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

India: RGDP Growth Resilient at 7.8%YoY, and Momentum Likely to Be Sustained

India Twin Deficit Watch: Export Strength to Keep CAD Low; Revenue Supports Lower FD

India: RBI Obliged to Tighten Amid Global Headwinds but Only One More Hike Likely

India: No Rate Hike in FY27, as Growth Slows a Tad and CAD Widens to 1% of GDP

India: INR and Equities Under-Valued, with Small CAD, and EPS Set to Accelerate

Asian Equities: A Close Look at India - Identifying Opportunities in a Well-Diversified Market

Asian Equities: Second Highest Ever Foreign Selling in June; Nascent Recovery in India and ASEAN

Asian Equities: Nascent Emergence of New Earnings Gainers

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>Corporate tax revenue surged 19.7%YoY and central GST revenue 16.9%YoY in Apr-Jun'26 (Q1 FY27), suggesting a robust economy that comfortably withstood the oil-price shock, likely growing well over 7%YoY. </li>
<li>The YoY acceleration in GST revenue (despite rate reductions in Sep'25) reflects strengthening private consumption. With exports of goods and services also growing double-digits YoY, the economy is buoyant. </li>
<li>INR weakened despite the stable current account, mainly on account of large net capital outflows. Debt-creating inflows have stabilised FX reserves, and inflows into equity markets are set to accelerate. </li>
</ul>


Corporate tax revenue surged 19.7%YoY and central GST revenue 16.9%YoY in Apr-Jun'26 (Q1 FY27), suggesting a robust economy that comfortably withstood the oil-price shock, likely growing well over 7%YoY. 
The YoY acceleration in GST revenue (despite rate reductions in Sep'25) reflects strengthening private consumption. With exports of goods and services also growing double-digits YoY, the economy is buoyant. 
INR weakened despite the stable current account, mainly on account of large net capital outflows. Debt-creating inflows have stabilised FX reserves, and inflows into equity markets are set to accelerate. 


India Twin Deficit Watch: CAD Small; Strong Corp-Tax & GST Revenue Boosts Fiscal