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.