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

Geo-Political Risks: What Will North Korea's Provocations Lead To?

North Korea's Standoff Against the US: No War, the Real Risk Is to US-China Relations

North Korea: More Sanctions but Not Enough to Change Its Strategy

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>Financial markets have been roiled by political dislocations umpteen times in the past few years. Yet markets have always rebounded relatively quickly.</li><li>It appears that financial markets have underestimated a number of potentially prominent political turning points which are looming large. Coupled with tightening monetary conditions, political shocks will exact their toll on asset prices.</li><li>Geopolitical risks are rising as an inept and understaffed Trump Administration flounders. Potential flashpoints in Asia include a China-India conflict, the North Korean threat and tensions in the South China Sea bubbling over. Juxtaposed against a backdrop of reduced liquidity as major central banks normalise policy, financial markets could struggle to shrug off the ill-effects of unpleasant political surprises.</li></ul>

Financial markets have been roiled by political dislocations umpteen times in the past few years. Yet markets have always rebounded relatively quickly.It appears that financial markets have underestimated a number of potentially prominent political turning points which are looming large. Coupled with tightening monetary conditions, political shocks will exact their toll on asset prices.Geopolitical risks are rising as an inept and understaffed Trump Administration flounders. Potential flashpoints in Asia include a China-India conflict, the North Korean threat and tensions in the South China Sea bubbling over. Juxtaposed against a backdrop of reduced liquidity as major central banks normalise policy, financial markets could struggle to shrug off the ill-effects of unpleasant political surprises.

Roiling Politics and Reduced Liquidity Could End Resilient Markets