Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

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>CPI inflation receded to 3.6%YoY in Feb'25, as big MoM declines in vegetable prices brought F&amp;B inflation down to 3.8%YoY. Tame food inflation will allow 3.2%YoY headline inflation in Apr-Dec'25. </li>
<li>Energy deflation will end in Mar'25, and non-food inflation will edge up marginally, but food inflation likely to be lower than 3.5%YoY for the next half-year amid tame vegetable inflation.</li>
<li>Policy rate to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 MPC meetings, and another 25bp by Dec'25. Normalized interest rates will enable RGDP's return to 8% growth in FY26. </li>
</ul>


CPI inflation receded to 3.6%YoY in Feb'25, as big MoM declines in vegetable prices brought F&amp;B inflation down to 3.8%YoY. Tame food inflation will allow 3.2%YoY headline inflation in Apr-Dec'25. 
Energy deflation will end in Mar'25, and non-food inflation will edge up marginally, but food inflation likely to be lower than 3.5%YoY for the next half-year amid tame vegetable inflation.
Policy rate to decline 25bp at each of the next 3 MPC meetings, and another 25bp by Dec'25. Normalized interest rates will enable RGDP's return to 8% growth in FY26. 


India: Inflation Likely Averaging 3.2%YoY in Apr-Dec'25 Will Allow 100bp of Rate Cuts

<ul>
<li>RBI's failure to cut the policy rate at its last two policy meetings is a policy error. Although vegetables caused a headline-inflation spurt, core inflation moderated to 2.7%YoY in Sep'24. </li>
<li>High real interest rates have caused real GDP to decelerate to 6.7%YoY in Apr-Jun'24, and industrial output to decline in Aug'24. The policy error is hurting the economy. </li>
<li>Cleverer stance would be to take every opportunity to cut rates when headline inflation is at/below target. When vegetable prices hold policy hostage, it hits investor confidence. (Evidence: FX Reserves).  </li>
</ul>


RBI's failure to cut the policy rate at its last two policy meetings is a policy error. Although vegetables caused a headline-inflation spurt, core inflation moderated to 2.7%YoY in Sep'24. 
High real interest rates have caused real GDP to decelerate to 6.7%YoY in Apr-Jun'24, and industrial output to decline in Aug'24. The policy error is hurting the economy. 
Cleverer stance would be to take every opportunity to cut rates when headline inflation is at/below target. When vegetable prices hold policy hostage, it hits investor confidence. (Evidence: FX Reserves).  


India: Clear Policy Error Despite Food-Driven Spurt in Sep'24 Inflation

<ul>
<li>The fiscal deficit's 12mma was below 4.3% of GDP in Jul'24 (far below the 4.9% target for FY25), reflecting surging direct tax revenue and above-target non-tax revenue (dividends).   </li>
<li>Q1FY25 merchandise deficit expanded 10.5%YoY to US$62.08bn, as exports grew 6%YoY and imports 7.7%YoY. Services exports grew 10.6%YoY, services imports 6.9%YoY, widening the services trade surplus 15.4%YoY to US$40.52bn. </li>
<li>Given typical quarterly incomes surplus of US$14.4bn, the CAD in Q1FY25 likely declined 20%YoY to US$7.2bn, so H1CY24 CAD was US$1.5bn (vs US$10.3bn in H1CY23). Seasonality should eliminate FY25 CAD. </li>
</ul>


The fiscal deficit's 12mma was below 4.3% of GDP in Jul'24 (far below the 4.9% target for FY25), reflecting surging direct tax revenue and above-target non-tax revenue (dividends).   
Q1FY25 merchandise deficit expanded 10.5%YoY to US$62.08bn, as exports grew 6%YoY and imports 7.7%YoY. Services exports grew 10.6%YoY, services imports 6.9%YoY, widening the services trade surplus 15.4%YoY to US$40.52bn. 
Given typical quarterly incomes surplus of US$14.4bn, the CAD in Q1FY25 likely declined 20%YoY to US$7.2bn, so H1CY24 CAD was US$1.5bn (vs US$10.3bn in H1CY23). Seasonality should eliminate FY25 CAD. 


India Twin Deficit Watch: Fiscal Deficit Far Below FY25 Target, CAD Set to Vanish

<ul>
<li>11%YoY growth in GFCF enabled real GDP to grow 7.6% YoY in Q2FY24, well ahead of the 6.8% consensus. Manufacturing, construction, utilities and mining grew over 10%YoY in Jul-Sep'23. </li>
<li>Services should grow over 8%YoY in H2FY24 (in line with 26-year average). Manufacturing should grow 9%YoY, delivering 8%+ growth in H2FY24. Reform and productivity enable 8% growth in FY25. </li>
<li>The 12mma of the fiscal deficit fell to 5.8% of GDP in Oct'23, and should fall to 5.5% by Mar'24. This will crowd-in private investment, generating virtuous circle of growth.</li>
</ul>


11%YoY growth in GFCF enabled real GDP to grow 7.6% YoY in Q2FY24, well ahead of the 6.8% consensus. Manufacturing, construction, utilities and mining grew over 10%YoY in Jul-Sep'23. 
Services should grow over 8%YoY in H2FY24 (in line with 26-year average). Manufacturing should grow 9%YoY, delivering 8%+ growth in H2FY24. Reform and productivity enable 8% growth in FY25. 
The 12mma of the fiscal deficit fell to 5.8% of GDP in Oct'23, and should fall to 5.5% by Mar'24. This will crowd-in private investment, generating virtuous circle of growth.


India: Real GDP to Sustain 8%+ YoY Growth over the Next 18 Months

<ul>
<li>The RBI forecast 4.4%YoY inflation in Jan-Mar'25, but a 15.7%MoM decline in vegetable prices in Jan'25 enabled headline CPI inflation to ease to 4.3%YoY. </li>
<li>Our forecast of 4.1%YoY inflation for Jan-Mar'25 remains on track. With food inflation set to recede, we expect CPI inflation below 4%YoY in Apr-Sep'25, enabling 75bp of further rate cuts. </li>
<li>If the SW Monsoon in Jun-Sep'25 is normal or better, another 25bp rate cut is likely in Dec'25, taking the repo rate to 5.25% by the end of 2025. </li>
</ul>


The RBI forecast 4.4%YoY inflation in Jan-Mar'25, but a 15.7%MoM decline in vegetable prices in Jan'25 enabled headline CPI inflation to ease to 4.3%YoY. 
Our forecast of 4.1%YoY inflation for Jan-Mar'25 remains on track. With food inflation set to recede, we expect CPI inflation below 4%YoY in Apr-Sep'25, enabling 75bp of further rate cuts. 
If the SW Monsoon in Jun-Sep'25 is normal or better, another 25bp rate cut is likely in Dec'25, taking the repo rate to 5.25% by the end of 2025. 


India: Our View About Inflation Vindicated in Jan'25, Paving Path to Faster Rate Cuts

India

iShares MSCI India Index ETF is an exchange-traded fund registered in Singapore. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the MSCI India Index. The Fund invests all or substantially all of its assets in shares comprising the MSCI India Index in substantially the same weightings as constituted in the underlying index.

iShares MSCI India Index ETF (INDIA SP)

India: Inflation Likely Averaging 3.2%YoY in Apr-Dec'25 Will Allow 100bp of Rate Cuts

Feb'25 CPI inflation at 3.6%YoY due to lower food prices, expected to stay below 3.5%YoY for next 6 months. Policy rate to decline by 100bp in Apr...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Clear Policy Error Despite Food-Driven Spurt in Sep'24 Inflation

Veg prices can't be controlled by monetary policy, so RBI should've cut rates in Aug & Oct'24, with core & headline inflation below target. Policy...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India Twin Deficit Watch: Fiscal Deficit Far Below FY25 Target, CAD Set to Vanish

12mma fiscal deficit was below 4.3% of GDP in Jul'24, as direct tax revenue surged +20%YoY. 15%YoY rise in services surplus kept H1CY24 CAD down to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Real GDP to Sustain 8%+ YoY Growth over the Next 18 Months

India stays world's fastest-growing economy with 7.7%YoY RGDP growth in H1FY24. Exports & GFCF will enable >8%YoY growth in H2. Labour reform to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Our View About Inflation Vindicated in Jan'25, Paving Path to Faster Rate Cuts

Jan'25 inflation in line with our forecast but already lower than RBI forecast for Jan-Mar'25 quarter. We expect up to 100bp of further rate cuts...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Inflation Likely Averaging 3.2%YoY in Apr-Dec'25 Will Allow 100bp of Rate Cuts

​Feb'25 CPI inflation at 3.6%YoY due to lower food prices, expected to stay below 3.5%YoY for next 6 months. Policy rate to decline by 100bp in Apr...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Clear Policy Error Despite Food-Driven Spurt in Sep'24 Inflation

Veg prices can't be controlled by monetary policy, so RBI should've cut rates in Aug & Oct'24, with core & headline inflation below target. Policy...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India Twin Deficit Watch: Fiscal Deficit Far Below FY25 Target, CAD Set to Vanish

12mma fiscal deficit was below 4.3% of GDP in Jul'24, as direct tax revenue surged +20%YoY. 15%YoY rise in services surplus kept H1CY24 CAD down to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Real GDP to Sustain 8%+ YoY Growth over the Next 18 Months

India stays world's fastest-growing economy with 7.7%YoY RGDP growth in H1FY24. Exports & GFCF will enable >8%YoY growth in H2. Labour reform to...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Our View About Inflation Vindicated in Jan'25, Paving Path to Faster Rate Cuts

Jan'25 inflation in line with our forecast but already lower than ​RBI forecast for Jan-Mar'25 quarter. We expect up to 100bp of further rate cuts...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Feb'25 CPI inflation at 3.6%YoY due to lower food prices, expected to stay below 3.5%YoY for next 6 months. Policy rate to decline by 100bp in Apr...

Jan'25 inflation in line with our forecast but already lower than RBI forecast for Jan-Mar'25 quarter. We expect up to 100bp of further rate cuts...