EM PM, Ecstrat

Emad Mostaque

EM PM

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.
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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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

This weekend saw the retirement of long-serving Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi and his replacement by the Chairman of Aramco, Khalid al-Falih.At 80 years of age, the retirement of al-Naimi had been on the cards for a number of years, with some indications that it had been scheduled to occur five years ago, but was postponed given the need for stability as the Arab Spring erupted in the region.Now that he has moved on to a position as advisor to the Royal Court, whether Saudi oil policy will…

This weekend saw the retirement of long-serving Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi and his replacement by the Chairman of Aramco, Khalid al-Falih.At 80 years of age, the retirement of al-Naimi had been on the cards for a number of years, with some indications that it had been scheduled to occur five years ago, but was postponed given the need for stability as the Arab Spring erupted in the region.Now that he has moved on to a position as advisor to the Royal Court, whether Saudi oil policy will…

New Saudi Oil Minister, Old Saudi Oil Policy

It has been an interesting few weeks for observers of Saudi Arabia as Doha oil freeze talks failed, concerns re-emerged over the stability of the Saudi-US relationship and months of press coverage culminated in the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030 today.This note analyses some of the drivers of the changes we have seen in Saudi policy and the likely impact of these going forward on local markets and the oil price.The upshot is that I am, just as was the case in 2015, once more bearish on oil and oil-related equities into summer, although I retain my bullish view longer term.This should also prevent significant appreciation in Middle East markets short-term, although it is likely to be an interesting few years ahead as reforms, many of which necessitate increased economic and market liberalization and sharp increases in FDI, start to come in force.

It has been an interesting few weeks for observers of Saudi Arabia as Doha oil freeze talks failed, concerns re-emerged over the stability of the Saudi-US relationship and months of press coverage culminated in the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030 today.This note analyses some of the drivers of the changes we have seen in Saudi policy and the likely impact of these going forward on local markets and the oil price.The upshot is that I am, just as was the case in 2015, once more bearish on oil and oil-related equities into summer, although I retain my bullish view longer term.This should also prevent significant appreciation in Middle East markets short-term, although it is likely to be an interesting few years ahead as reforms, many of which necessitate increased economic and market liberalization and sharp increases in FDI, start to come in force. 

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts with an analysis of who benefits from the political violence we have seen reintroduced to Turkish politics and how it is sharpening the differences between various groups inside Turkey (the final conclusion is al Qaeda benefits most, ignored by most).We then consider the political and religious background of the AKP and how it impacts its current actions and the efficacy of the security forces is then considered, finishing with some thoughts on the Battle of the Five Armies that we are now seeing in Syria and why Russia has now entered the fray.The conclusions are somewhat somber, but it feels like we may be close to a bottom in some key areas with a path to ruin unlikely and some level of political stability to return to Turkey with my core view still being an AKP majority for November 1st, with a CHP-coalition next most likely, both of which would cause the market and currency to rally in the next few weeks.

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts with an analysis of who benefits from the political violence we have seen reintroduced to Turkish politics and how it is sharpening the differences between various groups inside Turkey (the final conclusion is al Qaeda benefits most, ignored by most).We then consider the political and religious background of the AKP and how it impacts its current actions and the efficacy of the security forces is then considered, finishing with some thoughts on the Battle of the Five Armies that we are now seeing in Syria and why Russia has now entered the fray.The conclusions are somewhat somber, but it feels like we may be close to a bottom in some key areas with a path to ruin unlikely and some level of political stability to return to Turkey with my core view still being an AKP majority for November 1st, with a CHP-coalition next most likely, both of which would cause the market and currency to rally in the next few weeks.

Macro Strategist, Saxo Capital Markets

Kay Van-Petersen

Macro Strategist

Saxo Capital Markets

Event-Driven

<ul><li>The next two weeks will have some of the most potent events of the 1H of the year</li><li>Weds Apr 29 sees the Fed meeting &amp; 1Q US GDP, Thu Apr 30 is RBNZ &amp; BoJ, with the following Tue &amp; Fri (May 5 &amp; 8) being RBA &amp; US Non-farm payrolls&hellip;</li><li>Once again, with an RBA cut imminent &amp; the Fed set to hike in 2H, AUD above 0.7750 is a screaming short as you have catalysts on both sides of the cross</li></ul>

The next two weeks will have some of the most potent events of the 1H of the yearWeds Apr 29 sees the Fed meeting &amp; 1Q US GDP, Thu Apr 30 is RBNZ &amp; BoJ, with the following Tue &amp; Fri (May 5 &amp; 8) being RBA &amp; US Non-farm payrolls&hellip;Once again, with an RBA cut imminent &amp; the Fed set to hike in 2H, AUD above 0.7750 is a screaming short as you have catalysts on both sides of the cross

THE MACRO TAKE: NEXT 2WKS ARE HIGH OCTANE! FED, US 1Q GDP, RBNZ, BoJ, RBA & US NFP    

Russia

VanEck Vectors Russia ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield of the MVIS Russia TR Index, which tracks publicly traded companies that are domiciled in Russia.

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VanEck Vectors Russia ETF (RSX US)

New Saudi Oil Minister, Old Saudi Oil Policy

This weekend saw the retirement of long-serving Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi and his replacement by the Chairman of Aramco, Khalid al-Falih.At...

Emad Mostaque

Saudi: A New Hope?

It has been an interesting few weeks for observers of Saudi Arabia as Doha oil freeze talks failed, concerns re-emerged over the stability of the...

Emad Mostaque

Ankara: Cui Bono?

This note looks at the background of the recent Ankara bombing, the political situation in Turkey and its position in the region.The note starts...

Emad Mostaque

THE MACRO TAKE: NEXT 2WKS ARE HIGH OCTANE! FED, US 1Q GDP, RBNZ, BoJ, RBA & US NFP

The next two weeks will have some of the most potent events of the 1H of the year Weds Apr 29 sees the Fed meeting & 1Q US GDP, Thu Apr 30 is...

Kay Van-Petersen

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