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

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>PM Lawrence Wong led the PAP to a bigger victory than in 2020, winning 87 of the 97 seats, and 65.6% of votes in contested seats (vs 61.2% in 2020). </li>
<li>Since one 5-member seat (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC) was won uncontested (while all seats were contested in 2020) the vote share figures aren't strictly comparable between 2020 and 2025. </li>
<li>Nonetheless, the larger proportion of votes and seats won by PAP give the PM a freer hand in making and implementing policy with a seemingly stronger mandate. Positive for Singapore. </li>
</ul>


PM Lawrence Wong led the PAP to a bigger victory than in 2020, winning 87 of the 97 seats, and 65.6% of votes in contested seats (vs 61.2% in 2020). 
Since one 5-member seat (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC) was won uncontested (while all seats were contested in 2020) the vote share figures aren't strictly comparable between 2020 and 2025. 
Nonetheless, the larger proportion of votes and seats won by PAP give the PM a freer hand in making and implementing policy with a seemingly stronger mandate. Positive for Singapore. 


Singapore: Lawrence Wong Boosted by Mild Improvement in PAP Vote Share

Metals, Ores, and Mining Firms, Mint Finance

Pranay Yadav

Metals, Ores, and Mining Firms

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

<ul>
<li>Singapore's REITs, representing 12% of the equity market, face pressures from rising interest rates and economic downturns, which impact profitability and market performance.</li>
<li>The data center REIT sector is propelled by increasing AI applications, data sovereignty laws, and the growth of cloud services, positioning it for significant expansion.</li>
<li>Digital Core REIT benefits from its presence in key tech hubs and high-performance computing offerings, positioning them to outperform in a tight data center market.</li>
</ul>


Singapore's REITs, representing 12% of the equity market, face pressures from rising interest rates and economic downturns, which impact profitability and market performance.
The data center REIT sector is propelled by increasing AI applications, data sovereignty laws, and the growth of cloud services, positioning it for significant expansion.
Digital Core REIT benefits from its presence in key tech hubs and high-performance computing offerings, positioning them to outperform in a tight data center market.


Gen AI Unleashes Hyper Demand for Data Centers

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

<ul>
<li>The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across South East Asia.</li>
<li>The past week saw insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (GRAB US)</a> post-results plus on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jardine-matheson-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19718:1" rel="noopener">Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP)</a>, as it completed its buybacks but it still looks inexpensive.</li>
<li>There was also a commentary on Property Guru ahead of its listing and on the single stock futures launch by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor.</a>
</li>
</ul>


The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across South East Asia.
The past week saw insights on Grab (GRAB US) post-results plus on Jardine Matheson Holdings (JM SP), as it completed its buybacks but it still looks inexpensive.
There was also a commentary on Property Guru ahead of its listing and on the single stock futures launch by SGX (SGX SP) for Sea Ltd (SE US) and Taiwan Semiconductor.



The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Grab's Results, Jardine Matheson, and SGX.

<ul>
<li>The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across South East Asia.</li>
<li>The past week saw insights on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bukalapak" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33575:1" rel="noopener">Bukalapak (BUKA IJ)</a> outlining its online storefront strategy and on MSCI Index inclusions, which impacts <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab (GRAB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>. </li>
<li>We also look at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unilever-indonesia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:231:1" rel="noopener">Unilever Indonesia (UNVR IJ)</a> post results plus OVO's multi-finance move, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astra-international-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:46:1" rel="noopener">Astra International</a>'s move into warehousing with Logos.</li>
</ul>


The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity bottom-up, from across South East Asia.
The past week saw insights on Bukalapak (BUKA IJ) outlining its online storefront strategy and on MSCI Index inclusions, which impacts Grab (GRAB US) and Sea Ltd (SE US). 
We also look at Unilever Indonesia (UNVR IJ) post results plus OVO's multi-finance move, and Astra International's move into warehousing with Logos.


The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Bukalapak's Storefront, Grab's MSCI Boost, and Unilever Indo

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>For investors who are not based in Singapore, the mini lockdown in Singapore has started again due to the sudden increase in the number of community cases which previously was relatively under control. Before one thinks that it is a too-harsh of a policy, the rate of the increase of unlinked community cases in Singapore is high. This matters a lot because every Singapore residents need to check in every establishment using either an Identification card, Trace Together app, or token which has proved to be very effective as for months, most of the COVID-19 cases can be traced and therefore allows the government to take the necessary actions. </p>
<div class="content-highlight">
<p>This time is different. Alongside the third wave that has hit India and Thailand, Singapore, too, is hit. The Singapore government's response to this is very much like the first lock-down (Circuit Breaker), that they minimize public interactions so that the number of community cases does not increase and provide them with the time to perform contact tracing thoroughly. </p>
</div>
<p>In this report, we identify that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sheng-siong-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6824:1" rel="noopener">Sheng Siong (SSG SP)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-post-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:150:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Post (SPOST SP)</a>as winners while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/genting-singapore-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:439:1" rel="noopener">Genting Singapore (GENS SP)</a>as losers. </p>

For investors who are not based in Singapore, the mini lockdown in Singapore has started again due to the sudden increase in the number of community cases which previously was relatively under control. Before one thinks that it is a too-harsh of a policy, the rate of the increase of unlinked community cases in Singapore is high. This matters a lot because every Singapore residents need to check in every establishment using either an Identification card, Trace Together app, or token which has proved to be very effective as for months, most of the COVID-19 cases can be traced and therefore allows the government to take the necessary actions. 

This time is different. Alongside the third wave that has hit India and Thailand, Singapore, too, is hit. The Singapore government's response to this is very much like the first lock-down (Circuit Breaker), that they minimize public interactions so that the number of community cases does not increase and provide them with the time to perform contact tracing thoroughly. 

In this report, we identify that Sheng Siong (SSG SP) , Sea Ltd (SE US) and Singapore Post (SPOST SP)as winners while Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP) and Genting Singapore (GENS SP)as losers. 

Singapore Mini Lockdown: Winners and Losers

Singapore

The MSCI Singapore Free Index is a free-float market capitalization weighted equity index. Since 12/01/1999, MSCI removed the "Free" designation from this index - this index now shares the same members and weights as the MSCI Singapore Index (MXSG Index), but continues to be calculated to be consistent with the index levels before this date.

MSCI Singapore Free Index (SIMSCI INDEX)

Gen AI Unleashes Hyper Demand for Data Centers

Singapore REITs face challenges from rising interest rates and economic downturns, while data center REITs are poised for growth driven by AI,...

Mint Finance

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Grab's Results, Jardine Matheson, and SGX.

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity...

Angus Mackintosh

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Bukalapak's Storefront, Grab's MSCI Boost, and Unilever Indo

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity...

Angus Mackintosh

Singapore Mini Lockdown: Winners and Losers

In this report, we identify that Sheng Siong (SSG SP) , Sea Ltd (SE US) and Singapore Post (SPOST SP)as winners while Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)...

Henry Soediarko

Singapore: Lawrence Wong Boosted by Mild Improvement in PAP Vote Share

​PM Lawrence Wong led PAP to a bigger victory, winning 87 of 97 seats and 65.6% of votes, giving him a stronger mandate for policy-making. WP (a...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Gen AI Unleashes Hyper Demand for Data Centers

​Singapore REITs face challenges from rising interest rates and economic downturns, while data center REITs are poised for growth driven by AI,...

Mint Finance

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Grab's Results, Jardine Matheson, and SGX.

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity...

Angus Mackintosh

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma - Bukalapak's Storefront, Grab's MSCI Boost, and Unilever Indo

The Week That Was in ASEAN@Smartkarma is filled with an eclectic mix of differentiated, substantive, and actionable insights, macro and equity...

Angus Mackintosh

Singapore Mini Lockdown: Winners and Losers

In this report, we identify that Sheng Siong (SSG SP) , Sea Ltd (SE US) and Singapore Post (SPOST SP)as winners while Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)...

Henry Soediarko

PM Lawrence Wong led PAP to a bigger victory, winning 87 of 97 seats and 65.6% of votes, giving him a stronger mandate for policy-making. WP (a...

Singapore REITs face challenges from rising interest rates and economic downturns, while data center REITs are poised for growth driven by AI,...