Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

PK Basu has 34 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 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

Malaysia’s Budget 2023 (Anwar’s Version)

Guns, Germs, and Greening Mean More Government Spending

Malaysia’s Long Road to Reform: Opportunities and Challenges

Malaysia Boleh: Democracy Wins Big as Malaysia Chooses a Multi-Racial Compact

Malaysia: PM Anwar Ibrahim Has a Lifetime of Experience to Deliver Unity & Progress

ASEAN as Epicentre of the Covid Crisis: Malaysia Worst Off, Indonesia Improving

Battle Lines Drawn As BABA Builds Out First/Last-Mile Capacity; But Who Will Fund 75+ Bn CNY CapEx?

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>FX reserves, which had declined over 10% from Mar'22 to Oct'22, rebounded by 8.9% in Nov-Dec'22. Anwar's inclusive policies will likely induce a steady rebound in net capital inflows. </li>
<li>Base effects have facilitated 9.3%YoY real GDP growth in Q1-Q3 2022 led by strong private consumption and net exports; better growth cut the fiscal deficit to 4% of GDP YTD.    </li>
<li>Net foreign portfolio outflows averaged 1.75% of GDP since 2013. As FPI rebounds, and non-bumiputera businesses invest anew, Malaysia's real GDP will grow 6% despite the OECD recession in 2023.</li>
</ul>


FX reserves, which had declined over 10% from Mar'22 to Oct'22, rebounded by 8.9% in Nov-Dec'22. Anwar's inclusive policies will likely induce a steady rebound in net capital inflows. 
Base effects have facilitated 9.3%YoY real GDP growth in Q1-Q3 2022 led by strong private consumption and net exports; better growth cut the fiscal deficit to 4% of GDP YTD.    
Net foreign portfolio outflows averaged 1.75% of GDP since 2013. As FPI rebounds, and non-bumiputera businesses invest anew, Malaysia's real GDP will grow 6% despite the OECD recession in 2023.


Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) (FBMKLCI INDEX)

Malaysia: Anwar Well-Positioned to Spur Economic Recovery as Capital Flows Back