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>US tariff agreements have contained tariffs at 10% for the UK, 15% for Japan and the EU, 19% for Indonesia and 20% for Vietnam. Lower tariffs will dampen inflation. </li>
<li>FOMC ought to cut rates now, but may stand on ceremony. The tariffs are nonetheless likely to steadily bolster US manufacturing in H2/2025, with Jun'25 steel output already up 4.6%YoY. </li>
<li>With growth higher than expected, and new revenues of over US$300bn from tariffs, the fiscal deficit should fall below 6% of GDP, allowing bond yields to moderate below 4%. </li>
</ul>


US tariff agreements have contained tariffs at 10% for the UK, 15% for Japan and the EU, 19% for Indonesia and 20% for Vietnam. Lower tariffs will dampen inflation. 
FOMC ought to cut rates now, but may stand on ceremony. The tariffs are nonetheless likely to steadily bolster US manufacturing in H2/2025, with Jun'25 steel output already up 4.6%YoY. 
With growth higher than expected, and new revenues of over US$300bn from tariffs, the fiscal deficit should fall below 6% of GDP, allowing bond yields to moderate below 4%. 


US: Tariff Deals with Japan, EU, Indonesia, Philippines Sharply Reduce Stagflation Risk

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Late Friday, S&amp;PDJI announced <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sherwin-williams-co-the" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15539:1" rel="noopener">Sherwin Williams Co (SHW US)</a> would replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dow-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19107:1" rel="noopener">Dow (DOW US)</a> in the Dow Jones Industrial Avg.</li>
<li>This was done to "ensure a more representative exposure to the semiconductors industry and materials sector, respectively." This will be effective of 7 November close; only four days to trade. </li>
<li>The details merit a closer look. Calculating how much tracks the DJIA should be "easy" but I have questions. That said, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sherwin-williams-co-the" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15539:1" rel="noopener">Sherwin Williams Co (SHW US)</a> could get exciting.</li>
</ul>


Late Friday, S&amp;PDJI announced NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) and Sherwin Williams Co (SHW US) would replace Intel Corp (INTC US) and Dow (DOW US) in the Dow Jones Industrial Avg.
This was done to "ensure a more representative exposure to the semiconductors industry and materials sector, respectively." This will be effective of 7 November close; only four days to trade. 
The details merit a closer look. Calculating how much tracks the DJIA should be "easy" but I have questions. That said, Sherwin Williams Co (SHW US) could get exciting.


Dow Jones Industrial Avg Nov24 Rebalance - Sherwin Williams (SHW) Could Get Jiggy

<ul>
<li>FOMC held rates steady at 5.25-5.5%, but emphasized that "a reduction could be on the table...in September". From inflation risks alone, the FOMC statement shifted focus to its dual mandate.  </li>
<li>0.9%YoY M2 growth (Jun'24) evidences restrictive monetary conditions. Withdrawing QT after Aug'23 led to Jan-Apr'24 shocks in MoM core PCE, but latter now reined-in by resumed QT since Mar'24.</li>
<li>Core PCE inflation likely to wane to 2.3%YoY by Sep'24, enabling rates to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 FOMC meetings, ignoring political threats regarding the Sep'24 cut.</li>
</ul>


FOMC held rates steady at 5.25-5.5%, but emphasized that "a reduction could be on the table...in September". From inflation risks alone, the FOMC statement shifted focus to its dual mandate.  
0.9%YoY M2 growth (Jun'24) evidences restrictive monetary conditions. Withdrawing QT after Aug'23 led to Jan-Apr'24 shocks in MoM core PCE, but latter now reined-in by resumed QT since Mar'24.
Core PCE inflation likely to wane to 2.3%YoY by Sep'24, enabling rates to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 FOMC meetings, ignoring political threats regarding the Sep'24 cut.


FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

<ul>
<li>CPI inflation edged up to 3%YoY in Sep'25, after a 0.3%MoM increase. Markets cheered, as these were lower than expectations, but MoM-annualized inflation is running well above the 2% target. </li>
<li>The Powell Fed's politically-driven 75bp of rate cuts in Sep-Nov'24 are now obliging it to effectively move to a 3%YoY inflation target; a 25bp rate cut is inevitable next week. </li>
<li>Base money contracted US$88.8bn in Mar-Aug'25, so M2 growth was modest (4.8%YoY). But the rise in crude prices (post-Russian sanctions) will raise inflation past 3%, precluding any Dec'25 rate cut. </li>
</ul>


CPI inflation edged up to 3%YoY in Sep'25, after a 0.3%MoM increase. Markets cheered, as these were lower than expectations, but MoM-annualized inflation is running well above the 2% target. 
The Powell Fed's politically-driven 75bp of rate cuts in Sep-Nov'24 are now obliging it to effectively move to a 3%YoY inflation target; a 25bp rate cut is inevitable next week. 
Base money contracted US$88.8bn in Mar-Aug'25, so M2 growth was modest (4.8%YoY). But the rise in crude prices (post-Russian sanctions) will raise inflation past 3%, precluding any Dec'25 rate cut. 


US: Inflation Edges Up, but Previous Policy Errors Must Be Atoned with Rate Cut Now

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>All imports into the US will face a minimum 10% tariff (with a few product exceptions). Countries face differential tariffs depending on their own effective protection against US exports. </li>
<li>China exports to US (54% tariff) suffer a near-crippling blow, with Vietnam (46%), Bangladesh (37%), Indonesia &amp; Taiwan (32%) hammered too. India, Korea, Japan, UK to benefit from trade diversion. </li>
<li>There'll be substantial re-shoring of US manufacturing over 2-10 years, boosting the US economy. Inflation will be a near-term problem, but most countries are likely to mutually negotiate tariffs down. </li>
</ul>


All imports into the US will face a minimum 10% tariff (with a few product exceptions). Countries face differential tariffs depending on their own effective protection against US exports. 
China exports to US (54% tariff) suffer a near-crippling blow, with Vietnam (46%), Bangladesh (37%), Indonesia &amp; Taiwan (32%) hammered too. India, Korea, Japan, UK to benefit from trade diversion. 
There'll be substantial re-shoring of US manufacturing over 2-10 years, boosting the US economy. Inflation will be a near-term problem, but most countries are likely to mutually negotiate tariffs down. 


US Reciprocal Tariff Scheme Is Likely to Boost US Manufacturing in Time; Positive

United States

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index. The ETF holds the 30 large-cap US stocks that represent the Index. This ETF is registered as a Unit Investment trust and pays a monthly dividend representing dividends paid by the underlying stocks. The ETF's holdings are price weighted.

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SPDR DJIA Trust (DIA US)

US: Tariff Deals with Japan, EU, Indonesia, Philippines Sharply Reduce Stagflation Risk

US tariff deals lowering them will help dampen inflation, and should trigger rate cuts. Tariffs are already boosting US manufacturing, thus will...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Dow Jones Industrial Avg Nov24 Rebalance - Sherwin Williams (SHW) Could Get Jiggy

The DJIA (Dow30) is an odd anachronism. Price-weighted. Rebalances when it wants. No ranking system. Just a committee and some vague inputs. This...

Travis Lundy

FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

FF rate at a 23-year (real policy rate at 18yr high), M2 growth at 0.9%YoY in Jun'24, create conditions for steady decline in core PCE inflation to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

US: Inflation Edges Up, but Previous Policy Errors Must Be Atoned with Rate Cut Now

CPI inflation up 3%YoY in Sep'25, but a 25bp rate cut is inevitable next week as the Powell Fed adjusts to a 3% inflation target to atone for Sep...

Prasenjit K. Basu

US Reciprocal Tariff Scheme Is Likely to Boost US Manufacturing in Time; Positive

US imposes 10%-54% 'reciprocal' tariffs, hitting China hard but benefiting UK, Korea, Japan, India. Reshoring of manufacturing to boost US...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

US: Tariff Deals with Japan, EU, Indonesia, Philippines Sharply Reduce Stagflation Risk

​US tariff deals lowering them will help dampen inflation, and should trigger rate cuts. Tariffs are already boosting US manufacturing, thus will...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Dow Jones Industrial Avg Nov24 Rebalance - Sherwin Williams (SHW) Could Get Jiggy

The DJIA (Dow30) is an odd anachronism. Price-weighted. Rebalances when it wants. No ranking system. Just a committee and some vague inputs. This...

Travis Lundy

FOMC Waits; Despite Politics, 3 Rate Cuts Are Likely This Year as Inflation Abates

FF rate at a 23-year (real policy rate at 18yr high), M2 growth at 0.9%YoY in Jun'24, create conditions for steady decline in core PCE inflation to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

US: Inflation Edges Up, but Previous Policy Errors Must Be Atoned with Rate Cut Now

​CPI inflation up 3%YoY in Sep'25, but a 25bp rate cut is inevitable next week as the Powell Fed adjusts to a 3% inflation target to atone for Sep...

Prasenjit K. Basu

US Reciprocal Tariff Scheme Is Likely to Boost US Manufacturing in Time; Positive

​US imposes 10%-54% 'reciprocal' tariffs, hitting China hard but benefiting UK, Korea, Japan, India. Reshoring of manufacturing to boost US...

Prasenjit K. Basu

US tariff deals lowering them will help dampen inflation, and should trigger rate cuts. Tariffs are already boosting US manufacturing, thus will...

CPI inflation up 3%YoY in Sep'25, but a 25bp rate cut is inevitable next week as the Powell Fed adjusts to a 3% inflation target to atone for Sep...

US imposes 10%-54% 'reciprocal' tariffs, hitting China hard but benefiting UK, Korea, Japan, India. Reshoring of manufacturing to boost US...