Euben Paracuelles Quotations

We are maintaining our full-year 2005 GDP estimate at 4.8 percent, which implies an improvement in the fourth quarter to 5.1 percent.

Growth should accelerate next quarter and we expect the official forecast for the year to be raised. We are seeing signs of electronics improving.

We remain cautiously optimistic that Philippine exports will eventually catch some wind and ride the ongoing global electronics demand upturn at least within the first half of the year.

The December imports growth came higher than our expectations. This means that we can expect a better export performance in the months ahead.

There is significant saving on interest payments because of lower interest rates.

Continuous strength in the electronics sector will drive growth in NODX in December.

There's a trend now for central banks in the region to raise rates. Thailand has been raising rates since last year and it has served them well.

It's a respectable number for the wrong reasons. It's still oil that's driving imports whilst electronics, which are the No.1 export, are still down. We will surely see some slowdown in exports.

They want to help pre-empt a build-up in inflationary pressures, which is likely to follow after the fuel price increase. They are now being more proactive rather than reacting to the situation.

High oil prices are kind of benefiting Singapore in a way. We're seeing some increase in the order books of all these companies, the oil rig manufacturers.

The hike in pump prices, and electricity and gas tariffs that have also been raised, fed through to overall consumer prices. Given that the MAS expects a higher pass-through from oil, and for inflation to be higher even in 2006, the current policy stance will remain appropriate.