ASEAN Speaks

Malaysia’s general elections ended in hung parliament with no majority winner, while Singapore’s non-oil exports contraction points to a recession in 2023. Tune in to the conversation. 00:20 - Roundup - Winson Phoon 04:28 - MY elections - Suhaimi Ilias 08:14 - MY markets - Anand Pathmakanthan 10:25 - SG non-oil exports - Chua Hak Bin 12:34 - ID GDP - Lee Ju Ye 16:23 - PH interest rate - Zamros Dzu...

The fourth episode of our series 'Exploring Sustainable Values' explores the future of sustainable impact and effective integration between ESG principles and Islamic Finance. Dato’ Rafique Merican, Group CEO of Islamic Banking, Maybank, talks about the future of sustainable Islamic Finance, the initiatives, and technologies to look forward to.

US inflation data came in lower than expected. Our analysts discuss the broader trend, and if the US will slow rate hike. And as Malaysia goes to the polls this Saturday, we look into the impact on markets in this tight race. 00:22 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 04:21 - US bond yields - Winson Phoon 06:42 - ASEAN bonds - Winson 07:34 - USD inflection - Saktiandi Supaat 10:05 - MYR appreciation - Saktian...

The third episode of our series 'Exploring Sustainable Values' focuses on implementing Systems Thinking into Sustainable Finance. James Vaccaro, CEO of RePattern shares his perspectives on current trends in the sustainable financial sector, challenges to tackle, and introduces a systems thinking perspective on the notion of sustainability.

Our analysts unpack a slew of economic data in the region as well as earnings of Singapore banks with DBS Bank as our top pick. 00:15 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 03:59 - US interest rate - Suhaimi Ilias 05:38 - MY interest rate - Suhaimi 06:57 - ID inflation rate - Lee Ju Ye 08:33 - PH inflation rate - Zamros Dzulkafli 10:13 - TH foreign reserves - Ju Ye 12:39 - Cambodia economy - Brian Lee 13:57 - M...

The second episode of our series 'Exploring Sustainable Values' aims to explore and understand the role of leaders when it comes to leading a value-based organisation. We spoke to Dr. Aamir A. Rehman, founder of Fajr Capital where he provides insights on the struggles, barriers and attributes that makeup a leader when implementing sustainability values. 

Our analysts review what’s going on in the region - will there be a stagflation in Singapore, can we anticipate more interest rate hikes in Vietnam following two jumbo ones, and how should we get more defensive in ASEAN as central banks further tighten. 00:24 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 04:38 - SG stagflation? - Chua Hak Bin 09:20 - VN interest rate - Brian Lee 12:56 - TH outlook - Lee Ju Ye 15:06 -...

The Chinese Communist Party’s 20th National Congress came to a close on Sunday, and President Xi Jinping extended a rare third term as the Party’s leader. We discuss the economic outlook for China and its impact on ASEAN in the event of a re-opening, and if the USD has peaked. 00:26 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 04:25 - China - Chua Hak Bin 11:28 - ID macro - Lee Ju Ye 14:43 - VN Dong, reserves, rates...

The first episode of our series 'Exploring Islamic Values' aims to introduce the uninitiated to the world of sustainability, Islamic Finance, and the relationship between the two fields. We spoke to the general public to understand their point of view and address any misconceptions they might have.

Malaysia’s upcoming General Elections will be the most exciting with multi cornered fights, and a 40% jump in new voters, mainly the young. Meanwhile Singapore avoided a technical recession but inflation risk remains elevated and another tightening is forecasted. Over at the best performing equity market in ASEAN, Indonesia, our analysts recommend to take profit now. MY GE Scenario 1 win: UMNO-led...

Our analysts round up their thoughts on Malaysia’s Budget 2023 record spending of RM372 bil in view of the Prime Minister announcing a dissolution of Parliament and the general elections to be held within 60 days. 00:25 - Intro - Ong Seng Yeow 00:58 - USD support - Saktiandi Supaat 03:29 - Plaza Accord 2.0? - Andi 05:58 - MY Budget 2023 - Suhaimi Ilias 09:46 - Oil price, politics - Liaw Thong Jung...

Amid relentless selloff in the markets, our analysts discuss the opportunities in fixed income, Indonesian and Philippines equities, and “must haves” in a Malaysian ESG stock portfolio that offers low ESG risks balanced with core business diversity.  00:20: Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 04:32 - SG recession - Chua Hak Bin 09:27 - TH interest rate - Lee Ju Ye 12:09 - TH elections - Ju Ye 14:16 - VN...

Central banks in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam have raised interest rates higher than expected to fight inflation and manage the currency. Our economists consider the impact on economic growth including a look ahead into Malaysia’s Budget 2023 and the possibility of a technical recession in Singapore while the Sing dollar remains a safe haven currency. We also review the uptick in Singapo...

Our analysts assess how ASEAN markets would react to the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) huge decision on Wednesday if it raises the interest rate by 75 or 100 basis points. 00:20 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 03:13 - ID growth, inflation - Lee Ju Ye 06:17 - ASEAN markets - Anand Pathmakanthan 11:07 - ASEAN bond yields - Winson Phoon 15:25 - RMB - Saktiandi Supaat 18:35 - UK Budget, Pound - Sakt...

How many more interest rate hikes could we expect from Bank Negara Malaysia following the third hike last week? And what can we expect from Malaysia’s Budget 2023? We also unpack our ASEAN X report on China and the direction of the Renminbi (RMB) and which ASEAN currency is most sensitive to a RMB sell-off, and what the Chinese Communist Party might focus on at its Congress on the 16th of October....

Our analysts unpack the implications of US non-farm payrolls data, and major currency movements in Asia as well as the outlook on Malaysian banks, and follow the money of foreign investors. 00:22 - Roundup - Ong Seng Yeow 01:23 - US non-farm payroll, inflation - Suhaimi Ilias 04:56 - US interest rates - Winson Phoon 09:18 - MY, SG government bonds - Winson 10:42 - Yen, Euro, MYR, RMB - Saktiandi S...

As the Fed warned that it is likely to impose large interest rate hikes in coming months to tame inflation, our analysts discuss the extent of ASEAN decoupling from a potential US recession, a likely technical recession in Singapore in 3Q, and when Malaysia might hold its general elections now that the tabling of Budget 2023 has been brought forward to 7th October. 00:18 - Roundup - Winson Phoon 0...

As sentiment on Chinese property stocks lifted last week, we discuss our outlook for bonds. We also unpack our special reports on Philippines remittances, ASEAN equities strategy, Thailand’s telco spectrum, and our forecast on Vietnamese banks. 00:22 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 02:17 - CNY bonds, property - Winson Phoon 06:33 - TH GDP, THB - Lee Ju Ye 10:02 - PH interest rates, remittances - Zamros D...

Following the US markets’ spectacular performance on Friday where the S&P closed at 4,280, our analysts at Maybank IBG highlight what we need to look out for in ASEAN this week. We also peek into our brand new ASEAN ESG Alpha report for top ESG picks. 00:20 - Roundup - Ong Seng Yeow 01:59 - MY GDP - Suhaimi Ilias 07:35 - GE stocks - Anand Pathmakanthan 09:43 - Yield curve flattening - Winson P...

Our analysts at Maybank IBG unpack Singapore’s bank earnings, stock call upgrades for ASEAN, and consider if Vietnam’s slowing exports are a warning sign for the rest of Asia, and how much more legs will the ASEAN bond rally have, and should investors subscribe to Singapore’s 50 year sovereign green bond. 00:21 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 03:02 - SG banks - Thilan Wickramasinghe 06:07 - ASEAN bonds r...

Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Chairman of Axiata, and former Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional and Chief Executive Officer of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) discusses leadership, the real value of a digital bank license, nurturing innovation and picking the right talent, and the path of transformation in Malaysia. Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, CEO of Maybank Investment Bank speaks with the self-confe...

As the US enters a technical recession but with strong jobs data, how will this affect the Fed’s decision on interest rates in September? And in a slower growth environment, how resilient are banks and REITs?  00:21 - Roundup - Ong Seng Yeow 01:15 - FOMC expectations - Chua Hak Bin 06:36 - Bond outlook - Winson Phoon 10:35 - TH interest rate - Lee Ju Ye 11:54 - SGD/MYR - Saktiandi Supaat 14:2...

Our analysts discuss if institutional investor sentiment will be holding up in Indonesian markets, the best performing in the region year-to-date; will Laos and Myanmar face a mini crisis mirroring Sri Lanka, and pre-election plays for alpha in Malaysia, and discounted stocks and sectors in the Philippines, among others. 00:24 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 05:17 - ID interest rate, inflation - Lee Ju Y...

Maybank analysts discuss MAS’ off-cycle policy move to contain inflation and how it’ll affect economic growth in Singapore, and also the direction of currencies, and other market moving updates during a recession-inflation. 00:35 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 04:02 - SG tightens - Chua Hak Bin 07:35 - PH tightens - Zamros Dzulkafli 11:14 - FOMC 26/7 - Winson Phoon 15:05 - ID macro - Lee Ju Ye 19:00 -...

Our analysts discuss how many more interest rate hikes are in store for Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to tame inflation. They also look into Vietnam’s rise as Asia’s next digital tiger and stocks that play into this theme. And with the situation in Russia-Ukraine, what is the outlook for coal prices?  00:36 - Roundup - Winson Phoon 04:29 - MY OPR, GDP - Suhaimi Ilias 10:03 - PH CPI,...