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>Merchandise exports grew 11.9%YoY in Feb'24 (+7.5%YoY in Jan-Feb'24) amid a broad-based rebound in engineering, pharma, chemical, electronic exports. With exports outpacing imports, the merchandise deficit declined 8.2%YoY in Apr'23-Feb'24. </li>
<li>Services exports are robust, with many hitherto-imported services also moving onshore. The services trade surplus widened 20%YoY in Apr'23-Jan'24, likely enabling the FY24 CAD to shrink to 0.6% of GDP.</li>
<li>With goods exports set to accelerate, and crude oil prices relatively tame, we expect the current account to swing to a surplus in CY24 (and +0.5% of GDP in FY25). </li>
</ul>


Merchandise exports grew 11.9%YoY in Feb'24 (+7.5%YoY in Jan-Feb'24) amid a broad-based rebound in engineering, pharma, chemical, electronic exports. With exports outpacing imports, the merchandise deficit declined 8.2%YoY in Apr'23-Feb'24. 
Services exports are robust, with many hitherto-imported services also moving onshore. The services trade surplus widened 20%YoY in Apr'23-Jan'24, likely enabling the FY24 CAD to shrink to 0.6% of GDP.
With goods exports set to accelerate, and crude oil prices relatively tame, we expect the current account to swing to a surplus in CY24 (and +0.5% of GDP in FY25). 


India: Merchandise and Services Both Help Toward a CA Surplus in CY24

Head of Research and Global Chief Strategist, Steno Research

Andreas Steno

Head of Research and Global Chief Strategist

Macro and Geopolitical Research House

Steno Research

Steno Research is a new macro and geopolitical research house. We are based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, but have an international team and a strong network of sources and partners around the world. The team is lead by Andreas Steno, previous global head of strategy at Nordea Bank, and Mikkel Rosenvold, former chief consultant in the Danish Ministry of Finance.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul><li>The cyclical rotation is slowly but slowly rolling and if central banks add rate cuts to this mix, we are staring directly into the melt up.</li><li>Welcome to our weekly Portfolio Watch, where we assess the tradeable themes and discuss our portfolio composition.</li><li>In this revamped version of the series, we will touch upon the developments in our Macro Alpha Portfolio and our Digital Assets Portfolio.</li></ul>

The cyclical rotation is slowly but slowly rolling and if central banks add rate cuts to this mix, we are staring directly into the melt up.Welcome to our weekly Portfolio Watch, where we assess the tradeable themes and discuss our portfolio composition.In this revamped version of the series, we will touch upon the developments in our Macro Alpha Portfolio and our Digital Assets Portfolio.

Portfolio Watch: What if We Add a Rate Cut to This Fire..

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist, True Insights

Jeroen Blokland

Global Multi-Asset Investment Strategist

Build Well-Diversified Multi-Asset Portfolios

True Insights

Our research helps investors build well-diversified multi-asset portfolios and profit from market developments. In addition, our unique and proven Macro – Sentiment – Valuation (MSV) investment framework ensures a consistent flow of new investment opportunities. Together with our market views, these opportunities will be reflected in our live ETF-based Global Multi-Asset Portfolios.

<ul>
<li>Ironically, the country with the central bank that refuses to tighten extremely loose monetary policy has hit a recession first. Congrats Japan!</li>
<li>Bitcoin has breached the USD 1 billion threshold again. The reason is that US spot ETFs must buy every bitcoin available to meet demand. Investors are extremely hungry for digital gold!</li>
<li>And my bellwether global earnings indicator points to positive earnings growth for the first time in a long time.</li>
</ul>


Ironically, the country with the central bank that refuses to tighten extremely loose monetary policy has hit a recession first. Congrats Japan!
Bitcoin has breached the USD 1 billion threshold again. The reason is that US spot ETFs must buy every bitcoin available to meet demand. Investors are extremely hungry for digital gold!
And my bellwether global earnings indicator points to positive earnings growth for the first time in a long time.


The Weekly Market Monitor – Recession Strikes the Most Accommodative Economy, Bitcoin Shines!

<ul><li>The year has generally speaking been a forecasting challenge for most to say the least, and not a lot of people forecasted the ending that we’re left with, but how does the current price action and massive inflows into both equities and bonds leave us for 2024?</li><li>Sentiment has been EXTREMELY bullish in Q3 and Q4 based on our z-score sentiment model but almost solely built on equity momentum, which is rarely a good sign.</li><li>Both option ratios, credit-spreads and market breadth have turned bearish in Q4, which should leave markets vulnerable after the boost from positive liquidity trends dwindles during Q1 2024.</li></ul>

The year has generally speaking been a forecasting challenge for most to say the least, and not a lot of people forecasted the ending that we’re left with, but how does the current price action and massive inflows into both equities and bonds leave us for 2024?Sentiment has been EXTREMELY bullish in Q3 and Q4 based on our z-score sentiment model but almost solely built on equity momentum, which is rarely a good sign.Both option ratios, credit-spreads and market breadth have turned bearish in Q4, which should leave markets vulnerable after the boost from positive liquidity trends dwindles during Q1 2024.

Positioning Watch – How are markets positioned ahead of a turbulent 2024?

<ul>
<li>China continues losing US market share at 1pp+ per year since Mar’18 (when its share was 21.8%); in the year to Sep’23, China’s share of US imports declined to 14%. </li>
<li>US imports have declined YoY in 10 of the past 11 months. Although we expect the US to go into recession this quarter and next, US imports have already troughed.                </li>
<li>Although the US economy will weaken (as PCE is slowed by student-loan repayments, and fiscal pullback begins), US imports should start rebounding in Q1CY24, boosting India and ASEAN, not China. </li>
</ul>


China continues losing US market share at 1pp+ per year since Mar’18 (when its share was 21.8%); in the year to Sep’23, China’s share of US imports declined to 14%. 
US imports have declined YoY in 10 of the past 11 months. Although we expect the US to go into recession this quarter and next, US imports have already troughed.                
Although the US economy will weaken (as PCE is slowed by student-loan repayments, and fiscal pullback begins), US imports should start rebounding in Q1CY24, boosting India and ASEAN, not China. 


US Recession Still Likely but Imports to Rebound Sooner, Benefiting India-ASEAN

India

iShares MSCI India Index ETF is an exchange-traded fund registered in Singapore. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the MSCI India Index. The Fund invests all or substantially all of its assets in shares comprising the MSCI India Index in substantially the same weightings as constituted in the underlying index.

iShares MSCI India Index ETF (INDIA SP)

India: Merchandise and Services Both Help Toward a CA Surplus in CY24

Goods exports grew 7.5%YoY in Jan-Feb24, leading to a decline in the merchandise deficit. With the services surplus up 20%YoY, a swing to a...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Portfolio Watch: What if We Add a Rate Cut to This Fire..

The cyclical rotation is slowly but slowly rolling and if central banks add rate cuts to this mix, we are staring directly into the melt...

Steno Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – Recession Strikes the Most Accommodative Economy, Bitcoin Shines!

The likelihood that the Bank of Japan will not tighten has risen sharply. So has the price of bitcoin, now worth over USD 1 billion, which is still...

Jeroen Blokland

Positioning Watch – How are markets positioned ahead of a turbulent 2024?

Hello everyone. We hope you have enjoyed the holiday season and are slowly but surely getting ready for New Years and the new year ahead of you in...

Steno Research

US Recession Still Likely but Imports to Rebound Sooner, Benefiting India-ASEAN

US imports fell in 10 of the last 11 months. While PCE and fiscal pullback will push US economy into recession, US imports should rebound from...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Merchandise and Services Both Help Toward a CA Surplus in CY24

​Goods exports grew 7.5%YoY in Jan-Feb24, leading to a decline in the merchandise deficit. With the services surplus up 20%YoY, a swing to a...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Portfolio Watch: What if We Add a Rate Cut to This Fire..

The cyclical rotation is slowly but slowly rolling and if central banks add rate cuts to this mix, we are staring directly into the melt...

Steno Research

The Weekly Market Monitor – Recession Strikes the Most Accommodative Economy, Bitcoin Shines!

The likelihood that the Bank of Japan will not tighten has risen sharply. So has the price of bitcoin, now worth over USD 1 billion, which is still...

Jeroen Blokland

Positioning Watch – How are markets positioned ahead of a turbulent 2024?

Hello everyone. We hope you have enjoyed the holiday season and are slowly but surely getting ready for New Years and the new year ahead of you in...

Steno Research

US Recession Still Likely but Imports to Rebound Sooner, Benefiting India-ASEAN

US imports fell in 10 of the last 11 months. While PCE and fiscal pullback will push US economy into recession, US imports should rebound from...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Goods exports grew 7.5%YoY in Jan-Feb24, leading to a decline in the merchandise deficit. With the services surplus up 20%YoY, a swing to a...