In today’s briefing:
- Is Singapore Setting Itself Up for a Fall?
- Asian Urbanization Warrants Plugging Infrastructure Gaps
- The Great Game – a New Migrant Wave into Europe?
- UK: Wages Reflate Hawkish Pressure
- CX Daily: China Emerges As Powerbroker On Global Diplomatic Stage
Is Singapore Setting Itself Up for a Fall?
- The city-state has had a good few years due to sound pandemic management, adept investment promotion, and setbacks experienced by rival hubs such as Hong Kong.
- However, concerns over the costs of doing business, particularly in labour and rental costs, are early warning signs that firms may look elsewhere if these issues are not fixed.
- Structural shifts in policy are required, including enhancing regional integration with neighbours, rethinking the education system, and pro-competition policy reforms.
Asian Urbanization Warrants Plugging Infrastructure Gaps
- Emerging Asia is on the cusp of a rapid expansion in its urban population. This brings with it exciting opportunities for employment and business activity.
- However, investments into infrastructure need to be made now to ensure that the needs of the expanded urban population can be met to avoid downsides such as congestion.
- The medium-term financing needs for infrastructure are significant, with the transport, energy, and telecommunications segments facing their own set of challenges.
The Great Game – a New Migrant Wave into Europe?
- A new migrant wave threatens Europe as Italy declares emergency and Mediterranean deaths reach new heights
- Refugees will be used as a tool of war in Putin’s hybrid war against Europe and the West
- And Refugees will potentially shape a series of key elections in 2024
UK: Wages Reflate Hawkish Pressure
- The UK unemployment rate increased back to 3.8% in Feb-23 as an unusually actively unemployed cohort joined the sample. The underlying trend remains broadly flat.
- Vacancies are high, encouraging firms to pay up to hire and retain staff. Revisions into rapid Feb-23 wage growth remove signs of a slowdown.
- Settlements are anchoring around 5%, with a skew up, fuelling problematic second-round effects. We maintain our call for the BoE to hike by another 25bp in May.
CX Daily: China Emerges As Powerbroker On Global Diplomatic Stage
- Diplomacy /Cover Story: China emerges as powerbroker on global diplomatic stage
- France /: France and U.S. are allies with different voices, French ambassador to China says
- Yi Gang /: China calls for ‘fair burden sharing’ to address poor countries’ sovereign debt issues
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