Carlos Casanova

Senior Economist, Asia

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

English, Spanish, Mandarin

Carlos joined UBP in 2020 as Senior Economist, Asia. He is a key contributor to UBP’s global macroeconomic framework and leads UBP’s macroeconomic research in Asia, contributing to shaping our Asia investment strategy. 

He has more than ten years’ experience covering markets in Asia. He was most recently Economist, Asia Pacific, at Coface where he was responsible for managing the company’s research on Asian economies. He has also served as Economist for the Spanish multinational banking group Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Hong Kong and the European Commission in Beijing. 

Carlos holds a master’s in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a bachelor’s (joint honours) from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). 
 

Explore more from Carlos

China’s recent stimulus: enough to deliver results?

As part of UBP’s 2025 Investment Outlook, senior economist Carlos Casanova examines China’s recent efforts to address its structural challenges. Despite the country’s initiatives, UBP remains cautious about the prospects of the world’s second-largest economy, as they are likely to fall short of expectations.

20.11.2024

China: A Path Towards “Whatever It Takes”

The statements in late 2024 from China’s central bank and the country’s Politburo sparked hopes of a ‘whatever it takes’ moment, only to see these dashed, as policy actions have fallen short of expectations.

14.03.2024

India: A New Driver Emerges

Driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic programme, India has embarked on a phase of infrastructure investment akin to China’s in the 1990s. In our latest edition of UBP Headlines, our Group Chief Strategist Norman Villamin takes a deep dive into the booming Indian market, exploring its investment opportunities.

05.03.2024

Like it or not, Hong Kong is still Asia’s leading financial centre

The mood around Hong Kong’s markets is pretty gloomy these days.

19.07.2023

China can evade a balance sheet recession

China’s economy decelerated in Q2-23, led by a sequential decline in manufacturing and investment. Services continue to expand at a slower pace. Below potential growth is resulting in rising unemployment in April and May.

31.01.2023

Spotlight on Growth Momentum in Asia

With UBP’s Investment Outlook 2023 wrapping up its global roadshow, our Asia Senior Economist Carlos Casanova takes stock of the major macroeconomic events that marked 2022 in and around China and looks ahead to the landscape unfolding in 2023.

10.08.2022

China: Politburo drops GDP target and decrees stability in H2 2022

GDP growth bottomed in Q2 and should recover around 5.0% y/y in H2 2022. The July Politburo meeting confirmed this, stressing “stability” and dropping the 5.5% GDP growth target. We maintain our forecast for 2022 unchanged at 3.7%.

05.04.2022

Major headwinds for the growth cycle

The global economy remains resilient despite negative momentum in Q1 & Q2. UBP’s economists Patrice Gautry and Carlos Casanova take a tour of the macro scenario around the world.

08.11.2021

China: The factors behind weaker growth in 2022

The Chinese economy is facing headwinds leading into 2022, including: 1) Ongoing regulatory crackdown; 2) Exposure to COVID outbreaks; 3) A slump in the housing sector; and 4) Power shortages over the winter months.