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China’s growth is softening and global uncertainty does not help 

War, uncertainty and weak domestic demand cloud China’s growth outlook, with implications for Singapore.

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If this war in the Middle-East persists, China’s growth outlook faces additional downside risks.

China’s growth outlook faces additional downside risks if the war in the Middle-East persists.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Arup Raha

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The global financial markets are almost always chaotic, but in recent days, they have

outdone themselves

. They have been reacting to the war between the US and Israel forces and Iran, which experts believe could last for a prolonged period, perhaps even months, despite US President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that

“it’s going to be finished pretty quickly”

.  

The market reaction to the war has been severe. Oil prices were around US$89 at the time of writing, up from US$72 on Feb 28 when the war started. Equity markets have sold off across most regions, the yield on US 10-year Treasury bonds has risen by around 30 basis points, and the US dollar has strengthened as one would expect during times of heightened global risk.

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