INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
policy next year -- especially as US rate hikes slow -- unless a new bout of currency weakness forces them to do so
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised rates for the fourth time this year, as expected, but signalled a slower pace of hikes in 2019 than
it previously projected.The Fed policy outlook is a major factor driving emerging currencies in Asia and a less aggressive rate outlook next
year generally eases foreign exchange selling pressure in economies like Indonesia, Philippines and India
Central banks in these countries hiked rates repeatedly this year to mitigate portfolio outflows and moderate inflation.On Thursday, central
banks in Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan kept policy steady
China's left short-term rates unchanged, following Wednesday's announcement of a new lending tool."What we forecast for Asia next year
is based on the fact that the Fed is going to be more dovish and we have the same view after last night: there's much less pressure to
tighten," said Irene Cheung, Asia strategist at ANZ.A long pause in Asian central bank tightening could facilitate more inflows into Asian
bonds and offer some respite to smaller-sized, low margin borrowers across south and southeast Asia.Currency risks aside, there are almost
no arguments for central bank rate hikes.The International Monetary Fund expects Asia's economic growth to slow to 5.4 percent next year
But its APAC director Changyong Rhee told Reuters on Tuesday a further downgrade was possible at the IMF's next review in
January.Economists say China's could lose a full percentage point of economic growth next year if the current ceasefire in the trade war
between Washington and Beijing falls apart and higher tariffs imposed in 2019.The rest of Asia could take a similar hit, given the region's
heavy reliance on China for trade and investment.What inflationA depressed growth outlook will weigh on inflation, diminishing the argument
for rate hikes.Consumer prices have been surprisingly stubborn this year, despite double-digit currency declines in June-July and an almost
40 percent jump in the price of oil in the year to October, which has since completely reversed.The only major Asian economy where consumer
price growth has accelerated this year is the Philippines, which posted 6 percent annual inflation in November
However, inflation there is widely expected to fall back in line over the coming year."Inflation has been remarkably subdued across most of
Asia this year, barely responding to weakening exchange rates and, for a while, soaring oil prices," said Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asia
economics research at HSBC"Central bankers need to be careful about tightening further
If anything, policy may need to be loosened in some places
China is one example, but more places may follow in 2019 once the risk of excessive exchange rate swings dissipates."A December BofA Merrill
Lynch fund manager survey showed 53 percent of respondents expected global growth to slow over the next 12 months, the weakest outlook since
Only 37 percent expect global inflation to rise, down 33 percentage points from November and 45 points from an April peak.Capital returnA
slowdown in inflation and fewer rate hikes -- most economists now see one to two more in Indonesia and Philippines, if any -- are good news
for regional bonds.Already the last two-to-three months have seen investors returning to Asian debt, signalling central banks may have done
enough to adjust risk premiums.The Philippine peso and the Indonesian rupiah are still down 5-6 percent year-to-date, while the Indian rupee
These currencies, however, have bounced 5-6 percent off their troughs already.The Philippines and Indonesia have hiked five and six times,
respectively, this year by a total of 175 basis points each, while India has hiked twice by a total of 50 bps.Thailand raised its benchmark
rate for the first time in seven years on Wednesday, but signalled it had no plans for further hikes any time soon
Malaysia hiked once in January and South Korea once at their last meeting
Moves by all three central banks, however, were aimed at curbing household debt rather than inflation.In Thailand's case, there are
growing concerns that more hikes could dent its auto sector, a rare bright spot in its economy
South Korea, one of the world's hottest property markets, is now showing signs of cooling.Bank of Korea governor Lee Ju-yeol said on
Thursday a slower Fed gives global central banks more headroom to manage their monetary policy."Additional hikes are a risk but increasingly
unlikely as growth slows," said Philip Wyatt, APAC economist at UBS Global Wealth Management.
