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>After 8 quarters of employment-led growth, productivity grew 1.5%YoY in Q2CY24, as machinery investment grew 3.8%YoY. The large pipeline of unfulfilled investment commitments from 2022 should boost machinery investment further. </li>
<li>NODX rebounded to 13.2%YoY growth (16.1%YoY volume growth) in Jul-Aug'24, and the BoP current account surplus was 20% of GDP in H1CY24. As productivity accelerates, inflation will moderate. </li>
<li>We expect real GDP to grow 3.7% in 2024. But lower inflation will allow S$NEER's pace of appreciation to be reduced (Oct'24) and S$NEER re-centered lower (Mar'25). Bullish. </li>
</ul>


After 8 quarters of employment-led growth, productivity grew 1.5%YoY in Q2CY24, as machinery investment grew 3.8%YoY. The large pipeline of unfulfilled investment commitments from 2022 should boost machinery investment further. 
NODX rebounded to 13.2%YoY growth (16.1%YoY volume growth) in Jul-Aug'24, and the BoP current account surplus was 20% of GDP in H1CY24. As productivity accelerates, inflation will moderate. 
We expect real GDP to grow 3.7% in 2024. But lower inflation will allow S$NEER's pace of appreciation to be reduced (Oct'24) and S$NEER re-centered lower (Mar'25). Bullish. 


Singapore: Productivity-Led Cyclical Recovery Will Dampen Inflation, Ease Policy

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>While maybe deflation may not be a concern right now, we believe that high real rates will be a consideration of the Fed</li>
<li>With average lending rates at 8.5% in August and the All Urban CPI Index recording 2.5% inflation in the August, real lending rates are high at 5.97%</li>
<li>When figures were similar, it was July/August 2007 - rarely has there been a time in recent years, where real loan rates have been so high, without Fed reaction</li>
</ul>


While maybe deflation may not be a concern right now, we believe that high real rates will be a consideration of the Fed
With average lending rates at 8.5% in August and the All Urban CPI Index recording 2.5% inflation in the August, real lending rates are high at 5.97%
When figures were similar, it was July/August 2007 - rarely has there been a time in recent years, where real loan rates have been so high, without Fed reaction


Fed Rate Cut - Real Lending Rates at 5.97% Near Where Peaking In August 2007

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue Institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the five trading sessions spanning Sep 6 to 13, with S$523 million of net institutional inflow, following the S$328 million in net institutional inflow for the preceding five sessions.</li><li>Eight of the stocks also led the net institutional inflow over the preceding five sessions, with SATS and Singapore Airlines the exceptions.</li></ul>

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue Institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the five trading sessions spanning Sep 6 to 13, with S$523 million of net institutional inflow, following the S$328 million in net institutional inflow for the preceding five sessions.Eight of the stocks also led the net institutional inflow over the preceding five sessions, with SATS and Singapore Airlines the exceptions.

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue

<ul>
<li>Granular data at Hang Seng Bank suggests a greater deterioration in both HK and China than is readily visible in headline numbers</li>
<li>The bank's China pre-tax profit is down 70% YoY in 1H24 and its total stage 3 loans are up 84% YoY in 1H24</li>
<li>The bank's credit-impaired loans for Hong Kong CRE rose from HKD1,081m to HKD13,485m, from 2H23 to 1H24</li>
</ul>


Granular data at Hang Seng Bank suggests a greater deterioration in both HK and China than is readily visible in headline numbers
The bank's China pre-tax profit is down 70% YoY in 1H24 and its total stage 3 loans are up 84% YoY in 1H24
The bank's credit-impaired loans for Hong Kong CRE rose from HKD1,081m to HKD13,485m, from 2H23 to 1H24


Hang Seng Bank - China Profit -70% YoY, Stage 3 Loans +84% YoY, HK CRE Impaired Loan +12.5x (Times)

<ul>
<li>With many real estate developers in China reporting losses, and with greater clarity of their woes, there should be flow through to banks. </li>
<li>Generally, at the top line and in head line bad loans, this is simply not visible, so that one must look to notes to financial statements, other granular data.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-communications-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:659:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of Communications Co H (3328 HK)</a> shows restructured loans up from RMB41bn to RMB61bn in just six months, with many China banks showing far higher loss loans</li>
</ul>


With many real estate developers in China reporting losses, and with greater clarity of their woes, there should be flow through to banks. 
Generally, at the top line and in head line bad loans, this is simply not visible, so that one must look to notes to financial statements, other granular data.

Bank Of Communications Co H (3328 HK) shows restructured loans up from RMB41bn to RMB61bn in just six months, with many China banks showing far higher loss loans


China Banks - Losses at Developers, Notes to Financials at Some Banks, More Clear than Headlines

Singapore

DBS Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries provide a variety of financial services.  The Company offers services including mortgage financing, lease and hire purchase financing, nominee and trustee, funds management, corporate advisory and brokerage .  DBS Group also acts as the primary dealer in Singapore government securities.

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DBS (DBS SP)

Singapore: Productivity-Led Cyclical Recovery Will Dampen Inflation, Ease Policy

Productivity is accelerating amid a machinery investment-led cyclical rebound. ULCs & inflation are declining, even as RGDP accelerates to 3.7%...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Fed Rate Cut - Real Lending Rates at 5.97% Near Where Peaking In August 2007

Real rates are too high in the US and they have been rising sharply. This is likely where the the Fed will need to focus when considering rate...

Daniel Tabbush

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue Institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the five trading sessions spanning...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Hang Seng Bank - China Profit -70% YoY, Stage 3 Loans +84% YoY, HK CRE Impaired Loan +12.5x (Times)

Granular data for Hang Seng Bank provides a good window of underlying credit metrics in both Hong Kong and China, which may not be well visible in...

Daniel Tabbush

China Banks - Losses at Developers, Notes to Financials at Some Banks, More Clear than Headlines

There are losses at China developers and some of this is new or losses are much higher. This is not fully reflected in headline figures at China...

Daniel Tabbush

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Singapore: Productivity-Led Cyclical Recovery Will Dampen Inflation, Ease Policy

​Productivity is accelerating amid a machinery investment-led cyclical rebound. ULCs & inflation are declining, even as RGDP accelerates to 3.7%...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Fed Rate Cut - Real Lending Rates at 5.97% Near Where Peaking In August 2007

Real rates are too high in the US and they have been rising sharply. This is likely where the the Fed will need to focus when considering rate...

Daniel Tabbush

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue

Net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks continue Institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the five trading sessions spanning...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Hang Seng Bank - China Profit -70% YoY, Stage 3 Loans +84% YoY, HK CRE Impaired Loan +12.5x (Times)

Granular data for Hang Seng Bank provides a good window of underlying credit metrics in both Hong Kong and China, which may not be well visible in...

Daniel Tabbush

China Banks - Losses at Developers, Notes to Financials at Some Banks, More Clear than Headlines

There are losses at China developers and some of this is new or losses are much higher. This is not fully reflected in headline figures at China...

Daniel Tabbush

Productivity is accelerating amid a machinery investment-led cyclical rebound. ULCs & inflation are declining, even as RGDP accelerates to 3.7%...