Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

PK Basu has 35 years experience covering Asia's economies and markets (equities, fixed income and currencies), including 20 years covering the global economy. He was Chief Economist (SE Asia & India) at Credit Suisse First Boston for 5 years, and Chief Asia (x-Jpn) Economist at Daiwa Securities for a similar period. Among other roles, he was global head of research at Maybank Kim Eng, Malaysia equity research head and chief ASEAN economist at Macquarie, Chief Economist at ICICI Securities, ASEAN economist and Asia sector strategist at UBS and the first chief economist at Khazanah Nasional (where he was co-head of research, and led all agri-business initiatives). PK Basu started his career in the Asia Service of WEFA (Wharton Econometrics) in Philadelphia in 1990, rising to be Director of their Asia Service in June 1994. 
PK's book, "Asia Reborn: A continent rises from the ravages of Colonialism and War to a New Dynamism" won the Tata Literature First Book Award (non-fiction) for 2018. It is the first single chronicle of the modern economic and political history of the whole of Asia (from Iraq and Turkey to Korea and Japan, and everything in between), told from an Asian perspective.

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

China Economics: Growth Likely Worse Than Already-Weak Official Figures

China: Slumping Domestic Economy Is Propped up by Exports Dumped Abroad

China: Winning the Trade War While Still Imploding Domestically

CHARTING COURSE: China Summit Between the Lines and Trumpflation! (May 15)

Ending Deflation in China: Currency Appreciation Can Support Economic Rebalancing Towards Consumers

CHARTING COURSE: Is Oil Sticky?, China's Long-Term Planning Pays Off, Unconditional Surrender?

Donald-In-Wonderland: SEPARATING NOISE FROM SIGNAL

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>FAI declined 3.8% in 2025 (the first full-year decline in 30+ years), and is down 1.6% in Jan-Apr'26. Retail sales barely grew 0.2%YoY in Apr'26, and property prices slumped nationwide. </li>
<li>Industrial output grew 6.1%YoY in Q1/2026 and 4.1%YoY in Apr'26, helped by exports growing 14.3%YoY (Jan-Apr'26); but imports grew faster (+23.4%YoY), shrinking the trade surplus. US$654bn net capital flight Apr'25-Mar'26. </li>
<li>Higher oil prices are temporarily countering deflation. Real GDP likely will decelerate to 3.6%YoY growth in Q2/2026, and stay below 4%YoY in H2/2026. Iran resolution would exacerbate China's deflation issues.  </li>
</ul>


FAI declined 3.8% in 2025 (the first full-year decline in 30+ years), and is down 1.6% in Jan-Apr'26. Retail sales barely grew 0.2%YoY in Apr'26, and property prices slumped nationwide. 
Industrial output grew 6.1%YoY in Q1/2026 and 4.1%YoY in Apr'26, helped by exports growing 14.3%YoY (Jan-Apr'26); but imports grew faster (+23.4%YoY), shrinking the trade surplus. US$654bn net capital flight Apr'25-Mar'26. 
Higher oil prices are temporarily countering deflation. Real GDP likely will decelerate to 3.6%YoY growth in Q2/2026, and stay below 4%YoY in H2/2026. Iran resolution would exacerbate China's deflation issues.  


Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHCOMP INDEX)

China: Winning Internationally Despite Deepening Domestic Gloom