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

India's exports grew 86% YoY in Apr-Jun 2021, and were 18.3% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019 (the pre-Covid times). The return to pre-Covid levels was clearest in June (+48.3% YoY, and 30% up from June 2019) and July (+47.9% YoY, and 34% above July 2019). The height of the second Covid wave did hurt industrial growth in May 2021 (up 29.3% YoY, but down 12.6% from May 2019), although industrial output surpassed 2019 levels in April; for April-May 2021, manufacturing output grew 88.8% YoY. And in 1H 2021, India's steel output (+31.3% YoY) was the fastest-growing among the world's top-10 steel producers. A real recovery is set to gather momentum in 2H 2021. The clearest evidence of a powerful economic rebound comes from the revival in net tax revenues, which were up 97% YoY in 1Q-FY2021/22, and were 26.7% of the full-year target in 1Q of this fiscal year, compared with reaching just 14.4% of the full year target in Apr-Jun 2019. However, while total government spending in Apr-Jun 2021 was 23.6% of the full-year target, it was 25.9% of full-year target in Apr-Jun 2019 -- the consequence being that the fiscal deficit in Apr-Jun 2021 was just 18.2% of the full-year target, while in Apr-Jun 2019 it had been a whopping 61.4% of the target. Fiscal prudence is helped by a surge in corporate tax revenue (+128% YoY, but also 75% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019) and soaring union excise duties (mainly on petrol and diesel, which are encouraging a shift to renewables across the energy spectrum). Remarkable fiscal prudence should ensure that deficits this year will be below target. With exports, industrial output and tax revenue soaring, the economy is set to accelerate, and comfortably achieved 11% real GDP growth this year, especially as the accelerated vaccination drive helps contain any third Covid wave.  That corporate tax revenues in Apr-Jun 2021 were 75% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019 suggests a powerful acceleration in corporate profitability. That pace of corporate profit acceleration will ensure that valuations will remain reasonable despite the steadily rising equity prices. We would recommend staying Overweight India.

India's exports grew 86% YoY in Apr-Jun 2021, and were 18.3% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019 (the pre-Covid times). The return to pre-Covid levels was clearest in June (+48.3% YoY, and 30% up from June 2019) and July (+47.9% YoY, and 34% above July 2019). The height of the second Covid wave did hurt industrial growth in May 2021 (up 29.3% YoY, but down 12.6% from May 2019), although industrial output surpassed 2019 levels in April; for April-May 2021, manufacturing output grew 88.8% YoY. And in 1H 2021, India's steel output (+31.3% YoY) was the fastest-growing among the world's top-10 steel producers. A real recovery is set to gather momentum in 2H 2021. The clearest evidence of a powerful economic rebound comes from the revival in net tax revenues, which were up 97% YoY in 1Q-FY2021/22, and were 26.7% of the full-year target in 1Q of this fiscal year, compared with reaching just 14.4% of the full year target in Apr-Jun 2019. However, while total government spending in Apr-Jun 2021 was 23.6% of the full-year target, it was 25.9% of full-year target in Apr-Jun 2019 -- the consequence being that the fiscal deficit in Apr-Jun 2021 was just 18.2% of the full-year target, while in Apr-Jun 2019 it had been a whopping 61.4% of the target. Fiscal prudence is helped by a surge in corporate tax revenue (+128% YoY, but also 75% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019) and soaring union excise duties (mainly on petrol and diesel, which are encouraging a shift to renewables across the energy spectrum). Remarkable fiscal prudence should ensure that deficits this year will be below target. With exports, industrial output and tax revenue soaring, the economy is set to accelerate, and comfortably achieved 11% real GDP growth this year, especially as the accelerated vaccination drive helps contain any third Covid wave.  That corporate tax revenues in Apr-Jun 2021 were 75% higher than in Apr-Jun 2019 suggests a powerful acceleration in corporate profitability. That pace of corporate profit acceleration will ensure that valuations will remain reasonable despite the steadily rising equity prices. We would recommend staying Overweight India.   

India: Exports Lead Industrial Rebound, While Fiscal Policy Remains Prudent

Founder & Chief Market Strategist - SAV Markets, SAV Markets

Shyam Devani

Founder & Chief Market Strategist - SAV Markets

Technical Analysis

Over the past few months India has been horribly torn apart from the Delta variant of Covid-19. Back in May I thought there was a serious risk of a notable correction down in the equity market, but it never came. Since then we have seen<ul type="disc">
<li>A higher Oil price, </li>
<li>The IMF significantly downgrading India’s GDP forecast and</li>
<li>Renewed concerns of Covid spreading.</li>
</ul>Despite all that, India’s Nifty has not only failed to correct down (it simply went sideways for 7 weeks) but has now posted what looks like a clear bullish break to new highs, not only in INR terms but also in USD terms.With USDINR beginning to turn from the top of the ‘range’ - as it probably needs to given a barrel of Oil costs some 5,300 Rupees – the recent breaks look very good. Further gains in the stock market and Rupee seem very likely not only over the coming days but perhaps weeks. Charts and further details below…

Over the past few months India has been horribly torn apart from the Delta variant of Covid-19. Back in May I thought there was a serious risk of a notable correction down in the equity market, but it never came. Since then we have seen
A higher Oil price, 
The IMF significantly downgrading India’s GDP forecast and
Renewed concerns of Covid spreading.
Despite all that, India’s Nifty has not only failed to correct down (it simply went sideways for 7 weeks) but has now posted what looks like a clear bullish break to new highs, not only in INR terms but also in USD terms.With USDINR beginning to turn from the top of the ‘range’ - as it probably needs to given a barrel of Oil costs some 5,300 Rupees – the recent breaks look very good. Further gains in the stock market and Rupee seem very likely not only over the coming days but perhaps weeks. Charts and further details below…

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index / Event-Driven

The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-stock-exchange-weighted-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26056:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index (TWSE INDEX)</a> is 17.5% higher from its lows a couple of months ago. The margin balance is also at a new high and has risen by nearly US$3bn over the last 2 months.At the same time, short notional has increased by US$3.7bn. Of the increase, only US$470m has come from new shorts being created while the rest is a result of higher stock prices.The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-stock-exchange-weighted-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26056:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index (TWSE INDEX)</a> is one of the best performing Asian markets over the last year and could be susceptible to a pullback. The sharp increase in margin balance could lead to an equally sharp unwind that could lead to a repeat of the forced selling in May.With geo-political tensions and the COVID19 variants still around, plus the higher margin balances, we would look to reduce long positions in Taiwan or put appropriate hedges in place to cushion the impact of a sharp selloff in markets.

The Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index (TWSE INDEX) is 17.5% higher from its lows a couple of months ago. The margin balance is also at a new high and has risen by nearly US$3bn over the last 2 months.At the same time, short notional has increased by US$3.7bn. Of the increase, only US$470m has come from new shorts being created while the rest is a result of higher stock prices.The Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index (TWSE INDEX) is one of the best performing Asian markets over the last year and could be susceptible to a pullback. The sharp increase in margin balance could lead to an equally sharp unwind that could lead to a repeat of the forced selling in May.With geo-political tensions and the COVID19 variants still around, plus the higher margin balances, we would look to reduce long positions in Taiwan or put appropriate hedges in place to cushion the impact of a sharp selloff in markets.

Taiwan: TWSE & Margin Balance at New Highs

The Nifty Index has made a fresh high today. However, for the foreign (non-Indian) investor, this is not yet realised as the currency has weakened over the past few weeks.Could this break be meaningful, and have we seen the worst in the short term for the Rupee?

The Nifty Index has made a fresh high today. However, for the foreign (non-Indian) investor, this is not yet realised as the currency has weakened over the past few weeks.Could this break be meaningful, and have we seen the worst in the short term for the Rupee? 

The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> is the flagship index of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The index has 50 stocks and is a free float weighted market cap index. The next rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 29 September 2021 and the announcement of the changes will be made four weeks prior to the effective date.The review period runs from February to July and we are nearing the last leg of data that will be used to determine the inclusions and exclusions. We currently see no change to the index, though that could change if <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adani-green-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29012:1" rel="noopener">Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN)</a> and/or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dmart" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23656:1" rel="noopener">Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN)</a> are included in the Futures &amp; Options (F&amp;O) segment, or if there is a big rally in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a>.20 stocks have been added to the F&amp;O segment so far this year and there is a possibility that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dmart" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23656:1" rel="noopener">Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN)</a> and/or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adani-green-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29012:1" rel="noopener">Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN)</a> are included in the segment in the next month.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a>'s average free float market cap is 1.41 times the average free float market cap of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indian-oil-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7781:1" rel="noopener">Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN)</a>. To reach the 1.5 times average free float market cap threshold, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/info-edge-india-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14461:1" rel="noopener">Info Edge India (INFOE IN)</a> will need to outperform <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/indian-oil-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7781:1" rel="noopener">Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN)</a> by 32% on average over the rest of the review period.If <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dmart" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23656:1" rel="noopener">Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN)</a> or <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adani-green-energy-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29012:1" rel="noopener">Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN)</a> are added to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a>, the impact of passive buying will be high at over 7 days of ADV. The impact on the potential deletions is around 3 days of ADV to sell.

The NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) is the flagship index of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The index has 50 stocks and is a free float weighted market cap index. The next rebalance will be effective after the close of trading on 29 September 2021 and the announcement of the changes will be made four weeks prior to the effective date.The review period runs from February to July and we are nearing the last leg of data that will be used to determine the inclusions and exclusions. We currently see no change to the index, though that could change if Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN) and/or Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN) are included in the Futures &amp; Options (F&amp;O) segment, or if there is a big rally in Info Edge India (INFOE IN).20 stocks have been added to the F&amp;O segment so far this year and there is a possibility that Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN) and/or Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN) are included in the segment in the next month.Info Edge India (INFOE IN)'s average free float market cap is 1.41 times the average free float market cap of Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN). To reach the 1.5 times average free float market cap threshold, Info Edge India (INFOE IN) will need to outperform Indian Oil Corp (IOCL IN) by 32% on average over the rest of the review period.If Avenue Supermarts Ltd (DMART IN) or Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR IN) are added to the NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX), the impact of passive buying will be high at over 7 days of ADV. The impact on the potential deletions is around 3 days of ADV to sell.

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance Preview: Catalysts for Change

India

The NIFTY 50 index is National Stock Exchange of India's benchmark stock market index for Indian equity market. Nifty is owned and managed by India Index Services and Products (IISL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSE Strategic Investment Corporation Limited.

NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)

India: Exports Lead Industrial Rebound, While Fiscal Policy Remains Prudent

Jan-Jul21 exports up 47% YoY, with Jun-Jul 32% higher than 2019. Corp tax revenue is up 128%YoY & 75% above 2019, so fiscal deficit in Apr-Jun21...

Prasenjit K. Basu

India: Breaks and Targets

The breaks seen on the Nifty Index as well as USDINR are notable points of interest. Here we look at where the potential targets are

Shyam Devani

Taiwan: TWSE & Margin Balance at New Highs

The TWSE and margin balances are both at a new high. With geo-political concerns and COVID-19 still major factors, we would look to lower long...

Brian Freitas

Indian Markets: Breaks and Setups

The Nifty looks set to breakout as USDINR tops out. These charts suggest that the Nifty in USD terms could rise anywhere from 4.5% to 6% above...

Shyam Devani

NIFTY50 Index Rebalance Preview: Catalysts for Change

There are no changes expected to the NIFTY Index at the September rebalance. However, the inclusion of DMART and/or Adani Green in the F&O segment...

Brian Freitas