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

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>In May, SEBI recommended changes to the minimum number of constituents for non-benchmark indices and the capping for those indices. Then came the market consultation in August.</li>
<li>SEBI has now confirmed the changes along with the timeline for capping changes to the largest stocks in the index.</li>
<li>The changes could commence in December and continue till March. The adds will take place in December and weight changes for the largest stocks will take place in 4 tranches.</li>
</ul>


In May, SEBI recommended changes to the minimum number of constituents for non-benchmark indices and the capping for those indices. Then came the market consultation in August.
SEBI has now confirmed the changes along with the timeline for capping changes to the largest stocks in the index.
The changes could commence in December and continue till March. The adds will take place in December and weight changes for the largest stocks will take place in 4 tranches.


NIFTY Bank Index: Methodology Changes to Result in Big Flows

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Context: The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lic-housing-finance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15667:1" rel="noopener">LIC Housing Finance (LICHF IN)</a> vs. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:541:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of India (BOI IN)</a> price-ratio deviates more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.</li>
<li>
Highlights: Going long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lic-housing-finance-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15667:1" rel="noopener">LIC Housing Finance (LICHF IN)</a> and short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-india" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:541:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of India (BOI IN)</a> targets a 7% 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 LIC Housing Finance (LICHF IN) vs. Bank Of India (BOI IN) price-ratio deviates more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.

Highlights: Going long LIC Housing Finance (LICHF IN) and short Bank Of India (BOI IN) targets a 7% 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.


Long LIC Housing (LICHF IN) Vs. Short Bank of India (BOI IN): Statistical Arbitrage Pair Trade

<ul>
<li>It has been a decent year for the index rebalance strategy, though there have been some big hiccups along the way.</li>
<li>Forecasting the index changes and impacts has been important, but timing (especially momentum/value regime changes) and hedge selection have also been major factors affecting the returns of the strategy.</li>
<li>As passive AUM continues to increase, we expect focus on the strategy to continue in 2025 with market players taking different approaches to trading the potential and announced index changes.</li>
</ul>


It has been a decent year for the index rebalance strategy, though there have been some big hiccups along the way.
Forecasting the index changes and impacts has been important, but timing (especially momentum/value regime changes) and hedge selection have also been major factors affecting the returns of the strategy.
As passive AUM continues to increase, we expect focus on the strategy to continue in 2025 with market players taking different approaches to trading the potential and announced index changes.


How Has the Index Rebalance Strategy Performed in 2024?

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> and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nse-nifty-bank-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26811:1" rel="noopener">NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY)</a> reached all-time highs on 26 September 2024 but have since declined.</li>
<li>Most stocks in the Bank Index have fallen below their 200 and 50 day moving average,. Volatilities have gone up, but trade cheap when compared to historical levels.</li>
<li>Opportunities present themselves either in stocks that stayed resilient during the downturn (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/federal-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11784:1" rel="noopener">Federal Bank (FB IN)),</a>or fell and gained in implied volatility. A long-short strategy might also be considered.</li>
</ul>


The NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) and the NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY) reached all-time highs on 26 September 2024 but have since declined.
Most stocks in the Bank Index have fallen below their 200 and 50 day moving average,. Volatilities have gone up, but trade cheap when compared to historical levels.
Opportunities present themselves either in stocks that stayed resilient during the downturn (Federal Bank (FB IN)),or fell and gained in implied volatility. A long-short strategy might also be considered.


EQD | Nifty Banks – Single Stock Options and Relative Value Opportunities

India

Nifty Bank Index is a free-float capitalization-weighted index comprised of the most liquid and large capitalized Indian Banking stocks. The index will have 12 stocks from the banking sector, which trade on the National Stock Exchange. The index was developed with a base value of 1000 as of January 1, 2000.

NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY)

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NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY)

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

NIFTY Bank Index: Methodology Changes to Result in Big Flows

The methodology and capping changes for the Nifty Bank Index will be implemented in 4 tranches, likely ending in March. The flows are big and the...

Brian Freitas

Long LIC Housing (LICHF IN) Vs. Short Bank of India (BOI IN): Statistical Arbitrage Pair Trade

Potential relative value opportunity with a 7% target-return by going long LIC Housing Finance and short Bank of India. Essential for quantitative...

Gaudenz Schneider

How Has the Index Rebalance Strategy Performed in 2024?

The index rebalance strategy has performed reasonably well this year. Accurate forecasting of index changes and optimal hedge selection have played...

Brian Freitas

EQD | Nifty Banks – Single Stock Options and Relative Value Opportunities

The NSE Nifty Bank Index hit a record high in September 2024 but has since dropped. Option opportunities are found in resilient or volatile bank...

Gaudenz Schneider

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)