SINGAPORE BOUNCES BACK FROM SARS SLUMP.
The second quarter of this year proved to be particularly painful
for Singapores economy, but internal demand and export sales should
rebound by the end of 2003.
Factors that weigh in favor of . . .
PAKISTANI PURCHASING POWER TO RISE.(Brief Article)
Pakistan has a generally impoverished consumer base in which one in
three of the nations households live on less than US$1 per day. However,
declining inflation and interest rates combined with . . .
HONG KONG PROFITS GET SQUEEZED.(aftermath of SARS)(Brief
Article)
The immediate impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) epidemic may have died down but the aftermath will be felt for
months to come as already stressed businesses are forced to offer . . .
AUSTRALIA'S GROWTH SPURT WINDS DOWN.(Brief Article)
There are numerous signs that the spurt in private sector demand
that offset Australias weak export sales over the past two years is
winding down. Department store sales have been hardest hit . . .
INDIA'S SURGE IN CAPITAL SPENDING.(Brief Article)
Increased optimism among Indian business leaders, coupled with an
uptick in foreign direct investment, is contributing to an upsurge in
capital spending that should persist over the next 12 . . .
BRAND POSITIONING TAKES OFF IN CHINA.(Brief Article)
Up to now, Chinese companies have primarily based their market
positioning on low price rather than brand recognition, but there is
increasing evidence of a change in strategy. Growing interest . . .
MALAYSIA PREPARES FOR WTO ENTRY.(Brief Article)
Malaysias private and public sectors are preparing to join the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2005. Strong emphasis on privatization
and industrial consolidation should boost capital expenditure . . .
NEW ZEALAND SPENDING TO REMAIN FIRM.(Brief Article)
Consumer spending in New Zealand should continue to show
respectable growth into 2004, even though the industrial sector will
tone down capital expenditure.
Retail sales growth for 2003 is . . .
JAPANESE DEMAND AWAKENS.
Japanese private sector demand has been in a prolonged state of
hibernation, but the first signs of an awakening emerged as capital
spending rose during the second quarter of this year.
The first . . .
KOREAN CAPITAL SPENDING TO RISE.(Brief Article)
The amount of funds set aside by South Koreas industry for capital
spending during the second half of 2003 is 9.2 percent higher than a
year earlier and confidence among business leaders is . . .
KOREAN CAPITAL SPENDING TO RISE.(Brief Article)
The amount of funds set aside by South Koreas industry for capital
spending during the second half of 2003 is 9.2 percent higher than a
year earlier and confidence among business leaders is . . .
TAIWAN'S CONSUMERS LACK CONFIDENCE.
Taiwanese trade is on the upswing this year, but business
relocation abroad is limiting growth in private sector demand for goods
and services.
At the household level, high-end consumption is . . .
BEIJING SIDESTEPS IMPACT OF SARS.(Brief Article)
In recent months, government fixed asset investment in China has
risen more than 25 percent year-on-year and strong upward momentum
should persist through at least the first half of 2004. The . . .
HIGH-END SALES FADING IN AUSTRALIA.
Australian department store chains are suffering as increasingly
cost-conscious consumers opt for shopping at the nations growing number
of discount stores. Most department store chains got their . . .
PAKISTAN TO IMPORT USED EQUIPMENT.(industrial and
agricultural)(Brief Article)
The Pakistani governments recent decision to allow importing used
equipment should boost overall sales of capital goods from abroad
through the remainder of this year and 2004.
During the third . . .
INDIA'S SURGE IN CAPITAL SPENDING.(Brief Article)
Increased optimism among Indian business leaders, coupled with an
uptick in foreign direct investment, is contributing to an upsurge in
capital spending that should persist over the next 12 . . .
JAPAN'S PAINFUL READJUSTMENT.
Japanese households are experiencing a painful readjustment as the
level of wealth gradually declines. Household wealth and the Japanese
economy in general will continue to shrink until they come . . .
INDIA'S DYNAMIC IT SECTOR.(Brief Article)
Sales of Indias software products and services have grown at a pace
of over 30 percent per annum in recent years and strong expansion is
likely to continue through 2004. Nevertheless, heavy . . .
VIETNAMESE GROWTH HINGES ON TRADE.
Internal demand for goods and services is on the rise in Vietnam,
yet overall economic expansion hinges on export sales.
With a purchasing power parity per capita of US$2,200 per annum,
Vietnam . . .
TAIWAN'S VALUE ADDED INDUSTRY.(industry and economics)(Brief
Article)
Taiwanese industries are investing heavily in mainland production
facilities, yet the islands industrial base is strong and should get
stronger as its product offerings move up the value added . . .
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