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 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

US: Trump Disinflation Evident in Feb'25, Likely to Continue as DOGE Cuts Flow In

US: Policy Volatility Generates Inflation Setbacks, but Recession Fears Overblown

US: Trump Sweep of WH, Senate, House Clears the Way for Growth and Lower Brent

Trump Tariff Plans and Fed Policy: Dovish Twist in the Tail?

US: FOMC's Hawkish Outlook Is Optimistic Without a Fiscal Complement

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>The labour market is tight, and ISM's manufacturing and services new orders suggest more economic strength in H1CY25. Consequently, the bond yield curve is likely to steepen further. </li>
<li>Trump's massive spending (and bureaucratic) cuts will eat into the fiscal deficit (Oct'25 onwards), and deregulation plus early end to Ukraine war will sharply reduce oil prices, pushing inflation down.</li>
<li>QT, and absence of rate cuts in Q1CY25, will reduce core inflation by Q2CY25, allowing three 25bp rate cuts (Jun-Dec'25). Overweight bonds in Q1CY25, equities after mid-Mar'25. </li>
</ul>


The labour market is tight, and ISM's manufacturing and services new orders suggest more economic strength in H1CY25. Consequently, the bond yield curve is likely to steepen further. 
Trump's massive spending (and bureaucratic) cuts will eat into the fiscal deficit (Oct'25 onwards), and deregulation plus early end to Ukraine war will sharply reduce oil prices, pushing inflation down.
QT, and absence of rate cuts in Q1CY25, will reduce core inflation by Q2CY25, allowing three 25bp rate cuts (Jun-Dec'25). Overweight bonds in Q1CY25, equities after mid-Mar'25. 


NFP, Bonds Reflect Tight Labour Market, but Trump Disinflation Surprises Awaited