Oil rout will boost Asian economies, analysts say

Singapore

THE plunge in crude prices will give a much-needed boost to Asia's oil-guzzling economies and provide governments a "golden opportunity" to implement crucial structural reforms such as cutting expensive energy subsidies, analysts said.

A slowdown in the key export markets of Europe, China and Japan; the end of US stimulus measures; and an expected US rate hike - fuelling a flight of foreign cash in search of better returns - has left some governments having to make tough decisions to get back on track.

But analysts said that lower oil prices would ease inflationary pressures throughout much of Asia, allowing many central banks to either keep monetary policy on hold or reduce interes…