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

India has bucked the global trend by growing its total government spending by only 0.4% YoY in April-October 2020. But the economic recovery caused tax revenue to rise 16.9% YoY in October 2020, and the fiscal deficit should consequently decline steadily in the second half of the fiscal year, helping to crowd-in private investment. As supply disruptions ease, CPI inflation should edge below 6% YoY by January 2021, allowing a 50bp reduction in the policy rate to further kick-start a spectacular economic recovery in 2021 (calendar year) to about 15% real GDP growth. India's real GDP contracted 7.5% YoY in July-September 2020, but will likely need to be revised up because the key Services sectors (including public administration, defence, finance and professional services) were reported to have contracted more in July-September than in the "locked-down" quarter of April-June. On the demand side, government consumption spending declined a severe 22.2% YoY in real terms, private consumption declined 11.3% YoY, and investment spending fell 7.4% YoY, but real net exports added 3.5 percentage points to GDP. Notably, nominal exports of goods and services increased during the quarter (and yet the Services contribution to the output side was sharply negative, suggesting serious measurement errors in the latter). But the overall decline in government spending was a notable restraint on GDP during the quarter. Fiscal restraint has meant that India's total government spending (nominal) in April-October 2020 was up just 0.4% YoY. In October 2020, strong gross tax revenue (+16.9% YoY) enabled the fiscal deficit to decline 43% YoY. As the accelerating economy boosts tax revenues in the months ahead, the fiscal deficit will moderate steadily further, allowing some room for even this extraordinarily fiscally-conservative government to ease the reins on government spending. More importantly, as the supply disruptions from transportation bottlenecks ease, we expect CPI inflation to moderate to below 6% YoY by January 2021, allowing a 50bp reduction in policy rates by March 2021 -- thereby kick-starting a strong economic recovery to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar 2021, around 30% YoY in the next quarter and over 10% YoY in the rest of FY2021/22.

India has bucked the global trend by growing its total government spending by only 0.4% YoY in April-October 2020. But the economic recovery caused tax revenue to rise 16.9% YoY in October 2020, and the fiscal deficit should consequently decline steadily in the second half of the fiscal year, helping to crowd-in private investment. As supply disruptions ease, CPI inflation should edge below 6% YoY by January 2021, allowing a 50bp reduction in the policy rate to further kick-start a spectacular economic recovery in 2021 (calendar year) to about 15% real GDP growth. India's real GDP contracted 7.5% YoY in July-September 2020, but will likely need to be revised up because the key Services sectors (including public administration, defence, finance and professional services) were reported to have contracted more in July-September than in the "locked-down" quarter of April-June. On the demand side, government consumption spending declined a severe 22.2% YoY in real terms, private consumption declined 11.3% YoY, and investment spending fell 7.4% YoY, but real net exports added 3.5 percentage points to GDP. Notably, nominal exports of goods and services increased during the quarter (and yet the Services contribution to the output side was sharply negative, suggesting serious measurement errors in the latter). But the overall decline in government spending was a notable restraint on GDP during the quarter. Fiscal restraint has meant that India's total government spending (nominal) in April-October 2020 was up just 0.4% YoY. In October 2020, strong gross tax revenue (+16.9% YoY) enabled the fiscal deficit to decline 43% YoY. As the accelerating economy boosts tax revenues in the months ahead, the fiscal deficit will moderate steadily further, allowing some room for even this extraordinarily fiscally-conservative government to ease the reins on government spending. More importantly, as the supply disruptions from transportation bottlenecks ease, we expect CPI inflation to moderate to below 6% YoY by January 2021, allowing a 50bp reduction in policy rates by March 2021 -- thereby kick-starting a strong economic recovery to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar 2021, around 30% YoY in the next quarter and over 10% YoY in the rest of FY2021/22. 

Economic Recovery Is Gaining Momentum, but Monetary Stimulus Would Help

Deputy Chief Economist

Sharmila Whelan

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

While many emerging market economies faced with an external debt blowout are scrambling to re-schedule debt with international creditors, that is not a problem Asia faces. In most of Asia balance of payments positions are improving, international reserves are rising, and external debt positions are getting more sustainable.

While many emerging market economies faced with an external debt blowout are scrambling to re-schedule debt with international creditors, that is not a problem Asia faces. In most of Asia balance of payments positions are improving, international reserves are rising, and external debt positions are getting more sustainable.

If the performance of India’s stock market is anything to judge by the pandemic lasted just a month and the economic fallout of the March nationwide lockdown was negligible. The question is the stock market’s unbound euphoria justified? No. The immediate (and the worst of the) economic shock is behind and that is a relief but the medium-term fallout or so called scarring to the economy, the depths of which is yet the be revealed, warrants caution.

If the performance of India’s stock market is anything to judge by the pandemic lasted just a month and the economic fallout of the March nationwide lockdown was negligible. The question is the stock market’s unbound euphoria justified? No. The immediate (and the worst of the) economic shock is behind and that is a relief but the medium-term fallout or so called scarring to the economy, the depths of which is yet the be revealed, warrants caution.

Exports (+6% YoY) and industrial output (+0.2% YoY) resumed growing in September 2020, GST revenues were up 4% YoY that month and accelerated to 10% YoY growth in October 2020. We expect real GDP to expand 3% YoY in Oct-Dec 2020 and accelerate to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar 2021 (aided by a low-base effect, especially for March 2020); so real GDP will contract about 3% in FY2020/21 (much better than the IMF estimate of -10.5%) and expand over 10% in 2021/22 . With WPI inflation extremely low (as fuel prices are down YoY) and CPI inflation high (because of supply disruptions), corporate profitability is likely to be improving after the collapse in March-July. We recommend being Overweight India equities.  
India's exports grew 6% YoY in September 2020, and the long industrial recession ended in September, with industrial output expanding 0.2% YoY led by good growth in consumer non-durables (+4.1% YoY) and consumer durables (+2.8% YoY), and modest growth in infrastructure goods (+0.7% YoY). Reflecting the strength of farm incomes (and the positive impact of the on-going reforms to agricultural pricing and distribution), tractor sales expanded 31.2% YoY in 3Q 2020. Responding to the labour reforms, the pace of relocation of manufacturing FDI from China to India is gaining pace, with notable new investments from German and Japanese companies -- likely to gain further momentum in the period ahead. That GST revenues were up 4% YoY in September and 10% YoY in October 2020 is clinching evidence of the acceleration in economic activity. The "stimulus 3.0" announced on 12 November will boost employment and exports, and provide a modest spur to additional bank lending. 
Reflecting the relative sluggishness of domestic demand (with bank credit growing an anaemic 5.1% YoY in October 2020), imports declined far more than exports (even in April-August 2020), and the current account surplus widened from 0.1% of GDP in Jan-Mar 2020 to 3.9% of GDP in Apr-Jun 2020. Although imports contracted less in Jul-Sep 2020, the still-low trade deficit that quarter will ensure a current account surplus of 3.5% of GDP for 3Q 2020 (calendar year) and a full-year current account surplus of over 2% of GDP (close to the all-time high of FY2003/04). Given the healthy external balance, there is ample room for the RBI to ease monetary policy further. The high headline CPI inflation rate remains the main impediment. Over the next 2 months, the easing of Covid-19 infections across the country (with current new case numbers less than half the mid-September peak) will allow the RBI to cut the policy interest rate a further 100bp to an all-time low by March 2021. That should ensure an acceleration of real GDP to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar2021, and to over 10% growth in FY2021/22.

Exports (+6% YoY) and industrial output (+0.2% YoY) resumed growing in September 2020, GST revenues were up 4% YoY that month and accelerated to 10% YoY growth in October 2020. We expect real GDP to expand 3% YoY in Oct-Dec 2020 and accelerate to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar 2021 (aided by a low-base effect, especially for March 2020); so real GDP will contract about 3% in FY2020/21 (much better than the IMF estimate of -10.5%) and expand over 10% in 2021/22 . With WPI inflation extremely low (as fuel prices are down YoY) and CPI inflation high (because of supply disruptions), corporate profitability is likely to be improving after the collapse in March-July. We recommend being Overweight India equities.  
India's exports grew 6% YoY in September 2020, and the long industrial recession ended in September, with industrial output expanding 0.2% YoY led by good growth in consumer non-durables (+4.1% YoY) and consumer durables (+2.8% YoY), and modest growth in infrastructure goods (+0.7% YoY). Reflecting the strength of farm incomes (and the positive impact of the on-going reforms to agricultural pricing and distribution), tractor sales expanded 31.2% YoY in 3Q 2020. Responding to the labour reforms, the pace of relocation of manufacturing FDI from China to India is gaining pace, with notable new investments from German and Japanese companies -- likely to gain further momentum in the period ahead. That GST revenues were up 4% YoY in September and 10% YoY in October 2020 is clinching evidence of the acceleration in economic activity. The "stimulus 3.0" announced on 12 November will boost employment and exports, and provide a modest spur to additional bank lending. 
Reflecting the relative sluggishness of domestic demand (with bank credit growing an anaemic 5.1% YoY in October 2020), imports declined far more than exports (even in April-August 2020), and the current account surplus widened from 0.1% of GDP in Jan-Mar 2020 to 3.9% of GDP in Apr-Jun 2020. Although imports contracted less in Jul-Sep 2020, the still-low trade deficit that quarter will ensure a current account surplus of 3.5% of GDP for 3Q 2020 (calendar year) and a full-year current account surplus of over 2% of GDP (close to the all-time high of FY2003/04). Given the healthy external balance, there is ample room for the RBI to ease monetary policy further. The high headline CPI inflation rate remains the main impediment. Over the next 2 months, the easing of Covid-19 infections across the country (with current new case numbers less than half the mid-September peak) will allow the RBI to cut the policy interest rate a further 100bp to an all-time low by March 2021. That should ensure an acceleration of real GDP to 8% YoY in Jan-Mar2021, and to over 10% growth in FY2021/22.    

India: Strengthening Recovery Will Defy the IMF's Pessimism on FY2020/21 Growth

The 2020 Monsoon Session of parliament will go down in history for ushering in modern India’s most transformative economic reforms. Farmers (hitherto obliged to sell their produce to a monopsonist within each state) are now free to sell to whoever they wish (including directly for export), and the famously inflexible labour market has been ingeniously freed up.Economic reforms that economists have salivated over, but which politicians considered too hot to handle, have now been delivered by the Modi government. The simplification of labour laws (with 44 laws cut to 4 simple codes), and particularly allowing employers to take employees on (renewable) fixed-term contracts, makes India's labour market as flexible as any in Southeast Asia. The removal of the dead hand of government from vital parts of the economy – with the associated opportunities for pelf they provided to politicians and bureaucrats – has naturally resulted in an avalanche of political criticism, as most policies are in India.But the benefits to the national economy are certain over the decades ahead. The flexible labour market will bolster investment in labour-intensive manufacturing, which (like Japan in the 1950s, Taiwan and South Korea in the 1960s, Malaysia and Thailand in the 1980s, China in the 1990s) will help draw labour from low-marginal-productivity work on farms to much higher-productivity jobs in manufacturing. And as workers are drawn away from farms, those that remain there will see some improvement in their productivity -- benefitting additionally from the elimination of the intermediaries between farms and retailers, which will boost the prices earned by farmers. Early evidence that the farm-sector reforms are working is the 32% YoY increase in tractor sales in the last quarter (July-September 2020). The reforms, coupled with the IBC (Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code) and GST, will provide a significant fillip to medium-term economic growth. We are positive on Indian equities on a 12-18 month view.        <div>      </div>

The 2020 Monsoon Session of parliament will go down in history for ushering in modern India’s most transformative economic reforms. Farmers (hitherto obliged to sell their produce to a monopsonist within each state) are now free to sell to whoever they wish (including directly for export), and the famously inflexible labour market has been ingeniously freed up.Economic reforms that economists have salivated over, but which politicians considered too hot to handle, have now been delivered by the Modi government. The simplification of labour laws (with 44 laws cut to 4 simple codes), and particularly allowing employers to take employees on (renewable) fixed-term contracts, makes India's labour market as flexible as any in Southeast Asia. The removal of the dead hand of government from vital parts of the economy – with the associated opportunities for pelf they provided to politicians and bureaucrats – has naturally resulted in an avalanche of political criticism, as most policies are in India.But the benefits to the national economy are certain over the decades ahead. The flexible labour market will bolster investment in labour-intensive manufacturing, which (like Japan in the 1950s, Taiwan and South Korea in the 1960s, Malaysia and Thailand in the 1980s, China in the 1990s) will help draw labour from low-marginal-productivity work on farms to much higher-productivity jobs in manufacturing. And as workers are drawn away from farms, those that remain there will see some improvement in their productivity -- benefitting additionally from the elimination of the intermediaries between farms and retailers, which will boost the prices earned by farmers. Early evidence that the farm-sector reforms are working is the 32% YoY increase in tractor sales in the last quarter (July-September 2020). The reforms, coupled with the IBC (Insolvency &amp; Bankruptcy Code) and GST, will provide a significant fillip to medium-term economic growth. We are positive on Indian equities on a 12-18 month view.              

Modi's Blitz of Economic Reform Will Transform Farm Sector and Labour Market

India

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Economic Recovery Is Gaining Momentum, but Monetary Stimulus Would Help

Total govt spending rose just 0.4%YoY in Apr-Oct 2020. But in Oct20, tax revenue surged 17%YoY. The falling fiscal deficit will crowd in private...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Asia External Fundamentals Improve

In the midst what can be described as a trying year, one unexpected outcome is the improvement in Asian external fundamentals.

Sharmila Whelan

India - Market Gets Ahead of Itself

If the performance of India’s stock market is anything to judge by the pandemic lasted just a month and the economic fallout was negligible such....

Sharmila Whelan

India: Strengthening Recovery Will Defy the IMF's Pessimism on FY2020/21 Growth

September exports (+6% YoY) and industrial output (+.2% YoY) suggest recovery, and October GST revenue (+10% YoY) an acceleration. CA surplus...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Modi's Blitz of Economic Reform Will Transform Farm Sector and Labour Market

Labour reforms allowing new workers to be employed on fixed-term contracts give employers enormous flexibility. Coupled with the liberalization of...

Prasenjit K. Basu

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