SINGAPORE -- The Asian economy has sailed smoothly into 2018, with healthy growth rates projected for a host of key countries. Snapshots from across the region, however, suggest there may be choppy waters ahead.
One warning sign takes the form of gleaming new buildings in Malaysia. In Jalan Kuching, a roughly 20-minute drive from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, banners seeking tenants flutter outside a commercial building a year after it was completed. The building's occupancy rate is only 10% because the landlord's rents are too high, according to a local real estate agent. Despite the area's close proximity to the center of the capital, foot traffic is sparse.
