1. Global Financial Crisis: Implications For Asia
Presentation to the Government Task Force on Economic Challenges Hong Kong SAR
November 3, 2008
David Burton
Director, Asia and Pacific Department International Monetary Fund

2. Global financial turmoil intensified after Lehman’s mid- September collapse

3. Financial firms accelerated deleveraging, selling assets….

4. ...and cutting credit lines, causing dollar shortages

5. Bold policy actions have been taken to keep markets functioning
Capital injections into banks
Bank guarantees
Monetary measures
Rate cuts
Massive Liquidity Injections
Fed FX swaps with foreign central banks

6. ..resulting in a large expansion of the Fed balance sheet

7. Liquidity strains have eased somewhat, but remain acute

8. ..and the crisis has spread to emerging markets

9. Asia has been hit quite hard, as funds have been pulled from the region

10. ...and new financing has dried up

11. …leading to sharp falls in equity markets and pressures on currencies

12. …and increases in CDS spreads

13. Domestic liquidity conditions have also tightened

14. Some countries have been more affected than others
Vulnerability factors include:
Current account deficits
Reliance on external funding, including by banks
Significant foreign participation in domestic equity and bond markets
Domestic macro imbalances

15. Recent pressures also reflect concerns about the global outlook...

16. Economic activity in the region has already slowed...

17. ...and leading indicators of global trade suggest further weakness ahead
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
1/2/2008
2/1/2008
3/4/2008
4/3/2008
5/5/2008
6/4/2008
7/4/2008
8/5/2008
9/4/2008
10/6/2008
Baltic Dry Index 1
(in $)
(Benchmark for commodity shipping costs)
Source: Bloomberg LP.
A composite of the Baltic Capesize, Panamax, Handisize, and Supramax indices.

18. ... putting pressures on corporate and banking sector performances

19. Asian authorities have responded by taking measures to maintain confidence in the banking system
Nearly all economies in the region have injected liquidity, including through new facilities, extending the range of collateral or easing access to central banks’ discount windows.
A number of economies have extended guarantees to bank deposits (Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Taiwan Province of China, Singapore and Australia) and bank debt (Australia, Korea).
Some economies announced plans for bank recapitalization contingency funds (Japan, India, Hong Kong SAR).

20. A macroeconomic policy response is also taking shape in Asia
With inflation pressures easing, a number of economies have cut policy rates (e.g., Australia, China, India, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan Province of China, and Vietnam).
A few economies have also adopted fiscal stimulus measures (e.g., Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand).

21. Looking Ahead: Key Challenges for Policymakers in Asia
Policy makers need to minimize further tightening of overall credit conditions and its spillovers to the economy, including
continuing to supply the banking system with appropriate liquidity
standing ready to recapitalize banks, and extend bank guarantees, if necessary
considering steps to support trade credit
Moreover, there is still room for macro policies
with inflation projected to moderate, monetary policy could be eased further to support growth
many economies also have room to ease the fiscal stance

22. International Response
While the fundamentals in Asia are strong, Asia and the international community need to stand ready to provide financial support if the crisis intensifies and any country experiences serious external financing difficulties.
The IMF has just established a new facility to provide large and rapid disbursements to countries with sound fundamentals but pressing liquidity needs.
Swaps under the Chang Mai Initiative are also potentially available to Asean+3 countries.