A visit by President Joko Widodo in April threw a spotlight on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), with the exchange’s benchmark hitting an all-time peak of 5523.29 in the days before the visit.
Asia Financial Services
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A gradual increase in economic activity and demand for credit should support both loans and earnings in the Thai banking sector, although a shift away from consumer lending is likely to continue and low interest rates may prompt banks to tap into other revenue streams.
Banks in Brunei Darussalam have so far weathered the impact of falling oil prices, winning plaudits from credit rating agencies for their resilience and stability.
Rising domestic demand should drive growth in Malaysia’s insurance sector this year, despite economic headwinds, but the highly competitive market could see a further round of mergers as larger operators consolidate their position.
A projected rise in home ownership, along with increasing demand for private health coverage are among the forces expected to drive growth in Papua New Guinea’s insurance sector. However, competitive pressures and global risks may also hamper the industry during the course of the year.
Maintaining a growth streak for six consecutive years, the Philippines Stock Exchange’s (PSE) momentum is expected to continue into 2015, thanks to projected gains from cheaper oil prices and a strong growth outlook among dimming prospects in the region.