Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




POLITICAL ECONOMY
ADB trims Asia growth forecasts on China slowdown
by Staff Writers
Manila (AFP) July 16, 2013


China's slowing economic growth is weakening momentum throughout the rest of Asia, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday as it revised down its forecasts for the region.

A day after Beijing released data showing its economic growth slowed for a second successive month in April-June, the ADB trimmed its outlook for developing Asia this year to 6.3 percent growth, from 6.6 percent.

In the update to its annual Asian Development Outlook publication, first published in April, the bank also pared its 2014 forecast to 6.4 percent, from 6.7 percent.

"The drop in trade and scaling back of investment are part of a more balanced growth path for (China), and the knock-on effect of its slower pace is definitely a concern for the region," the bank's chief economist, Changyong Rhee, said in a statement.

"But we are also seeing more subdued activity across much of developing Asia," Rhee added.

The update for this year is only a little better than what the bank described in the report as the region's "relatively sluggish" growth of 6.1 percent last year.

Developing Asia groups 45 nations or territories from Central Asia through to the Pacific islands, but excludes Japan.

The report cited a marginally better outlook for the advanced economies, particularly Japan where it said monetary and fiscal reforms by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appear to be bearing fruit.

However, this did not lead to stronger demand for Asian exports, with even Southeast Asia, the bright spot in early 2013, no longer faring as well.

"Southeast Asia's strong start to the year is being tempered by slower growth in (China) and continued weak demand from advanced economies for its exports," it said.

China said Monday its economy expanded 7.5 percent in the second quarter, following 7.7 percent in the previous three months and 7.9 percent in October-December.

This "points to slow but persistent growth deceleration" amid moderating industrial production and weaker investment growth, the ADB said.

Turbulence in China's domestic interbank market in June also raised funding costs, it noted.

"This could further weaken investment in the remainder of the year, undermining growth at least in the short term."

The bank now sees China's economy growing 7.7 percent this year and 7.5 percent in 2014, helped by consumer confidence remaining high and retail sales picking up.

But both figures are lower than its April forecasts of 8.2 percent and 8.0 percent. The Asian economic giant grew 7.8 percent last year.

It said East Asia should grow 6.7 percent this year and next, with both Hong Kong and Taiwan hit hard by the slower Chinese economy.

The ADB now forecasts Southeast Asia's economies to expand 5.2 percent this year, down from 5.4 percent.

It also trimmed its forecast for South Asia to 5.6 percent this year as India, its largest economy, stuttered.

"In India, slowing fixed capital formation, weak industrial activity, and plodding progress on reform are weighing on the economy," it said.

The bank lowered its growth forecast for India this year to 5.8 percent, from 6.0 percent. The country's economy grew 5.0 percent last year.

On a positive note, the ADB said slower GDP growth helped the region contain inflation, while expanded global natural gas production put a lid on energy prices.

The bank lowered its inflation forecasts for developing Asia to 3.5 percent this year and 3.7 percent in 2014, the latter on par with the 2012 rate.

.


Related Links
The Economy






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








POLITICAL ECONOMY
Southern Europe fears eurozone downturn
Madrid (UPI) Jul 15, 2013
Eurozone troubles are not yet over and a new downturn could target southern European economies struggling to fire up growth and productivity, the latest cumulative EU data indicates. Despite Portugal's reported small shoots of recovery, the entire swath of southern Europe, including Italy and Spain, is seeing jobs disappear amid a construction downturn. Overblown real estate pri ... read more


POLITICAL ECONOMY
Soviet Moon rover moved farther than thought

Scientist says Earth may once have been orbited by two moons

Dust hazard for Moon missions: scientists

NASA Seeks Information on Commercial Robotic Lunar Lander Capabilities

POLITICAL ECONOMY
New Mars mission: in the Vikings' steps

Overhead View of Mars Rover 10 Years After Launch

Third Drive of Curiosity's Long Trek Covers 135 Feet

DNA-sequencing chip could be sent to Mars to search for signs of life

POLITICAL ECONOMY
The Zero Gravity Coffee Cup

Outside View: Future science fiction

New Flight Projects Building Boasts First NASA Goddard 'Green' Roof

Technology Could Curtail Astronaut Conflict

POLITICAL ECONOMY
Medical quarantine over for Shenzhou-10 astronauts

China's astronauts ready for longer missions

Chinese probe reaches record height in space travel

China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-5 berths at Jakarta for replenishment

POLITICAL ECONOMY
Space Station ARISS Software Upgraded by Student For Students

Astronaut's helmet leak forces abrupt end to spacewalk

NASA puzzled as astronaut's helmet leak halts spacewalk

Luca, the orbital repair man

POLITICAL ECONOMY
Alphasat stacks up

ESA Signs Off On Baseline Configuration Of Ariane 6

Alphasat and INSAT 3D fueled for Ariane 5 heavy lift dual launch

Special group to be set up for inspecting production of Proton-M carrier rockets

POLITICAL ECONOMY
UM Researchers Land NASA Grant to Search Space for Exoplanets

Disks Don't Need Planets to Make Patterns

Hubble Finds a Cobalt Blue Planet

Gaps in dust around stars may not indicate planets as many believe

POLITICAL ECONOMY
Homemade 3D guns in US stir more buzz than bang

ASC Signal Doubles Mission Capabilities Across Its Satellite Antenna Line

Raytheon touts company developments

Surface porosity and wettability are key factors in boiling heat transfer




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement