Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook</li>
<li>Gold is now considered the most crowded trade. Should we be worried?</li>
<li>Who is going to buy US government bonds going forward?</li>
</ul>


A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook
Gold is now considered the most crowded trade. Should we be worried?
Who is going to buy US government bonds going forward?


Oil and Gas, Mint Finance

Suhas Reddy

Oil and Gas

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.

Commodities

<ul>
<li>WTI futures fell 10.6% for the week ending 04/Apr, driven primarily by President Trump’s tariff announcement, which was broader and more severe than markets had anticipated.</li>
<li>The U.S. rig count fell by two to 590. The oil rig count grew by five to 489, while gas rigs dropped by seven to 96.</li>
<li>WTI OI PCR fell to 0.88 on 04/Apr compared to 0.91 on 28/Mar. Call OI increased by 10.8% WoW, while put OI grew by 7.2%.</li>
</ul>


WTI futures fell 10.6% for the week ending 04/Apr, driven primarily by President Trump’s tariff announcement, which was broader and more severe than markets had anticipated.
The U.S. rig count fell by two to 590. The oil rig count grew by five to 489, while gas rigs dropped by seven to 96.
WTI OI PCR fell to 0.88 on 04/Apr compared to 0.91 on 28/Mar. Call OI increased by 10.8% WoW, while put OI grew by 7.2%.


[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/14] WTI Dropped to Four-Year Low on Trump’s Tariffs

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The logic behind the tariff is not just a slap in the face for a lot of other nations but also net imports over exports. </li>
<li>Companies benefitting from the globalization will suffer, and the ones with domestic-centric businesses with real assets in proximity may be less hurt. </li>
<li>This could accelerate the forming of new trading bloc that may change the current world order. </li>
</ul>


The logic behind the tariff is not just a slap in the face for a lot of other nations but also net imports over exports. 
Companies benefitting from the globalization will suffer, and the ones with domestic-centric businesses with real assets in proximity may be less hurt. 
This could accelerate the forming of new trading bloc that may change the current world order. 


Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>
India: RBI rate decision on 9 April, 0.25% cut expected.</li>
<li>
CPI Release: Several economies release CPI data next week, while central banks update their forecasts and scenarios with the recently released US tariffs.</li>
<li>
Monthly Option Expiries: in India (BSE Stock options), Japan (Nikkei, Topix, Stocks), and South Korea (Kospi 200). The BSE moved the expiry one day forward due to a holiday.</li>
</ul>



India: RBI rate decision on 9 April, 0.25% cut expected.

CPI Release: Several economies release CPI data next week, while central banks update their forecasts and scenarios with the recently released US tariffs.

Monthly Option Expiries: in India (BSE Stock options), Japan (Nikkei, Topix, Stocks), and South Korea (Kospi 200). The BSE moved the expiry one day forward due to a holiday.


Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (7 - 13 April)

Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

<ul>
<li>Policy volatility/uncertainty has generated negative surprises in inflation, especially with core PCE rising 0.3%MoM in Jan'25 and 0.4%MoM in Feb'25, causing the YoY increase of 2.8% in Feb'25.  </li>
<li>M2 growth was only 4.4%YoY in Feb'25, certainly not an inflationary factor.  The 'reciprocal tariffs' (an effective new tariff of 20% across the board) will add 0.4pp to near-term inflation. </li>
<li>10yr-2yr yield curve remains upward sloping (+0.29pp); tariffs are just 1/4th those of Smoot-Hawley, and unlike them will likely result in mutual tariff reductions. The selloff is a buying opportunity.</li>
</ul>


Policy volatility/uncertainty has generated negative surprises in inflation, especially with core PCE rising 0.3%MoM in Jan'25 and 0.4%MoM in Feb'25, causing the YoY increase of 2.8% in Feb'25.  
M2 growth was only 4.4%YoY in Feb'25, certainly not an inflationary factor.  The 'reciprocal tariffs' (an effective new tariff of 20% across the board) will add 0.4pp to near-term inflation. 
10yr-2yr yield curve remains upward sloping (+0.29pp); tariffs are just 1/4th those of Smoot-Hawley, and unlike them will likely result in mutual tariff reductions. The selloff is a buying opportunity.


US: Policy Volatility Generates Inflation Setbacks, but Recession Fears Overblown

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

Overview #23 Gold, Bonds and the USD

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We look at recent investor sentiment towards gold, the USD, bonds and...

Rikki Malik

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/14] WTI Dropped to Four-Year Low on Trump’s Tariffs

Oil prices plummeted due to Trump's tariff announcement, leading to a drop in the U.S. rig count and a decrease in WTI OI PCR.

Mint Finance

Tariff: New World Order?

Tariffs could shift global trade dynamics, favoring domestic-focused companies and potentially leading to the formation of new trading blocs.

Henry Soediarko

Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (7 - 13 April)

RBI expected to cut rates in India, CPI data and option expiries in focus for several economies next week. Exchange holiday in India.

Gaudenz Schneider

US: Policy Volatility Generates Inflation Setbacks, but Recession Fears Overblown

Policy uncertainty caused inflation spikes, but M2 growth tame at 4.4%YoY. Reciprocal tariffs to increase inflation 0.4pp, but mutual tariff...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Overview #23 Gold, Bonds and the USD

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We look at recent investor sentiment towards gold, the USD, bonds and...

Rikki Malik

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/14] WTI Dropped to Four-Year Low on Trump’s Tariffs

​Oil prices plummeted due to Trump's tariff announcement, leading to a drop in the U.S. rig count and a decrease in WTI OI PCR.

Mint Finance

Tariff: New World Order?

​Tariffs could shift global trade dynamics, favoring domestic-focused companies and potentially leading to the formation of new trading blocs.

Henry Soediarko

Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (7 - 13 April)

​RBI expected to cut rates in India, CPI data and option expiries in focus for several economies next week. Exchange holiday in India.

Gaudenz Schneider

US: Policy Volatility Generates Inflation Setbacks, but Recession Fears Overblown

​Policy uncertainty caused inflation spikes, but M2 growth tame at 4.4%YoY. Reciprocal tariffs to increase inflation 0.4pp, but mutual tariff...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Oil prices plummeted due to Trump's tariff announcement, leading to a drop in the U.S. rig count and a decrease in WTI OI PCR.

Tariffs could shift global trade dynamics, favoring domestic-focused companies and potentially leading to the formation of new trading blocs.

RBI expected to cut rates in India, CPI data and option expiries in focus for several economies next week. Exchange holiday in India.

Policy uncertainty caused inflation spikes, but M2 growth tame at 4.4%YoY. Reciprocal tariffs to increase inflation 0.4pp, but mutual tariff...