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

Singapore: Robust Inflation Outlook Will Prompt Shift in Monetary Policy

Singapore: Cyclical Optimism, Structural Plans to Be Tweaked

Singapore: How Many Ways Are There to Be Taxed?

Singapore: Broadening of Growth Should Lift Labour Market

Singapore: Economy Roaring but Could Inflation Surprise?

Singapore: External Uplift into Domestic Sectors

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>Advance estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) capped a stellar year for the Singapore economy. External demand was the main under-girder for economic growth and manufacturing prowess in 2017.</li><li>The optimistic economic outlook for 2018 means that the output gap is narrowing very fast and will potentially flip into positive territory by 1H18, resulting in rising inflation. This means that <strong>monetary policy will adjust in April 2018</strong>, with the MAS resuming a gradually appreciation S$NEER policy band.</li><li>In the context of global monetary tightening, our forecasts point to a small and transient correction in the near term followed by <strong>steadily rising interest rates for the rest of 2018</strong>. Property effervescence could be impacted.</li></ul>

Advance estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) capped a stellar year for the Singapore economy. External demand was the main under-girder for economic growth and manufacturing prowess in 2017.The optimistic economic outlook for 2018 means that the output gap is narrowing very fast and will potentially flip into positive territory by 1H18, resulting in rising inflation. This means that monetary policy will adjust in April 2018, with the MAS resuming a gradually appreciation S$NEER policy band.In the context of global monetary tightening, our forecasts point to a small and transient correction in the near term followed by steadily rising interest rates for the rest of 2018. Property effervescence could be impacted.

Singapore: The Sting of Interest Rate Spikes Amid Good Growth Prospects