Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

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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

<ul>
<li>Daily caseloads have edged up of late after a brief reprieve. But the growing vaccination rate suggests the headline Covid-19 figures provide less cause for alarm, marked by growing breakthrough infections. But the majority of fully vaccinated patients <em>still</em> end up with better health outcomes.</li>
<li>As such, it is still possible for the economy to end 2021 on a strong note. Our nowcast pegged growth in 2Q21 at +18.4% y/y. Given the re-imposition of the curbs, we expect 3Q21 growth to moderate further. There were some worrying signs that the curbs may have hobbled the export-oriented manufacturing sector.</li>
<li>But as the inoculation drive gains further momentum and goes past the point of no return, more restrictions can be eased, particularly for the economic powerhouses (e.g. Selangor and Johor), which will buoy the economy by 4Q21, if not earlier.</li>
</ul>


Daily caseloads have edged up of late after a brief reprieve. But the growing vaccination rate suggests the headline Covid-19 figures provide less cause for alarm, marked by growing breakthrough infections. But the majority of fully vaccinated patients still end up with better health outcomes.
As such, it is still possible for the economy to end 2021 on a strong note. Our nowcast pegged growth in 2Q21 at +18.4% y/y. Given the re-imposition of the curbs, we expect 3Q21 growth to moderate further. There were some worrying signs that the curbs may have hobbled the export-oriented manufacturing sector.
But as the inoculation drive gains further momentum and goes past the point of no return, more restrictions can be eased, particularly for the economic powerhouses (e.g. Selangor and Johor), which will buoy the economy by 4Q21, if not earlier.


Malaysia: Economy To Run Into Speed Bumps In 3Q21, Followed by Strong Finish To 2021