Chief Economist, Aletheia Capital

Dr. Jim Walker

Jim Walker is the chief economist at Aletheia Analyst Network Limited, an independent research platform for the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Aletheia he was the founder and chief economist at Asianomics Group an economics and strategy research consultancy company formed in late 2007. 

Before establishing Asianomics he was the chief economist at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. He joined CLSA in late 1991. Over the years Dr Jim achieved numerous ‘best economist’ rankings in the Asiamoney, Institutional Investor and Greenwich surveys of fund managers. In 1995 he wrote about the prospect of Asia being forced off its de facto dollar peg “within the next two-three years”. The Asian Crisis, precipitated by the Thai baht devaluation, began in July 1997.

In recent years he is best known for forecasting the US 2007 downturn and financial sector meltdown in his series of ‘Apocalypse’ reports. He remains deeply sceptical of the prevailing wisdom in central banks’ approach to monetary policy.

Over the years he has also developed an approach to analysing Asian economies based on profit and credit cycles where the importance of investment spending as the driver of economic activity is explained.

Early in his career he worked in his native Scotland as a research fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute for Research on the Scottish Economy, and then at The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Edinburgh headquarters. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Chief Economist

Private Sector Boost/Bloomberg NEF/Wuzhen Internet Forum/Import Expo/Economy Woes

China's Nominal Vs. Real GDP - Accelerated Growth

Trade War Uncertainty Bites into Investment Spending and Production

Purchasing Managers' Indices – Handle with Care

FLASH: UK Services Subdued Back to Q1 Lows

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

Macroeconomics

<p>There is no doubt that the impact from the trade dispute between China and the US is sweeping across the Asian region. Companies are delaying investment spending plans, examining supply chain routes and are overall more cautious than they were six months ago. That is certainly having an impact on economic activity variables. In China, consumer confidence has been hit and in response, the government is discussing measures to stimulate activity and demand - all normal for a country where the external sector is important. But in general, China's economic data are still supportive of growth, and so too are the recent readings of the PMIs. However, if you'd read Bloomberg or other media coverage on China's PMIs, you'd have seen reports of a slowdown. Looks like we need to make another plea for a better understanding of PMIs.</p>

There is no doubt that the impact from the trade dispute between China and the US is sweeping across the Asian region. Companies are delaying investment spending plans, examining supply chain routes and are overall more cautious than they were six months ago. That is certainly having an impact on economic activity variables. In China, consumer confidence has been hit and in response, the government is discussing measures to stimulate activity and demand - all normal for a country where the external sector is important. But in general, China's economic data are still supportive of growth, and so too are the recent readings of the PMIs. However, if you'd read Bloomberg or other media coverage on China's PMIs, you'd have seen reports of a slowdown. Looks like we need to make another plea for a better understanding of PMIs.

Purchasing Managers’ Indices (PMIs) – Say Once Again?