Market Watch

Tim Mulholland of China-America Capital Company says that Portugal is likely to need a bailout, and we'll have better indication if Spain needs a bailout in the April debt auction. The market is looking ahead at US earnings announcement which he expects would be under pressure due to rising commodity cost that cannot be passed on to customers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

OSK DMG Asian Economist Enrico Tanuwidjaja in Singapore noted good recovery in Msia's economy, stronger exports in 2H of the year and measures to address capital flows in Bank Negara's Annual Report 2010. In terms of BNM's monetary policy stance, he expects rate hikes to bring OPR to 3.5% by end 2011. Possible road block to Malaysia's projected growth of 5-6% this year is climate change, and Enric...

Phillip Futures Investment Analyst Ker Chung Yang in Singapore doesn't expect global demand for palm oil to pick up in the next few weeks due to rising energy costs dampening global economic recovery, further developments in Mid East crisis, Japan nuclear concerns weighing on agriculture, stronger RM weighing on crude palm oil (CPO) and soy oil more favoured in China, due to price competitive edge...

Ben LeBrun, Market Analyst and Commentator at CMC Markets in Sydney, talks about predictions by HSBC that there could be less than 49 years of oil supplies left: whether he agrees and whether he thinks there is enough investment in alternative fuels to ensure a smooth transition. He moves on to Europe, where German public opinion is increasingly against the idea of paying to save the weaker euro-z...

Dr. Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist, YCMNET Advisors, discusses how the markets are shrugging off a series of global black swan events, and whether he is as bullish as the market suggests. He then answers questions on comments Goldman Sachs' Jim O'Neill has made, who said that inflation fears in China are "backward looking", and whether he agrees. He also discusse...

Next View Sdn Bhd Chief Market Strategist Benny Lee says market is headline-driven. However, a rally unsupported by fundamentals won't have a good uptrend. Eschews herd mentality. Normally, stocks are overspeculated after the Sarawak pre-election rally, somewhat bubble-like, so chances are it will happen again so exit before nomination day. Explains why top picks are timber players like WTK Holdin...

Malcolm E Polley, President and CIO of Stewart Capital Advisors, Pennsylvania agrees with Warren Buffet that there may be a buying opportunity in Japan as prices have come down substantially, and though he likes Apple Inc; the company, he won't buy the stock either. As to why uranium producers' prices are still rising despite Japan's nuclear issues, China has indicated that it'll stick with its pl...

With the recent announcement that the Sarawak state legislative assembly will be dissolved today, TA Research Head Kaladher Govindan says sentiment is positive, and expects it to continue until nomination day. Historically, stocks usually peak on nomination day as investors lock in their gains. His top picks following the Sarawak theme are Naim Holdings, Petra Energy and Encorp. Views events in Ja...

Landor & Fuest Capital Managers Chairman and Chief Investment Officer Dodge O. Dorland in New York agrees that price of oil will be higher, but possibly a pullback in the week ahead, driven by political events. Key driver will be the absence of negative specific incident news transitioning to positive supply/demand news. Sony & Nissan Motor prepping to resume production again are the first...

Tim Mulholland, Managing Director, China-America Capital Company, discusses the implications for nations that trade with Japan, if in fact it goes ahead with plans to intervene and weaken the currency, as well as the implications of soaring coal and gas prices on global energy markets, especially for those nations who don't have nuclear and have to buy coal and gas from the international markets....

OSK Research Analyst Jason Yap doesn't expect latex to reach previous highs as wintering season, improved weather in Thailand, tyre demand in Japan would weigh on prices. He expects latex prices to go down or maintain current levels. Risk factor is if crude oil goes above $147 per barrel, (though crude oil and rubber prices have decoupled) as latex could be part of commodity price run-up. He doubt...

Ben LeBrun from CMC Markets in Sydney tells what are the trading opportunities in the Australian market as investors bargain hunt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RHB Research Analyst Alexander Chia says nobody really knows the true extent of impact on domestic auto suppliers. Some of the key components still ultimately from Japan plants. In the short term, due to 2-3 months on average inventory level, auto players unaffected. However, if supply chain issues extend beyond that, could start seeing impact after that period. He foresees higher prices for steel...

Phillip Futures Commodities Analyst Ker Chung Yang in Singapore says the rubber futures situation depends on when Japan resumes auto production. Thailand, the world's top rubber producing country, may halt exports, which may cause concern that supply is being tightened. Relationship between supply and demand may take some time to recover, akin to 2006 and 2008. He expects it to take longer to get...

Dr. Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist at YCMNET Advisors, discusses Japan's nuclear fallout and the huge share-market plunge in Japan and also Asia. He puts into context the panic selling and the fear. He discusses the possibiliy of Japan's nuclear dampening global growth. He also talks about whether this share slowdown is actually good for markets, given how far th...

CIMB Head of Regional Rates and Forex Strategy Suresh Kumar Ramanathan comments on the Japan's crisis' impact on its currency. There have been decent repatriation flows for yen. Bank of Japan has been intervening in FX market to manage volatility and to neutralise repatriation flows so yen doesn't strengthen excessively.  In terms of impact on international trade,more than 50% of Japan's tota...

OSK Head of Research Chris Eng says limited impact on Malaysia market as ties between Japan-Msia not that strong to have an immediate impact on the Malaysia market. In the short term, demand for commodities could drop due to slowdown in economic activity. In the medium term, as questions raised on nuclear power, there could be an increase in demand for fossil fuel. As timber sector uses diesel and...

Malcolm E Polley, President and CIO of Stewart Capital Advisors in Pennsylvania thinks it'll take more than $183 billion to stabilise financial markets, and discussed the impact on prices of coal and oil from Japan's crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bond Price Agency Malaysia Pricing Manager Paige Tan talked about Bank Negara hinting that it may re-embark on rate hikes soon, BPA Malaysia All Bond Index's recent performance and yield patterns of government bonds and corporate bonds. The recent Japanese earthquake would impact credit factors, rather than interest rate outlook for the bond market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Dodge O. Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers, discusses how Asian markets will react to the Japan earthquakes, that global inflationary pressures might be relieved due to lower demand for oil and materials, the effects of the Nuclear Disaster and the possible ramifications of a worst-case scenario. He ends with his expectations for some big US data...

TA Research Economist Patricia Oh expects RON97 to hiked by July. She says at this point no indication of petrol hikes for RON 95.However, adjustments could come sooner than expected if crude oil continues to climb. Private consumption patterns are robust in line with the economy. TA Research forecasts 2.8% for full year CPI in 2011, imputing rise in crude oil prices with 6% GDP growth for 2011. &...

China-Americal Capital Company Managing Director Tim Mulholland in Chicago gave his views on Moody downgrading Spain's bond rating by a notch. There appears to be a higher risk of Spanish banks failing, and indicates poor health of the peripheral euro zone economies. Separately, China reported an unexpected $7.3 billion trade deficit, the biggest in seven years, which was below his expectations. T...

Ben Le Brun at CMC Markets say that inflation is a concern in Australia and it is hoped that the commodities boom will last long enough to pull up other sectors in the economy. Consumer sentiment has declined and several retail companies have announced profit warnings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Credit Suisse Economist Wu Kun Lung in Singapore talked about the impact of rising commodity prices on Malaysia. The house forecast for CPO is RM2,900-RM3,000 per tonne for 2011, which is higher than forecasts by Oil World's Thomas Mielke, and LMC International's Dr James Fry. He also discussed why general sentiment is that actual inflation is perceived to be higher than reported inflation in Chin...

Next View Sdn Bhd Chief Market Strategist Benny Lee feels rally in crude palm oil (CPO) reflects fundamentals. However, he's of the view that RM4,000 per tonne not sustainable, will average RM3,600 to 3,800 for this year. Production for CPO and soybean and weather should improve in the second quarter of this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.