ASEAN Speaks

Maybank has downgraded its ASEAN-6 GDP growth forecast to +4.2% in 2023 from +4.5% at the start of the year. Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro, speaks with Suhaimi Ilias about the ten post-pandemic realities and downside risks going forward. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

El Nino is expected to peak from now till the first quarter of next year across ASEAN. How will warmer and drier conditions affect agriculture, food production as well as inflation? 00:21 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 05:51 - ASEAN macro - Chua Hak Bin 11:09 - ID, TH inflation - Lee Ju Ye 13:14 - TH minimum wage - Lee Ju Ye 13:58 - El Nino impact - Lee Ju Ye 14:46 - PH inflation - Zamros Dzulkafli 15:...

In this week’s Highlight, we look into Indonesia consumer stocks and feedback from investors at our recent marketing trip in Singapore. Willy Goutama, Analyst at Maybank Sekuritas, speaks to Winson Phoon. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

Singapore’s manufacturing worsened in May indicating a technical recession is probable. Vietnam’s 2Q GDP gathers pace but is still lackluster. Meanwhile for equities, Indonesia continues to be a bright spot, based on feedback at Maybank’s Invest ASEAN conference. We look at positioning for further growth, and our stock picks in other markets without re-rating catalysts yet.  00:31 - Roundup - Wins...

Inflation has been easing in Malaysia and Singapore - is this enough to pause further central bank actions? And for ASEAN, the elephant in the room question - does China need more measures to turbo charge its economy? Meanwhile, looking at the top currency trades - will the USDJPY continue to move higher? Also, will the Ringgit continue to slide? 00:30 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 04:56 - SG inflatio...

The Federal Reserve has decided to hold interest rates steady at its policy meeting. What would this mean for Malaysia and the other regional markets? Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro speaks with our analysts. 00:20 – Roundup – Chua Hak Bin 03:06 – Fed dot plot - Suhaimi Ilias 05:25 – BNM OPR, GDP – Suhaimi Ilias 09:44 – China economics – Brian Lee 15:15 – Indonesia economics – Lee Ju Ye 17:56 – Reg...

In today’s Highlight, banking analyst, Desmond Ch’ng discusses if we should still stay invested in Malaysian banks as interest rates fall. Co-Head of Macro, Chua Hak Bin moderates the call. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

Headline inflation rates in ASEAN-6 economies appear to have peaked and are moderating. Latest monetary policy actions by ASEAN central banks except for Vietnam indicate they are still cautious. 00:22 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 02:33 - ASEAN inflation - Suhaimi Ilias 07:38 - ASEAN interest rate - Suhaimi Ilias 09:15 - ASEAN monetary policy - Suhaimi Ilias 10:40 - BNM governor - Suhaimi Ilias 11:13 -...

In today’s Highlight of our Weekly Briefing, Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Equity Research in Malaysia unpacks the first quarter earnings, which have been disappointing. Will the second half of the year be better? Suhaimi Ilias speaks with him. To learn more, download the Malaysia 1Q23 Results Roundup report from our trading platform. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest...

Our analysts present forecast revisions - Vietnam’s GDP, US dollar, our year end KLCI target - and also consider undervalued plays in Thailand’s energy and retail sectors.  00:20 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 06:53 - TH interest rate - Lee Ju Ye 09:17 - ID inflation - Lee Ju Ye 11:28 - VN GDP - Brian Lee 14:10 - USD, Euro, CNY - Saktiandi Supaat  19:00 - USDMYR - Saktiandi Supaat  21:48 - MY 1Q earnin...

As momentum builds up towards COP28 that will take place in the UAE, we discuss with Robert Stavins,  A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development, at the Harvard Kennedy School, on the realities of climate talks, and what could take centrestage, and the progress of the loss and damage fund. We also discuss how ASEAN could elevate its voice in climate negotiations. Stavins was in Singapor...

In the Highlight of our Weekly Briefing, Saktiandi Supaat, our Head of Forex Research shares his findings on what may happen to currencies when the Fed cuts rates. To learn more, go to our ASEAN x Macro report, The Pivot Play and an Event Risk That Looms. And for the full conversation with other Maybank analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks. 

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Republicans and Democrats that will help avoid a debt default. Over in ASEAN, we review a slew of indicators - inflation and interest rate expectations - and how selected sectors are doing. On currencies, we analyse why the Ringgit has been weakening against the US dollar. Also based on past US interest rate cycles, how will the US dollar do when...

Here is the highlight from today’s Weekly Briefing. Non-oil domestic exports or NODX extended its decline in April as exports to China contracted sharply, offsetting the rebound to the US and Europe. What is the probability of a recession in Singapore? Suhaimi Ilias speaks with Chua Hak Bin. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

While the US debates on raising its debt ceiling, we discuss our projections for Thailand post-elections, ASEAN equities as investors stay on the sidelines, China’s economy and the Renminbi, and the effects on palm oil output if El Nino arrives. 00:22 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias  06:44 - SG NDOX - Chua Hak Bin 09:31 - TH GDP - Lee Ju Ye 12:04 - TH markets - Chak Reungsinpinya 14:59 - TH retail - Sut...

Here is the highlight from our Weekly Briefing. The election results in Thailand show that the Move Forward Party is leading, with Pheu Thai a close second so far. What are the implications for the economy and markets? Winson Phoon, Head of Fixed Income Research, speaks with Lee Ju Ye, our economist, and Chak Reungsinpinya, Head of Equity Research in Thailand. For the full conversation with other...

Bringing you the latest highlights about ASEAN - economic data in China, Malaysia and the Philippines; Singapore bank earnings; Thailand’s election results; and the impact of geo-economic fragmentation as President Joe Biden signs an executive order this week to further limit tech investments in China.  00:32 - Roundup - Winson Phoon 03:57 - TH elections - Lee Ju Ye 07:17 - TH markets - Chak Reung...

In the highlight of our Weekly Briefing, we discuss what markets are pricing in, and data to look out for this week that is more important than the CPI. Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro speaks with Winson Phoon, Head of Fixed Income Research. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to this week's episode on Weekly Briefing.

A range of issues from the Fed and Bank Negara Malaysias’ move to raise interest rates by 25 bps, as well as our revisions to major currencies outlook, and our ASEAN including Singapore REITs and Vietnam strategy. 00:22 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 02:08 - Fed policy rate - Suhaimi Ilias 05:14 - Fed fund futures - Winson Phoon 08:24 - MY OPR - Suhaimi Ilias 11:19 - MY GDP - Suhaimi Ilias 12:28 - ID GD...

The highlight from our Weekly Briefing is the looming US debt ceiling crisis. Over the weekend, Janet Yellen had warned that the US Treasury could run out of cash by 1st of June. Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro discusses with Saktiandi Supaat, Head of Forex Research on the possible scenarios ahead. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Spea...

Over the weekend, JP Morgan announced that it will acquire First Republic Bank. And Janet Yellen said that the US Treasury could run out of cash by 1st of June and will have to raise the debt ceiling. We expect the process to be prolonged due to political differences, and expect market choppiness. We also review if the dust has settled for AT1s following Credit Suisse’s write-off last month. 00:31...

The highlight from our Weekly Briefing is whether the US dollar would end its dominance by the end of this decade, and the emerging beneficiary as central banks re-balance their currencies portfolio. Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro, speaks to Suhaimi Ilias, Group Chief Economist. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

We kick off our conversation if the US dollar will end its dominance by the end of this decade. We also make sense of the economic data that was released in China, Malaysia and Singapore, and beneficiaries of Chinese tourists visiting ASEAN.  00:21 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 03:20 - USD vs CNY dominance - Suhaimi Ilias 10:47 - MY GDP - Suhaimi Ilias 12:37 - China GDP - Brian Lee 16:31 - SG GDP - Lee...

In this episode, we take a closer look at the ambitious goal of "Improving the lives of 1 million households across ASEAN by 2025," as seen through the lens of Maybank. Chief Sustainability Officer Shahril Azuar Jimin expands on this goal as well as outlines Maybank’s mission of “Humanising Financial Services”. Speaking with our guest, is esteemed moderator and interviewer, Nadia Azmi. H...

In this insightful episode, we explore the innovative concept of social enterprise; a model that combines the noble intention of doing good with the practicality of sustaining a living. Host Sam Yeow is joined by Kim Lim, the Co-Founder of Pichaeats which provides food delivery services with dishes cooked by refugees. We discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that social enterprises face,...