and elected former Speaker of Parliament Setya Novanto as the new Chairman. While activists have expressed concerns over corruption allegations against Setya, his election and the reconciliation among warring factions that ensued bode well.Implications: President Jokowi strengthened The key positive for Indonesia is that Setya is close to Luhut Panjaitan, President Jokowi's co-ordinating minister for political and security…

Indonesia: President Jokowi Stronger than Ever

Indonesia

iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks investment results that correspond to the performance of the MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index.

iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF (EIDO US)

China on Weaker Ground in the South China Sea

The storms in the South China Sea continue to rage on. Indonesia standing up to China: President Jokowi visited the Natuna Islands on board the...

Manu Bhaskaran

Asian Currencies: What Inflation Differentials Show

The global environment appears more and more threatening to Asian economies, with rising risks of currency market volatility in Asia. In this...

Manu Bhaskaran

Indonesia: Is the Rupiah at Risk?

The Indonesian economy has been underperforming despite the tremendous advantages it possesses - a favourable demographic dividend, abundant...

Manu Bhaskaran

Indonesia: Joko Government Makes Policy Headway, but Internal Rifts Rising

Policy reforms being stepped up Negative Investment List (DNI) Regulation signed: The government signed a regulation on the DNI which was first...

Asees Bajaj

Indonesia: President Jokowi Stronger than Ever

The nation’s second largest party, Golkar, concluded its Congress and elected former Speaker of Parliament Setya Novanto as the new Chairman. While...

Manu Bhaskaran