Developing Asia can weather Fed's tapering, says ADB

By Rosemarie Francisco MANILA (Reuters) - Asian economies can ride out the storm when the Federal Reserve finally begins ending years of easy money, with even those most at risk, India and Indonesia, holding enough currency reserves for rough times ahead, according to the Asian Development Bank. Updating forecasts for 2013 and 2014, the Manila-based lender said on Wednesday that growth in developing Asia is likely to be slower than it thought three months ago, when it last revised forecasts to an annual outlook released in April. It now reckons the region, grouping 45 countries in Asia-Pacific, will grow 6.0 percent in 2013 and 6.2 percent in 2014, little changed from last year's growth of 6.1 percent. Between May and August, emerging markets were gripped by a sell-off after the Fed signaled that it would taper its bond-buying stimulus once the U.S. economy improved. The sudden capital outflows caused some alarm, but ADB said worries over potential for a regional meltdown were misplaced, and markets are now treading water, waiting for the Fed to act. "Fears of a repeat of the 1997 Asian financial crisis are unwarranted," ADB said in a statement. "The region is now in a stronger position to weather the storm, with many economies running current account surpluses and holding large foreign reserve stockpiles." The bank said developing Asia's current account surplus is expected to narrow to 1.6 percent of GDP in both 2013 and 2014 from 1.8 percent last year. Whereas high external deficits resulted in India and Indonesia suffering far sharper falls in their currencies during the emerging markets' sell-off, ADB took comfort in their levels of reserves. "Widening current account deficits have long made both economies more susceptible to shifts in market sentiment, as have fiscal deficits in India. Fortunately, both have sufficient foreign exchange reserves, enough as of August to cover imports to India for 7 months and to Indonesia for 5 months," ADB said. NEED FOR REFORM China is expected to grow 7.6 percent and 7.4 percent this year and the next, ADB said, trimming its July forecasts of 7.7 percent and 7.5 percent respectively. The slowdown in the world's second biggest economy may usher in a more sustainable growth path as Chinese authorities seek a balanced development strategy away from its previous export- and investment-led growth model, the bank said. ADB made significant downward revisions to 2013 and 2014 growth forecasts for India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. India is expected to expand 4.7 percent and 5.7 percent this year and the next, sharply lower than previous forecasts of 5.8 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, with growth hampered by weak industry, investment and external demand and delays in structural reforms. The Philippines, the only country in East and Southeast Asia whose growth forecast was revised up, is expected to grow 7 percent this year against an April forecast of 6 percent. The country has kept pace with China to become one of the two fastest growing nations in the region this year. ADB also said inflation in Asia is likely to remain subdued this year and next, although some countries are likely to see mounting price pressures. Indonesia will see a sharp acceleration in inflation as it scales back fuel subsidies, the bank said. ADB said the past few months' market volatility highlighted a need for structural reform to sustain growth in the region, including governance reforms that will ensure more inclusive growth. The bank said empowering citizens, engaging local governments and the private sector, and expanding the use of information and communications technology are among reforms needed to promote inclusive growth. It also said anti-corruption efforts should be intensified and regulatory and legal frameworks strengthened. "Inflows of cheap foreign capital into Asia may have allowed some countries to put governance reforms on the back burner," ADB said. "But recent financial market volatility and a pullback in economic activity have added fresh urgency to long-term structural action which can ensure development gains are not lost, and future growth benefits all." (Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)