Resilient Chinese economy quells volatility

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations economy, an increasingly important growth point for the world's economy, mostly stayed flat in 2025. Research institutions projected its GDP to expand by about 5 percent as a whole.

Vietnam was the fastest growing economy in the grouping, registering 8.2 percent year-on-year GDP growth in the third quarter of the year.

"The ASEAN economy continues to grow at a moderate pace," said Palit of the National University of Singapore.

"It is not growing at a great rate, it is not growing at a very slow rate, it is growing at an average rate. And that average rate is something which has been with the ASEAN region for some time," he added.

The African economy, another promising growth engine, was projected to rise to 3.9 percent in 2025 from 3.3 percent in 2024, and reach 4 percent in 2026 despite mounting geopolitical uncertainties and trade tensions, according to a forecast by the African Development Bank Group.

"Africa has enjoyed a significant tailwind from a weaker dollar, which has created a positive feedback loop of stronger domestic currencies and lower interest rates, all of which have meant a forward-looking and constructive Africa-wide GDP," said investment banker Satchu.

The US dollar has remained on a downward channel since the start of 2025. "One of the big stories in 2025 was the passive diversification away from the dollar, as investors globally placed less of their net new assets into dollars. This led to a gradual depreciation of the dollar," said British economist Lyons.