Tue, Aug 18, 2015 page13

• Standard Chartered cuts growth outlook

  MIXED DATA: While export figures look dismal, the domestic market is on track this year, with increased consumer spending keeping the second quarter positive

  • By Ted Chen / Staff reporter
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  Standard Chartered Bank yesterday slashed its economic growth forecast for Taiwan to 2 percent annually this year, from a previous estimate of 4.3 percent, due to plummeting external demand during the first half.

  The forecast is higher than the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics’ projection of an annual growth rate of 1.56 percent announced on Friday last week.

  Dwindling exports last quarter set headline growth back by 2.07 percent, after seeing a sharp reversal from the 2.59 percent gain recorded in the January-to-March period, Standard Chartered economist Tony Phoo (符銘財) said.

  He said that a recent streak of weak export figures was partly distorted by falling prices.

  “Taiwan export producers are at a tremendous disadvantage as they succumb to pressure from clients to slash prices, offsetting gains of declining commodity prices,” Phoo said.

  In the first five months of this year, total exports in terms of volume increased 2.4 percent year-on-year, led by shipments of optoelectronics and precision equipment, which grew 12 percent.

  However, China’s slowing growth momentum and lingering uncertainty surrounding the eurozone suggests that there might not be an immediate improvement in exports, leading to sub-par growth in the second half, Phoo said.

  Despite external woes, favorable domestic indicators, such as a steady job market and increased consumer spending, have held up in the first half and are expected to continue improving in the second half.

  In particular, retail sales are on track for another record year, while restaurant sales picked up last quarter after a slump that began late last year, he said.

  “The economy is unlikely to slip into a technical recession in the third quarter,” Phoo said.

  The almost 50 percent decline in global oil prices is likely to reduce overall import costs this year, leading to increased household spending as state-run oil and power companies comply with government policies urging them to pass on savings to consumers, he said, adding that spending is also likely to be boosted by gains in real wage growth.

  Meanwhile, overall producers’ confidence has also held up, as reflected by leading indicators such as imports of capital goods, which Phoo said posted a strong 13 percent year-on-year rebound last month.

  Phoo said the outlook remains positive on the recovery of the local technology sector in light of steady capital expenditure.

  He also slashed projected inflation to minus-0.3 percent from a previous estimate of 0.4 percent and said that the central bank is expected to keep its benchmark rate at 1.875 percent for the remainder of the year.

  Adjustments in interest rates are considered much less effective than changes in foreign exchange policy in weathering a slow growth period, Phoo said.

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