Growth burst in S-E Asia bolsters region as Fed hikes loom

Singapore

SOUTH-EAST Asia is sitting pretty, with economies across the region poised to carry better-than-expected growth performances into 2018, putting them in a stronger position to withstand rising global interest rates.

The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand are all posting their fastest economic growth rates in years, while Singapore is poised to keep up that streak in data released on Thursday. All four economies are projected to slow into the final three months of the year while retaining impressive 2017 growth figures and keeping pace into next year, according to Bloomberg survey data.