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

US-Iran Near-Term Relief: War's First Phase Ending; Tough Nuclear Negotiations Ahead

US-Iran War Resumes Amid Negotiations: Key Problem Still the Nuclear Stalemate

OIL: When a Short-Term Spike Becomes Long-Term Reality

US: Iran War Isn't About to End Despite the Improved Atmospherics from Trump

US-Iran: Scenarios for Escalation Remain Dominant, with Deal Prospects Obscure

Oil futures: Crude prices higher after Trump escalation threat

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>Trump claims to have won a military victory, but his latest 2-week postponement of the apocalyptic bombing of Iran smells of TACO, with bombastic claims being made by both parties.</li>
<li>There's a massive gulf between the US's 15 point proposal for peace, and even the English version of Iran's 10-point response, with Iran's nuclear disarmament presenting the biggest dissonance. </li>
<li>Infighting in Iran's regime makes a comprehensive deal even tougher; resumption of war is likely before a final deal emerges. We recommend selling into the current strength in markets. </li>
</ul>


Trump claims to have won a military victory, but his latest 2-week postponement of the apocalyptic bombing of Iran smells of TACO, with bombastic claims being made by both parties.
There's a massive gulf between the US's 15 point proposal for peace, and even the English version of Iran's 10-point response, with Iran's nuclear disarmament presenting the biggest dissonance. 
Infighting in Iran's regime makes a comprehensive deal even tougher; resumption of war is likely before a final deal emerges. We recommend selling into the current strength in markets. 


Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU INDEX)

US: TACO to the Rescue Again; Gulf Between 2 Sides Remains Gaping