Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Asia Economist and CEO

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul><li>At a time of growing unease about political and economic risks in major economies, and continued uncertainty over the strength of the US recovery and its implications for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, investors have flocked into assets in Asian EMs.</li><li>The question is whether this perception of the relative safety of Asian emerging markets will remain now that valuations in Asian markets have expanded so much. We think a moderation of such capital inflows is forthcoming.</li></ul>

At a time of growing unease about political and economic risks in major economies, and continued uncertainty over the strength of the US recovery and its implications for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, investors have flocked into assets in Asian EMs.The question is whether this perception of the relative safety of Asian emerging markets will remain now that valuations in Asian markets have expanded so much. We think a moderation of such capital inflows is forthcoming.

Information Technology Consultant

Ishita Jain

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece titled Blockchain in the Financial Services Industry with the aim of shedding some light on this new and upcoming technology. The discussions ensued seeking clarity on the concept of blockchain and how it can actually be applied to financial services. It seems that while there is ample documentation available, much of it is indecipherable to those new to this concept. Consequently, this piece is meant to demystify the blockchain concept which should help the readers understand potential applications and comprehend insights written by my peers.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece titled Blockchain in the Financial Services Industry with the aim of shedding some light on this new and upcoming technology. The discussions ensued seeking clarity on the concept of blockchain and how it can actually be applied to financial services. It seems that while there is ample documentation available, much of it is indecipherable to those new to this concept. Consequently, this piece is meant to demystify the blockchain concept which should help the readers understand potential applications and comprehend insights written by my peers.

Founder and CEO, Europacifica Consulting

Naomi Fink

Founder and CEO

Europacifica Consulting

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/010/306/original/Market-VIX-and-macroeconomic-volatility-GDPVol-CPIVol-VIX_chartbuilder.png?1468568433" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="10306"><figcaption class="figcaption">The Market and Macro Volatility (Source: FRED)</figcaption></figure> There are good surprises, and then there are the other kind, and the market of late has delivered quite a few of the latter. Fortunately, as we pointed out in our <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/macro-chart-focus-brexit-and-the-yen" target="_blank">post-Brexit review</a>  the “chaos premium” was quick to subside as markets realized that an exit from Europe is not so rapidly orchestrated.  We also pointed out however that the circumstances underlying the event may be one contributor to a longer-term market risk premium to be imposed upon…

 The Market and Macro Volatility (Source: FRED) There are good surprises, and then there are the other kind, and the market of late has delivered quite a few of the latter.   Fortunately, as we pointed out in our post-Brexit review  the “chaos premium” was quick to subside as markets realized that an exit from Europe is not so rapidly orchestrated.  We also pointed out however that the circumstances underlying the event may be one contributor to a longer-term market risk premium to be imposed upon…

Macro Chart Focus: Surprises and Uncertainty Premia

Global Asset Allocation, Politics & Governance, Ecstrat

John-Paul Smith

Global Asset Allocation, Politics & Governance

Ecstrat

Ecstrat is a consultancy advising on asset allocation between global equity markets, with a focus on the intersection of governments, geopolitics, governance and markets.
 
Over the past few years and more especially since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), investors have become more focused on short-term market movements and real-time returns and have consequently neglected the analysis of the underlying structural themes that underpin longer term performance.
​
More specifically we believe that the evolution of governance-based relationships between investors, controlling shareholders, labour and the state is one of the primary determinants of both relative and absolute performance between individual equity markets.
 
We will endeavour to provide investors with some of the context surrounding governance-related issues which encompass many different disciplines including history, economics and political science, as well as the financial metrics which are the most obvious manifestation of the structural characteristics of each market.
 
We will pay particular attention to the shifts and potential inflection points for governance in individual markets as these are often the best lead indicators for both economic and market performance.

Cross Asset Strategy

In this brief piece we take a considered stance on the likelihood of Brexit actually proceeding in the wake of June’s referendum and examine some of the strategic implications for equity investors in terms of the potential shifts in sovereign and corporate governance.

In this brief piece we take a considered stance on the likelihood of Brexit actually proceeding in the wake of June’s referendum and examine some of the strategic implications for equity investors in terms of the potential shifts in sovereign and corporate governance.

Transport Sector, China and Asia-focused Research

Charles De Trenck

I recently sat down for a catch up with a finance friend running a CFO type role in a major company. Some points he noted on banks led to what I see as continued coming compliance feeding frenzy, and which may lead to another major hurdle/headache for investors/bank account holders and global banks (not all bad, but confusing and execution issues). As a result of my initial discussion, I followed up with other bank and company managers as well as a private bank executive representing overseas…

I recently sat down for a catch up with a finance friend running a CFO type role in a major company. Some points he noted on banks led to what I see as continued coming compliance feeding frenzy, and which may lead to another major hurdle/headache for investors/bank account holders and global banks (not all bad, but confusing and execution issues). As a result of my initial discussion, I followed up with other bank and company managers as well as a private bank executive representing overseas…

CRS/AEOI: The Next FATCA …And Which May Affect Even More Asia Accounts

United Kingdom

Lloyds Banking Group is a leading UK-based financial services group primarily focused on retail and commercial customers. It offers a wide range of banking and financial services, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, and insurance, pensions, and investments. The group operates mainly in the UK through various brands such as Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and Scottish Widows. The company's operational headquarters are in London, England, and its registered office is in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the broader Group's heritage dating back to 1695 through the Bank of Scotland, while Lloyds Bank was founded in 1765.

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Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY LN)

Will Capital Still Flow into Asian EMs?

At a time of growing unease about political and economic risks in major economies, and continued uncertainty over the strength of the US recovery...

Manu Bhaskaran

Blockchain & Bitcoin 101

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece titled Blockchain in the Financial Services Industry with the aim of shedding some light on this new and upcoming...

Ishita Jain

Macro Chart Focus: Surprises and Uncertainty Premia

There are good surprises, and then there are the other kind, and the market of late has delivered quite a few of the latter. Fortunately, as we...

Naomi Fink

Brexit; Unintended Consequences

In this brief piece we take a considered stance on the likelihood of Brexit actually proceeding in the wake of June’s referendum and examine some...

John-Paul Smith

CRS/AEOI: The Next FATCA …And Which May Affect Even More Asia Accounts

I recently sat down for a catch up with a finance friend running a CFO type role in a major company. Some points he noted on banks led to what I...

Charles De Trenck

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