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>RBI's MPC cut its policy repo rate by 50bp (to 5.5%, implying cuts totalling 100bp in the past half year), and also a phased 100bp cut in CRR by Dec'25. </li>
<li>Despite CPI inflation moderating below 3.2%YoY in Apr'25, the RBI has only slightly lowered its inflation forecast for FY26 to 3.7% (from 4%), and hence returned to a neutral stance. </li>
<li>Given an above-normal monsoon, already strong Rabi crop, and low crude oil prices, we expect CPI inflation to average less than 3%YoY in Jun-Dec'25, allowing 75bp of further rate cuts. </li>
</ul>


RBI's MPC cut its policy repo rate by 50bp (to 5.5%, implying cuts totalling 100bp in the past half year), and also a phased 100bp cut in CRR by Dec'25. 
Despite CPI inflation moderating below 3.2%YoY in Apr'25, the RBI has only slightly lowered its inflation forecast for FY26 to 3.7% (from 4%), and hence returned to a neutral stance. 
Given an above-normal monsoon, already strong Rabi crop, and low crude oil prices, we expect CPI inflation to average less than 3%YoY in Jun-Dec'25, allowing 75bp of further rate cuts. 


India: 50bp Rate Cut, 100bp of CRR Cuts Pave the Way for Faster RGDP Growth

APAC IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Akshat Shah

APAC IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Travel Food Services / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/travel-food-services-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44175:1" rel="noopener">Travel Food Services Ltd (1450229D IN)</a> is looking to raise about US$233m in its India IPO.</li>
<li>Travel Food Services Limited (TFS) operates a network of travel quick service restaurants (Travel QSRs) and private lounges in airports.</li>
<li>We have looked at the company’s past performance in our previous notes. In this note, we will talk about the RHP updates and IPO valuations.</li>
</ul>



Travel Food Services Ltd (1450229D IN) is looking to raise about US$233m in its India IPO.
Travel Food Services Limited (TFS) operates a network of travel quick service restaurants (Travel QSRs) and private lounges in airports.
We have looked at the company’s past performance in our previous notes. In this note, we will talk about the RHP updates and IPO valuations.


Travel Food Services IPO - RHP Updates & Thoughts on Valuation

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> has broken its four-week decline and reversed direction. This raises the prospect for a bull run.</li>
<li>Continued decline or relief rally? Technical and fundamental arguments lend support to both directional views.</li>
<li>We identify options with attractive cost vs. upside profiles to implement tactical trades in this environment.</li>
</ul>


The NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) has broken its four-week decline and reversed direction. This raises the prospect for a bull run.
Continued decline or relief rally? Technical and fundamental arguments lend support to both directional views.
We identify options with attractive cost vs. upside profiles to implement tactical trades in this environment.


EQD | Nifty 50 – Option Strategy for Bulls and Bears

India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic, Beat the Street

Sudarshan Bhandari

India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic

Beat the Street

Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>L&amp;T’s FY26 order book reached a record INR 7.4 lakh crore, up 28% YoY, despite a INR 5,000 crore Q4FY26 revenue hit from West Asia disruptions.</li>
<li>West Asia’s post-ceasefire reconstruction could create a USD 30-50 billion opportunity, where L&amp;T is well placed as a leading EPC player.</li>
<li>Near-Term disruption has hurt sentiment, but L&amp;T’s record backlog, Lakshya 2031 roadmap, and reconstruction opportunity strengthen the long-term investment case.</li>
</ul>


L&amp;T’s FY26 order book reached a record INR 7.4 lakh crore, up 28% YoY, despite a INR 5,000 crore Q4FY26 revenue hit from West Asia disruptions.
West Asia’s post-ceasefire reconstruction could create a USD 30-50 billion opportunity, where L&amp;T is well placed as a leading EPC player.
Near-Term disruption has hurt sentiment, but L&amp;T’s record backlog, Lakshya 2031 roadmap, and reconstruction opportunity strengthen the long-term investment case.


L&T: Can Lakshya 2031 Offset West Asia Disruption?

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Recent spike in oil prices and US yields is not deterring foreigners from buying Asian equities. After buying US$4.8bn of Asian Equities in August, FIIs have bought US$1.8bn in September.</li>
<li>In August FIIs bought Taiwan (US$11bn) and India (US$3.1bn) and sold Korea (-US$8.5bn). In September they have bought Taiwan (US$2bn) and Korea (US$1bn) and have sold India (-US$1.25bn).</li>
<li>We believe foreign buying shall bounce back in tech-heavy Korea and Taiwan. FIIs would likely buy India too, but in smaller measure than North Asia. We are cautious about ASEAN.</li>
</ul>


Recent spike in oil prices and US yields is not deterring foreigners from buying Asian equities. After buying US$4.8bn of Asian Equities in August, FIIs have bought US$1.8bn in September.
In August FIIs bought Taiwan (US$11bn) and India (US$3.1bn) and sold Korea (-US$8.5bn). In September they have bought Taiwan (US$2bn) and Korea (US$1bn) and have sold India (-US$1.25bn).
We believe foreign buying shall bounce back in tech-heavy Korea and Taiwan. FIIs would likely buy India too, but in smaller measure than North Asia. We are cautious about ASEAN.


Asian Equities: Foreigners Are Buying Korea and Taiwan Again; India and Thailand Being Sold

India

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) is an Indian multinational conglomerate specializing in engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), hi-tech manufacturing, and services. The company operates across diverse segments including infrastructure, hydrocarbon, power, heavy engineering, defense engineering, IT and technology services, financial services, and development projects. L&T was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India.

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Larsen & Toubro (LTOD LI)

India: 50bp Rate Cut, 100bp of CRR Cuts Pave the Way for Faster RGDP Growth

We forecast 8.5% real GDP growth in FY26, with another 75bp of rate cuts by Dec'25 (after 100bp cuts in Feb-Jun'25) boosting fixed investment,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Travel Food Services IPO - RHP Updates & Thoughts on Valuation

Travel Food Services (TFS) is looking to raise about US$233m in its India IPO. In this note, we will talk about the RHP updates and IPO valuations.

Akshat Shah

EQD | Nifty 50 – Option Strategy for Bulls and Bears

The NIFTY 50 snaped its four-week decline. Options with attractive cost vs. upside profile make for tactical trades ahead of a recovery rally, or...

Gaudenz Schneider

L&T: Can Lakshya 2031 Offset West Asia Disruption?

Despite revenue hit from West Asia disruptions, L&T's record order book and potential in post-ceasefire reconstruction make it a strong long-term...

Sudarshan Bhandari

Asian Equities: Foreigners Are Buying Korea and Taiwan Again; India and Thailand Being Sold

Recent spike in oil prices & US yields is not deterring FIIs from buying Asian equities. After buying US$4.8bn in Aug, FIIs have bought US$1.8bn in...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

India: 50bp Rate Cut, 100bp of CRR Cuts Pave the Way for Faster RGDP Growth

We forecast 8.5% real GDP growth in FY26, with another 75bp of rate cuts by Dec'25 (after 100bp cuts in Feb-Jun'25) boosting fixed investment,...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Travel Food Services IPO - RHP Updates & Thoughts on Valuation

Travel Food Services (TFS) is looking to raise about US$233m in its India IPO. In this note, we will talk about the RHP updates and IPO valuations.

Akshat Shah

EQD | Nifty 50 – Option Strategy for Bulls and Bears

​The NIFTY 50 snaped its four-week decline. Options with attractive cost vs. upside profile make for tactical trades ahead of a recovery rally, or...

Gaudenz Schneider

L&T: Can Lakshya 2031 Offset West Asia Disruption?

​Despite revenue hit from West Asia disruptions, L&T's record order book and potential in post-ceasefire reconstruction make it a strong long-term...

Sudarshan Bhandari

Asian Equities: Foreigners Are Buying Korea and Taiwan Again; India and Thailand Being Sold

Recent spike in oil prices & US yields is not deterring FIIs from buying Asian equities. After buying US$4.8bn in Aug, FIIs have bought US$1.8bn in...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

The NIFTY 50 snaped its four-week decline. Options with attractive cost vs. upside profile make for tactical trades ahead of a recovery rally, or...

Despite revenue hit from West Asia disruptions, L&T's record order book and potential in post-ceasefire reconstruction make it a strong long-term...