Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>FX reserves, which had declined over 10% from Mar'22 to Oct'22, rebounded by 8.9% in Nov-Dec'22. Anwar's inclusive policies will likely induce a steady rebound in net capital inflows. </li>
<li>Base effects have facilitated 9.3%YoY real GDP growth in Q1-Q3 2022 led by strong private consumption and net exports; better growth cut the fiscal deficit to 4% of GDP YTD.    </li>
<li>Net foreign portfolio outflows averaged 1.75% of GDP since 2013. As FPI rebounds, and non-bumiputera businesses invest anew, Malaysia's real GDP will grow 6% despite the OECD recession in 2023.</li>
</ul>


FX reserves, which had declined over 10% from Mar'22 to Oct'22, rebounded by 8.9% in Nov-Dec'22. Anwar's inclusive policies will likely induce a steady rebound in net capital inflows. 
Base effects have facilitated 9.3%YoY real GDP growth in Q1-Q3 2022 led by strong private consumption and net exports; better growth cut the fiscal deficit to 4% of GDP YTD.    
Net foreign portfolio outflows averaged 1.75% of GDP since 2013. As FPI rebounds, and non-bumiputera businesses invest anew, Malaysia's real GDP will grow 6% despite the OECD recession in 2023.


Malaysia: Anwar Well-Positioned to Spur Economic Recovery as Capital Flows Back

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Malaysian ownership continues its upward trend after a 10-year bear market in positioning from 2014 to 2023</li>
<li>Longer-Term ownership declines in Malaysian Financials and Industrials are starting to reverse.</li>
<li>Only 3 companies are owned by more than 10% of funds, with CIMB Group Holdings (CIMB MK)  the clear leader.</li>
</ul>


Malaysian ownership continues its upward trend after a 10-year bear market in positioning from 2014 to 2023
Longer-Term ownership declines in Malaysian Financials and Industrials are starting to reverse.
Only 3 companies are owned by more than 10% of funds, with CIMB Group Holdings (CIMB MK)  the clear leader.


Malaysia: Sentiment Change Drives Positioning Off the Lows

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>RHB Bank is our Malaysian bank top pick, with its real turnaround potential for returns; CIMB remains a buy but is less compelling than RHB given its marked re-rating year-to-date</li>
<li>Our new buy RHB Bank is stand-out value versus its Malaysian peers and it is improving returns from low levels; its main delinquency challenges are concentrated in small overseas portfolios</li>
<li>We reiterate our buy on CIMB; management continues to drive credit quality with cost of risk improvements, and we see potential for operating efficiency gains, combined with its attractive valuations</li>
</ul>


RHB Bank is our Malaysian bank top pick, with its real turnaround potential for returns; CIMB remains a buy but is less compelling than RHB given its marked re-rating year-to-date
Our new buy RHB Bank is stand-out value versus its Malaysian peers and it is improving returns from low levels; its main delinquency challenges are concentrated in small overseas portfolios
We reiterate our buy on CIMB; management continues to drive credit quality with cost of risk improvements, and we see potential for operating efficiency gains, combined with its attractive valuations


Malaysian Banks Screen; RHB Bank Upgraded to a Buy, Alongside Existing Buy on CIMB

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of high dividend yield stocks within emerging markets.</li>
<li>The changes at the October rebalance were announced after market close on 4 October with implementation scheduled at the close on 16 October.</li>
<li>There are 241 adds and 208 deletes for the index with an estimated round-trip trade of US$2.5bn. There are many stocks with over 2x ADV to trade.</li>
</ul>


The WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of high dividend yield stocks within emerging markets.
The changes at the October rebalance were announced after market close on 4 October with implementation scheduled at the close on 16 October.
There are 241 adds and 208 deletes for the index with an estimated round-trip trade of US$2.5bn. There are many stocks with over 2x ADV to trade.


WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index Rebalance: US$2.5bn Round-Trip Trade

<ul>
<li>Of the six Malaysian banks screened, we keep value play CIMB, whose share price has positive momentum, and quality play Maybank on the buy list</li>
<li>Value pick CIMB has undemanding valuations whilst second from top in post-provision profitability; it has strong capital adequacy and its cost of risk is now more in line with peers</li>
<li>Quality pick Maybank also has relatively undemanding PE multiples and PBV ratio, as well as strong balance sheet credentials and improving returns</li>
</ul>


Of the six Malaysian banks screened, we keep value play CIMB, whose share price has positive momentum, and quality play Maybank on the buy list
Value pick CIMB has undemanding valuations whilst second from top in post-provision profitability; it has strong capital adequacy and its cost of risk is now more in line with peers
Quality pick Maybank also has relatively undemanding PE multiples and PBV ratio, as well as strong balance sheet credentials and improving returns


Malaysian Banks Screener; Stick with Value Pick CIMB and Maybank as the Quality Pick

Malaysia

Public Bank Berhad provides a range of banking and financial services which include leasing and factoring, stock and futures broking, financing for the purchase of licensed public vehicles, and other financial services. The Group's overseas operations include branches in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

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Public Bank (PBK MK)

Malaysia: Anwar Well-Positioned to Spur Economic Recovery as Capital Flows Back

FX reserves & MYR have rebounded since Anwar became PM. Non-bumi businesses which were investing outside Malaysia since 2000 are set to return,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Malaysia: Sentiment Change Drives Positioning Off the Lows

Among active Emerging Market funds, Malaysian ownership continues its upward trend after a 10-year bear market in positioning from 2014 to 2023.

Steven Holden

Malaysian Banks Screen; RHB Bank Upgraded to a Buy, Alongside Existing Buy on CIMB

RHB Bank is our top pick in Malaysian banks for its value attributes with strong turnaround potential, while CIMB remains the quality buy even...

Victor Galliano

WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index Rebalance: US$2.5bn Round-Trip Trade

There are 241 adds/208 deletes for the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index. The round-trip trade is around US$2.5bn and there are a...

Brian Freitas

Malaysian Banks Screener; Stick with Value Pick CIMB and Maybank as the Quality Pick

Value play CIMB and quality play Maybank are top picks among Malaysian banks, both with strong financials and positive momentum in share price....

Victor Galliano

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Malaysia: Anwar Well-Positioned to Spur Economic Recovery as Capital Flows Back

FX reserves & MYR have rebounded since Anwar became PM. Non-bumi businesses which were investing outside Malaysia since 2000 are set to return,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Malaysia: Sentiment Change Drives Positioning Off the Lows

Among active Emerging Market funds, Malaysian ownership continues its upward trend after a 10-year bear market in positioning from 2014 to 2023.

Steven Holden

Malaysian Banks Screen; RHB Bank Upgraded to a Buy, Alongside Existing Buy on CIMB

​RHB Bank is our top pick in Malaysian banks for its value attributes with strong turnaround potential, while CIMB remains the quality buy even...

Victor Galliano

WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index Rebalance: US$2.5bn Round-Trip Trade

There are 241 adds/208 deletes for the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index. The round-trip trade is around US$2.5bn and there are a...

Brian Freitas

Malaysian Banks Screener; Stick with Value Pick CIMB and Maybank as the Quality Pick

​Value play CIMB and quality play Maybank are top picks among Malaysian banks, both with strong financials and positive momentum in share price....

Victor Galliano

RHB Bank is our top pick in Malaysian banks for its value attributes with strong turnaround potential, while CIMB remains the quality buy even...

Value play CIMB and quality play Maybank are top picks among Malaysian banks, both with strong financials and positive momentum in share price....