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>The real policy rate is +1.28% (using CPI; +4.13% using WPI). High real rates are a hindrance to the real economy, especially with core inflation below 4%YoY for 13 months.</li>
<li>F&amp;B inflation moderated to 7.69%YoY in Dec'24 (from 9.69%YoY in Oct'24), as vegetable inflation eased to 26.6%YoY (from 42.2%YoY). All other key food and non-food inflation categories abated. </li>
<li>Bountiful winter and spring crops should dampen inflation further, allowing the first rate cut in 2 years (Feb'25), and 25bp rate cuts at each of the next 2 MPC meetings. </li>
</ul>


The real policy rate is +1.28% (using CPI; +4.13% using WPI). High real rates are a hindrance to the real economy, especially with core inflation below 4%YoY for 13 months.
F&amp;B inflation moderated to 7.69%YoY in Dec'24 (from 9.69%YoY in Oct'24), as vegetable inflation eased to 26.6%YoY (from 42.2%YoY). All other key food and non-food inflation categories abated. 
Bountiful winter and spring crops should dampen inflation further, allowing the first rate cut in 2 years (Feb'25), and 25bp rate cuts at each of the next 2 MPC meetings. 


India: Still on Track for Rate Cuts to Begin in Feb'25; Continue at Next 2 MPC Meetings

<ul>
<li>WPI inflation eased to 1.9%YoY in Nov'24, implying that the real policy rate was +4.6%, reining in industrial growth. Using CPI, the real policy rate in Nov'24 was +1.04%. </li>
<li>That seeming divergence is mainly caused by vegetable inflation, which moderated to a still-high 29.2%YoY in Nov'24 (from Oct'24's 42.2%YoY!). Core CPI inflation has remained below 4%YoY since Dec'23. </li>
<li>The bountiful winter harvest is likely to prompt a steady moderation in food/headline CPI inflation to below 4%YoY by Apr'25. We expect the repo rate to decline 75bp by Jun'25. </li>
</ul>


WPI inflation eased to 1.9%YoY in Nov'24, implying that the real policy rate was +4.6%, reining in industrial growth. Using CPI, the real policy rate in Nov'24 was +1.04%. 
That seeming divergence is mainly caused by vegetable inflation, which moderated to a still-high 29.2%YoY in Nov'24 (from Oct'24's 42.2%YoY!). Core CPI inflation has remained below 4%YoY since Dec'23. 
The bountiful winter harvest is likely to prompt a steady moderation in food/headline CPI inflation to below 4%YoY by Apr'25. We expect the repo rate to decline 75bp by Jun'25. 


India: Policy Rate to Decline 75bp by Jun'25 as Inflation Recedes

<ul>
<li>For H1FY25, the fiscal deficit was only 29.4% of the FY25 target, with strong income-tax, GST and customs revenue. The 12mma of the fiscal deficit narrowed to 4.6% of GDP.  </li>
<li>Corporate tax revenue grew just 2.3%YoY in H1FY25, reflecting slower profits growth. Stronger government spending likely in H2FY25, but fiscal deficit will still be well below 4.9% of GDP. </li>
<li>CAD likely to be 1.3% of GDP in H1FY25. Lower oil prices, stronger G&amp;S exports should allow a small CA surplus in H2FY25, shrinking FY25 CAD to 0.2% of GDP.</li>
</ul>


For H1FY25, the fiscal deficit was only 29.4% of the FY25 target, with strong income-tax, GST and customs revenue. The 12mma of the fiscal deficit narrowed to 4.6% of GDP.  
Corporate tax revenue grew just 2.3%YoY in H1FY25, reflecting slower profits growth. Stronger government spending likely in H2FY25, but fiscal deficit will still be well below 4.9% of GDP. 
CAD likely to be 1.3% of GDP in H1FY25. Lower oil prices, stronger G&amp;S exports should allow a small CA surplus in H2FY25, shrinking FY25 CAD to 0.2% of GDP.


India Twin Deficit Watch: Improving Trend Persists Despite EPS and Trade Setbacks

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Context: The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consultancy-services-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18708:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consultancy Services (TCS IN)</a> vs. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/infosys-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:267:1" rel="noopener">Infosys (INFO IN)</a> price ratio has deviated more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.</li>
<li>
Highlight: Going long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/infosys-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:267:1" rel="noopener">Infosys Ltd (INFO IN)</a> and short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tata-consultancy-services-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18708:1" rel="noopener">Tata Consultancy Services (TCS IN)</a>  targets a 3% return.</li>
<li>
Why Read: Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion opportunities, with detailed execution framework, risk management protocols, and historical simulation showing the statistical basis for this relative value play.</li>
</ul>



Context: The Tata Consultancy Services (TCS IN) vs. Infosys (INFO IN) price ratio has deviated more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.

Highlight: Going long Infosys Ltd (INFO IN) and short Tata Consultancy Services (TCS IN)  targets a 3% return.

Why Read: Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion opportunities, with detailed execution framework, risk management protocols, and historical simulation showing the statistical basis for this relative value play.


TCS (TCS IN) Vs Infosys (INFO IN): IT Giants Hit Pair Trade Trigger

Podcast by S&P analysing commodity market trends, Commodities Focus

Commodities Focus

Podcast by S&P analysing commodity market trends

S&P Global Commodity Insights analysis of key news and pricing issues from across the global shipping, natural gas, power, petrochemicals, agriculture, and coal markets.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul><li>Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) is playing a significant role in India's steel industry, accounting for 33% of total steel output</li><li>India's DRI market is characterized by rapid growth driven by steel production targets and sustainable steel making practices</li><li>DRI production is concentrated in central and eastern parts of India, with states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha being prominent producers and trade hubs.</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) is playing a significant role in India's steel industry, accounting for 33% of total steel outputIndia's DRI market is characterized by rapid growth driven by steel production targets and sustainable steel making practicesDRI production is concentrated in central and eastern parts of India, with states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha being prominent producers and trade hubs.This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Direct-reduced iron: India carving its path to meet 'green' steel ambitions

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: Still on Track for Rate Cuts to Begin in Feb'25; Continue at Next 2 MPC Meetings

High real policy rates are hindering the economy. But with core inflation low and the bountiful winter harvest, food inflation should ease...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Policy Rate to Decline 75bp by Jun'25 as Inflation Recedes

WPI inflation at 1.9% implies +4.6% real policy rate. Strong winter harvest to lower food prices, enabling CPI moderation below 4%YoY by Apr'25....

Prasenjit K. Basu

India Twin Deficit Watch: Improving Trend Persists Despite EPS and Trade Setbacks

Fiscal deficit in H1FY25 was 29.4% of FY25 target, and should end FY25 at 4.7% of GDP. CAD likely to shrink to 0.2% of GDP for FY25. But sluggish...

Prasenjit K. Basu

TCS (TCS IN) Vs Infosys (INFO IN): IT Giants Hit Pair Trade Trigger

Highly correlated Indian IT giants diverge, creating a fresh pair trade opportunity. Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion...

Gaudenz Schneider

Direct-reduced iron: India carving its path to meet 'green' steel ambitions

The discussion with Rohan Somanshi, Fred Wong, and Sumita Laik on the Asian metals markets, particularly DRI in India, highlighted the growing...

Commodities Focus

India: Still on Track for Rate Cuts to Begin in Feb'25; Continue at Next 2 MPC Meetings

​High real policy rates are hindering the economy. But with core inflation low and the bountiful winter harvest, food inflation should ease...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Policy Rate to Decline 75bp by Jun'25 as Inflation Recedes

​WPI inflation at 1.9% implies +4.6% real policy rate. Strong winter harvest to lower food prices, enabling CPI moderation below 4%YoY by Apr'25....

Prasenjit K. Basu

India Twin Deficit Watch: Improving Trend Persists Despite EPS and Trade Setbacks

​Fiscal deficit in H1FY25 was 29.4% of FY25 target, and should end FY25 at 4.7% of GDP. CAD likely to shrink to 0.2% of GDP for FY25. But sluggish...

Prasenjit K. Basu

TCS (TCS IN) Vs Infosys (INFO IN): IT Giants Hit Pair Trade Trigger

Highly correlated Indian IT giants diverge, creating a fresh pair trade opportunity. Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion...

Gaudenz Schneider

Direct-reduced iron: India carving its path to meet 'green' steel ambitions

The discussion with Rohan Somanshi, Fred Wong, and Sumita Laik on the Asian metals markets, particularly DRI in India, highlighted the growing...

Commodities Focus

High real policy rates are hindering the economy. But with core inflation low and the bountiful winter harvest, food inflation should ease...

WPI inflation at 1.9% implies +4.6% real policy rate. Strong winter harvest to lower food prices, enabling CPI moderation below 4%YoY by Apr'25....

Fiscal deficit in H1FY25 was 29.4% of FY25 target, and should end FY25 at 4.7% of GDP. CAD likely to shrink to 0.2% of GDP for FY25. But sluggish...