Economy

BMI View: Pressure is mounting on the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank, to raise interest rates at its upcoming policy meeting in a bid to rein in inflation. In June, the... 2004-07-14

BMI View: India’s economy is booming. Real expanded 8.2% y-o-y during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31 2004 (2003/04), according to official figures.... 2004-07-14

Pakistan’s finance minister, Shaukat Aziz, presented the federal budget for the fiscal year 2004/05, promising a ‘second generation of reforms’ aimed... 2004-07-14

Bangladesh's central pillar of domestic economic growth, its textile industry, will crumble fast if nothing is done to soften the impact of the phasing out of the international Multifibre... 2004-07-14

The confidence of Tamil Tiger rebels in President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her newly elected United People’s Freedom Alliance has hit a new low. BMI View: A recent suicide... 2004-07-14

BMI View: Sri Lanka’s economy recorded better-than-expected growth during the first quarter of 2004. According to official figures, real GDP expanded 6.2% y-o-y between... 2004-07-14

Bangladesh's economy will grow fairly swiftly during the next six months, but stability will remain far from certain. The phasing out of the international Multifibre Arrangement at... 2004-07-14

The Reserve Bank of India, the central bank, left interest rates on hold at its annual policy meeting on May 18. BMI View: Despite mounting price pressures, India will not follow... 2004-06-14

Sri Lanka’s war-torn economy expanded 5.9% in 2003, fuelled by the service sector. BMI View: Growth will slow to 5.5% this year amid heightened political uncertainty.

The Reserve Bank of India, the central bank, is due to release its policy statement for the coming year on May 18. BMI View: Governor Y.V. Reddy will likely hold the bank rate steady... 2004-05-17