January 29, 2026
Editor’s View: Q4 GDP growing just 3% – the slowest in nearly five years – dragged full-year growth to 4.4%, well below the government’s 5.5%-6.5% target. Weak household demand and sluggish investment reflect deeper structural problems beyond cyclical slowdowns. The infrastructure corruption scandals aren’t just governance failures – they’re actively destroying fiscal credibility and investor confidence. As Manila assumes the ASEAN chairmanship, further rate cuts may provide modest relief but monetary policy can’t fix broken infrastructure pipelines or restore trust. Recovery requires visible prosecutions and project execution not just cheaper borrowing costs.
Full article here: Philippine Q4 growth skids to 5-year low, raises odds of further rate cuts
January 29, 2026
Editor’s View: MAS holding monetary settings steady after 4.8% GDP growth in 2025 – well above official and market forecasts – demonstrates policy confidence backed by genuine outperformance. Tech exports and robust services demand drove resilience whilst global growth slowed, with MAS hiking inflation forecasts to 1%-2% and flagging upside risks. The authority expects tech to contribute more to 2026 growth, signalling sustained AI-led momentum. However, maintaining current settings whilst neighbours ease reflects Singapore’s inflation management priority over growth stimulus, a luxury only credible economic performance affords.
Full article here: Singapore leaves monetary policy settings unchanged in January but raises inflation forecasts
January 30, 2026
Editor’s View: The Indonesia Stock Exchange CEO resigning and the government promising increased transparency after a US$80 billion market rout shows damage control in overdrive. Proposed reforms – doubling free float requirements to 15%, allowing pension funds to increase capital market exposure to 20% – address MSCI’s specific concerns about ownership transparency. But investor confidence shaken by Prabowo’s nephew appointed to the central bank and respected Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s firing won’t restore overnight through technical fixes. Foreign investors sold US$645 million in two days; they dumped US$1 billion across all of 2025. The rupiah hovering near record lows at 16,790 per dollar signals structural credibility damage that governance reforms must rebuild, not just regulatory tweaks.
Full article here: Indonesia Vows Market Reform After US$80 Billion Rout; Bourse Chief Quits
January 30, 2026
Editor’s View: Malaysia admitting frequent government changes in Thailand are disrupting the planned railway connection between Rantau Panjang and Sungai Kolok quantifies infrastructure’s vulnerability to political winds of change. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke noting talks have moved slowly due to Thailand’s political situation, with hopes resuming after Thailand’s February 8 election. The delay matters beyond bilateral trade – it undermines regional connectivity ambitions when ASEAN needs infrastructure integration most. Every government change resets negotiations, erodes commercial confidence and pushes completion timelines further. Thailand’s chronic political instability isn’t just domestic governance uncertainty. It’s becoming a regional infrastructure bottleneck.
Full article here: Thai political instability stalls Malaysia rail link
January 29, 2026
Editor’s View: The EU and Vietnam upgrading to “comprehensive strategic partnership” – Hanoi’s highest diplomatic tier – places Brussels alongside the US, China and Russia in Vietnam’s strategic architecture. With trade reaching $66.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, up 6.6%, and Vietnam as the EU’s biggest Southeast Asian trading partner, this reflects both sides hedging against US tariff volatility. Vietnam exports 30% of goods to Washington, making diversification urgent. For Brussels, it’s supply chain insurance as companies shift manufacturing from China. The timing – days after Vietnam’s Communist Party re-elected General Secretary To Lam – signals Europe prioritising economic pragmatism over governance concerns.
Full article here: EU and Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership
