ATI Newswire - Subscriber Only

WASHINGTON – BBVA Banking Group says incoming data reaffirms its baseline scenario of moderate to high GDP growth and higher inflation for the United States in 2018 & 2019, with the U.S. Federal Reserve poised to raise rates twice in the second half of 2018 and possibly three times in 2019.

TAIPEI - Strong gains in Taiwan’s May export orders were broad-based, with strength seen in export orders for electronic products (+14.0% y/y) complemented by the traditional sectors – base metals (+14.8% y/y), chemicals (+22.6% y/y), and plastic articles (+17.2% y/y). Export orders for information and communication technology (ICT) products also rose in May (+4.2% y/y) after three straight months of decline.

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to build an elite maritime force “to resolutely accomplish various missions entrusted by the Party and the people”, China’s State newsagency, Xinhua reported.

HONG KONG - Amid the growing uncertainty of the global economic scenario - stemming from the potential escalation of tariff increases initiated by the US - the main central banks have launched a crystal-clear message this week: monetary policies are entering a new phase, says BBVA in a research note.

HONG KONG - Institutional investors are eager to play a greater role in financing Asia-Pacific infrastructure, but a number of roadblocks can limit participation, S&P Global Ratings says in a report published today.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) have signed an MoU to further promote their co-operation through information and staff exchanges, product development and joint promotion.

SEOUL – Twenty-four hours ahead of the North Korean-United States Summit in Singapore, South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in, has said he “looks forward to the two leaders' bold decisions to freely exchange what they want from each other so that the wish of people across the world for a new era on the Korean Peninsula could be realised”.