By Chinmei Sung and Suttinee Yuvejwattana

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan and Thailand exited recession last quarter and Malaysia probably followed, as Asian economies lead the global recovery.

Asian economies are paving the way for a global recovery from the worst worldwide recession since the Great Depression after central banks in the region slashed interest rates to record lows and governments increased spending by more than $1 trillion. The strength of Asia’s rebound has seen policy makers lead the way in withdrawing stimulus.

“Asia’s recovery is at least two quarters ahead of the U.S. and monetary authorities have been contemplating exit strategies for some time,” said David Carbon, head of economic and currency research at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore. “With higher U.S. rates on the cards, Asia’s central banks can pursue their exit strategies with less to fear on the inflow and currency front.”

Policy makers in China, India and Vietnam are tightening monetary conditions amid signs that accelerating growth is fueling inflation and may led to asset bubbles. The U.S. Federal Reserve, which increased its discount rate by a quarter point to 0.75 percent on Feb. 18, has left its benchmark policy rate unchanged for more than a year.

 Rising Demand

 Asian stocks jumped by the most since November on speculation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will say in a report due to be released this week that U.S. interest rates will be kept low to spur economic growth. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 2.4 percent to 118.14 as of 2 p.m. in Tokyo, the biggest increase since Nov. 30.

The emergence of the world economy from the global recession is encouraging companies in Asia to boost production and hire more workers. Singapore last week raised its economic growth forecast for 2010, predicting an expansion of as much as 6.5 percent this year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corp., the world’s largest makers of custom chips, are boosting capital spending this year after fourth- quarter profits beat analysts’ estimates.

 ‘Very, Very Strong’

 Demand has been “very, very strong” in the computer, automotive and consumer electronics sectors over the past few quarters, Richard Han, chief executive officer of Hana Microelectronics Pcl, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Bangkok today. Hana makes parts for computers and mobile phones including Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

Taiwan’s fourth-quarter economic growth was the strongest since June 2004 and Thailand’s increase in GDP was the most in seven quarters.

China’s central bank on Feb. 12 ordered lenders to set aside larger reserves, aiming to rein in credit growth after banks extended 19 percent of this year’s 7.5 trillion yuan ($1.1 trillion) lending target in January and property prices climbed the most in 21 months. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. expects the Chinese economy will expand 11.4 percent this year.

 Emerging Asia

 India’s $1.2 trillion economy may grow 7.2 percent in the current fiscal year through March, accelerating for the first time since 2007, the statistics office said Feb. 8.

“We expect GDP growth in emerging Asia to stay strong in coming quarters,” said Kevin Grice, an economist at Capital Economics Ltd. in London. “The most trade-dependent economies will eventually see slower GDP growth later this year and in 2011 as the global upswing loses momentum. But Asia’s rebound will not come to a complete halt and growth, by some distance, will stay higher than in any other part of the world.”

 
--With assistance from Jay Wang and Shamim Adam in Singapore, Dan Ten Kate in Bangkok, Yu-Huay Sun in Taipei and Michael Munoz in Hong Kong. Editors: Michael Dwyer, John McCluskey

 
To contact the reporters on this story: Chinmei Sung in Taipei at +886-2-7719-1543 or csung4@bloomberg.net Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok at +662-654-7312 or Suttinee1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Anstey in Tokyo at +813-3201-7533 or canstey@bloomberg.net