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>With CPI inflation still 6%YoY and core CPI +5.5%YoY (annualised 6%MoM) in Feb'23, the Fed will be obliged to hike 25bp, and likely also reintroduce a reserve requirement for banks. </li>
<li>Unemployment at 3.6% is far below the long-accepted NAIRU of 4.5%, reflected also in average wages still rising 4.6%YoY in Feb'23. M2 declined in Dec'22-Jan'23 but needs to contract more. </li>
<li>A 50bp hike would've been warranted, but the collapse of 3 tech-related banks obliges the Fed to be a bit circumspect. The disappearance of CS can't influence the FOMC decision. </li>
</ul>


With CPI inflation still 6%YoY and core CPI +5.5%YoY (annualised 6%MoM) in Feb'23, the Fed will be obliged to hike 25bp, and likely also reintroduce a reserve requirement for banks. 
Unemployment at 3.6% is far below the long-accepted NAIRU of 4.5%, reflected also in average wages still rising 4.6%YoY in Feb'23. M2 declined in Dec'22-Jan'23 but needs to contract more. 
A 50bp hike would've been warranted, but the collapse of 3 tech-related banks obliges the Fed to be a bit circumspect. The disappearance of CS can't influence the FOMC decision. 


US: Elevated Inflation and Tight Labour Market to Force Hikes Despite Bank Turmoil

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>SPX is holding above its 200-day MA/3940 coinciding with its prior downtrend from 2022 near 3915; 3915-3940 remains critical support, and is the gateway to a much deeper pullback.</li>
<li>Additionally, the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) is breaking back above $297, another important line in the sand for us.</li>
<li>The SPX holding at 3915-3940 could be the spark that allows another run toward YTD highs, but we continue to expect 4165-4200 to cap upside on the S&amp;P 500.</li>
</ul>


SPX is holding above its 200-day MA/3940 coinciding with its prior downtrend from 2022 near 3915; 3915-3940 remains critical support, and is the gateway to a much deeper pullback.
Additionally, the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) is breaking back above $297, another important line in the sand for us.
The SPX holding at 3915-3940 could be the spark that allows another run toward YTD highs, but we continue to expect 4165-4200 to cap upside on the S&amp;P 500.


Still Expecting 4165-4200 on S&P 500 to Cap Upside; Buys Within Insurance and Steel/Metals

<ul>
<li>Core PCE increased 6.9%MoM (annualized) in Jan'23, and hence was up 4.71%YoY, moving further away from the FOMC's 2%YoY target (rather than edging towards it as had been expected). </li>
<li>M2 growth averaging 18.2%YoY in Mar'20-Feb'22 (vs a pre-Covid average of 6.8%YoY in the previous 60 years) is the cause. FedFunds must rise to 5.5% by May'23 to compensate.</li>
<li>Severely inverted yield curve indicates that a recession (from Q2CY23 onward) will also help generate slack, taming inflation. Any delay in recession's onset will entail even more rate hikes. </li>
</ul>


Core PCE increased 6.9%MoM (annualized) in Jan'23, and hence was up 4.71%YoY, moving further away from the FOMC's 2%YoY target (rather than edging towards it as had been expected). 
M2 growth averaging 18.2%YoY in Mar'20-Feb'22 (vs a pre-Covid average of 6.8%YoY in the previous 60 years) is the cause. FedFunds must rise to 5.5% by May'23 to compensate.
Severely inverted yield curve indicates that a recession (from Q2CY23 onward) will also help generate slack, taming inflation. Any delay in recession's onset will entail even more rate hikes. 


US: Inflation Shock Implies More Rate Hikes Needed Even as Recession Looms

US Treasury (10 Yr Generic) / Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>We continue to expect the 4165-4200 level to cap upside on the S&amp;P 500, but cannot rule out a trip to 4300-4325 (August 2022 highs)</li>
<li>Either way, we continue to preach caution and believe that upside is limited on the market indexes.</li>
<li>Treasury yields are starting to reverse above multi-month downtrends, and we are monitoring for similar reversals on the U.S. dollar (DXY) and high yield spreads.</li>
</ul>


We continue to expect the 4165-4200 level to cap upside on the S&amp;P 500, but cannot rule out a trip to 4300-4325 (August 2022 highs)
Either way, we continue to preach caution and believe that upside is limited on the market indexes.
Treasury yields are starting to reverse above multi-month downtrends, and we are monitoring for similar reversals on the U.S. dollar (DXY) and high yield spreads.


Treasury Yields Reversing Higher; U.S. Dollar and High Yield Spreads to Follow?

<ul>
<li>M2 contracted 1.3%YoY in Dec'22, its first YoY contraction in 80+ years. Since core PCE inflation was still 4.4%YoY that month, more monetary contraction is needed.  </li>
<li>The 10yr-2yr yield spread is -0.76pp (10th Feb'23), while ISM manufacturing new orders have slipped to 42.5, both unequivocally signaling that recession will likely begin next quarter (Q2 2023). </li>
<li>US real GDP decelerated for 4 consecutive quarters (to +1%YoY in 4Q2022), but the labour market appears tight merely because the participation rate is 4pp lower than 2008.</li>
</ul>


M2 contracted 1.3%YoY in Dec'22, its first YoY contraction in 80+ years. Since core PCE inflation was still 4.4%YoY that month, more monetary contraction is needed.  
The 10yr-2yr yield spread is -0.76pp (10th Feb'23), while ISM manufacturing new orders have slipped to 42.5, both unequivocally signaling that recession will likely begin next quarter (Q2 2023). 
US real GDP decelerated for 4 consecutive quarters (to +1%YoY in 4Q2022), but the labour market appears tight merely because the participation rate is 4pp lower than 2008.


US: Recession Imminent, as M2 Needs to Contract Further to Squeeze Out Inflation

United States

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 blue-chip stocks that are generally the leaders in their industry. It has been a widely followed indicator of the stock market since October 1, 1928.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU INDEX)

Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU INDEX)

US: Elevated Inflation and Tight Labour Market to Force Hikes Despite Bank Turmoil

CPI inflation of 6%YoY & core CPI rising 6%MoM annualized leave no room for the FOMC to abjure a rate hike. The collapse of 3 techy banks will mean...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Still Expecting 4165-4200 on S&P 500 to Cap Upside; Buys Within Insurance and Steel/Metals

The $SPX holding at 3915-3940 could be the spark that allows another run toward YTD highs, but we continue to expect 4165-4200 to cap upside and...

Vermilion Research

US: Inflation Shock Implies More Rate Hikes Needed Even as Recession Looms

M2 grew 18.2%YoY in Mar20-Feb22; its 1.3%YoY decline in Dec'22 didn't stop a 6.9%MoM annualized rise in core PCE in Jan23. Fed Funds rate needs to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Treasury Yields Reversing Higher; U.S. Dollar and High Yield Spreads to Follow?

We continue to expect 4165-4200 to cap upside on the S&P 500, but a trip to 4300-4325 is possible. We continue to preach caution. Treasury yields...

Vermilion Research

US: Recession Imminent, as M2 Needs to Contract Further to Squeeze Out Inflation

Despite the 1st YoY M2 contraction YoY in 80+ years, core PCE inflation is double the Fed target. More M2 contraction will drag the US to recession...

Prasenjit K. Basu