March, 2023

• 5 March

  China’s spending on defense to grow 7.2%, fastest pace in 4 years

  

  BLOOMBERG China said its defense spending would grow by 7.2% this year — the fastest pace since 2019 amid increasing tensions with the US on a range of issues, including Taiwan. Military expenditure is expected to rise to 1.55 trillion yuan ($225 billion) in 2023, according to the Ministry of Finance’s annual report released on Sunday at the start of ...

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• 5 March

  UK plans law to prevent asylum claims by small boat arrivals

  

  BLOOMBERG Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government plans new laws to prevent people who enter the UK on small boats from claiming asylum, as it looks for ways to halt a record influx of migrants crossing the English Channel. Discussing legislation expected to be introduced this week, Chris Heaton-Harris, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said more options could be provided ...

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• 5 March

  China gives new backing to coal even as clean energy accelerates

  

  BLOOMBERG China signalled coal will retain its role as the country’s mainstay fuel even as the government continues to support the expansion of its world-leading clean energy industry. The nation that mines and burns more than half the world’s coal will keep supporting the fuel, while targeting more efficient consumption and advanced production techniques, according to government reports released Sunday ...

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• 5 March

  China sets for weak showing as growth target disappoints

  

  BLOOMBERG Chinese markets may come under pressure again on concerns that authorities will withhold stimulus after unveiling a conservative economic growth target that is below many investors’ expectations. The consensus-lagging growth goal of around 5% for 2023, as Premier Li Keqiang outlined in a key address to open the National People’s Congress, suggests strong monetary or fiscal help may be ...

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• 5 March

  Thailand spent $12.8b in 3 years to fight Covid-19

  

  BLOOMBERG Thailand spent a total of 444 billion baht ($12.8 billion) on public health during the three years of the pandemic to contain the spread of Covid-19 and vaccinate its population, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The cost of testing and treating people for Covid accounted for more than half the total spending at 260 billion baht, the ...

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• 5 March

  Takeda offers dengue shot cheaper in Brazil, Indonesia

  

  BLOOMBERG Takeda Pharmaceutical Co will sell its dengue vaccine at a steep discount in emerging markets, part of its plan to make sure that people most vulnerable to the life-threatening disease will have access to the immunisation. The cost for Qdenga in Indonesia will be about one-third its European price, far lower than many other innovative vaccines, Takeda Chief Executive ...

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• 5 March

  India’s services output in Feb sees sharpest rise in 12 years

  

  BLOOMBERG Activity in India’s dominant services sector climbed to the highest level in 12 years, aided by new business orders and moderation in cost pressures amid resilient demand in the economy. The S&P Global India Purchasing Managers Index for services rose to 59.4 in February from 57.2 in the previous month, according to a statement. A number above 50 shows ...

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• 5 March

  Sri Lanka to free rupee after surprise rate hike to win bailout

  

  BLOOMBERG Sri Lanka vowed to soon restore a flexible exchange-rate regime after unexpectedly raising its benchmark interest rate as the troubled nation looks to secure a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to steady its economy. “Sri Lanka’s rupee will be fully market-driven from next week,” Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said at a press briefing after the Central Bank of ...

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• 5 March

  Mexico’s peso surges to key 18-per-dollar level

  

  BLOOMBERG Mexico’s peso briefly strengthened past a key 18-per-dollar mark for the first time in five years as the nation’s high interest rates and proximity to the US lure traders. The currency rose as much as 0.7% to 17.9952 against the greenback, the highest intraday level since April 2018. The peso is the best performer of the year so far ...

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• 5 March

  Federal says more interest-rate hikes needed to restore price stability

  

  BLOOMBERG The Federal Reserve said that further interest-rate hikes would be required to restore price stability. “The committee is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2% objective,” the Fed said in its semi-annual report to Congress. Officials expect that “ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is ...

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