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>Jul'24 was the weakest month for NFPs, and Jun-Aug'24 the weakest 3-month period, since Dec'20. Sahm Rule predicts recession: unemployment rate (averaging 4.2% Jun-Aug'24) is 0.57pp above 12m low (Nov'23-Jan'24).</li>
<li>ISM manufacturing PMI has been below 50 for 11 of past 12 months, with new orders slumping anew in the past 5 months -- suggesting a sharp cyclical downturn ahead.</li>
<li>Core PCE inflation is 2.6%YoY (and just below 2%MoM annualized) in May-Jul'24. That's enough to ensure a 25bp cut next week. Recession risk necessitates 50bp cut, but it won't happen. </li>
</ul>


Jul'24 was the weakest month for NFPs, and Jun-Aug'24 the weakest 3-month period, since Dec'20. Sahm Rule predicts recession: unemployment rate (averaging 4.2% Jun-Aug'24) is 0.57pp above 12m low (Nov'23-Jan'24).
ISM manufacturing PMI has been below 50 for 11 of past 12 months, with new orders slumping anew in the past 5 months -- suggesting a sharp cyclical downturn ahead.
Core PCE inflation is 2.6%YoY (and just below 2%MoM annualized) in May-Jul'24. That's enough to ensure a 25bp cut next week. Recession risk necessitates 50bp cut, but it won't happen. 


US: Recession Risk up Sharply as NFP and ISM Manufacturing Signal Downturn Ahead

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Constituent changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX</a> and weight changes as a result of the market consultation proposals being adopted will result in a round-trip trade of US$31.5bn.</li>
<li>The largest one-way turnover is expected in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/consumer-staples-select-sector-spdr-fund" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27536:1" rel="noopener">Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/technology-select-sector-spdr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27543:1" rel="noopener">Technology Select Sector SPDR</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/materials-select-sector-spdr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27541:1" rel="noopener">Materials Select Sector SPDR</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/communication-services-select-sector-spdr-fund" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27534:1" rel="noopener">Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund</a>.</li>
<li>The inflows to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple (AAPL US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/palantir-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27728:1" rel="noopener">Palantir Technologies (PLTR US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dell-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32189:1" rel="noopener">Dell Technologies (DELL US)</a> will add to the buying from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> trackers.</li>
</ul>


Constituent changes to the S&amp;P 500 INDEX and weight changes as a result of the market consultation proposals being adopted will result in a round-trip trade of US$31.5bn.
The largest one-way turnover is expected in the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, Technology Select Sector SPDR, Materials Select Sector SPDR and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund.
The inflows to Apple (AAPL US), Palantir Technologies (PLTR US) and Dell Technologies (DELL US) will add to the buying from the S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) trackers.


Select Sector Indices: Inflows to Apple, Palantir, Dell Will Add to SPX Buying

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>The HSI has declined 3% MTD, but based on history, there is more downside risk. Over the last 10 years, the Index has only returned positively in two September.</li>
<li>October is also not good, and the Index declined an average of 1.9% in the month since 2019. However, November and December are normally the best-performing ones. </li>
<li>Prudent investors should stay conservative until October. By the end of next month, there are opportunities to increase position to take hold of the potential year-end rally. </li>
</ul>


The HSI has declined 3% MTD, but based on history, there is more downside risk. Over the last 10 years, the Index has only returned positively in two September.
October is also not good, and the Index declined an average of 1.9% in the month since 2019. However, November and December are normally the best-performing ones. 
Prudent investors should stay conservative until October. By the end of next month, there are opportunities to increase position to take hold of the potential year-end rally. 


China & HK Strategy: Sell in September and Go Away, Really?

<ul>
<li>There are 3 changes for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX</a>, 8 changes for the S&amp;P Midcap400 Index and 15 changes for the S&amp;P SmallCap600 Index at the September rebalance.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dell-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32189:1" rel="noopener">Dell Technologies (DELL US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/palantir-technologies-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27728:1" rel="noopener">Palantir Technologies (PLTR US)</a> were finally added to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> and there is huge size to trade in the stocks.</li>
<li>There will also be big buying in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple (AAPL US)</a> following a float increase driven by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/berkshire-hathaway-inc-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1044:1" rel="noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Inc Cl A (BRK/A US)</a> selling last quarter.</li>
</ul>


There are 3 changes for the S&amp;P 500 INDEX, 8 changes for the S&amp;P Midcap400 Index and 15 changes for the S&amp;P SmallCap600 Index at the September rebalance.

Dell Technologies (DELL US) and Palantir Technologies (PLTR US) were finally added to the S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) and there is huge size to trade in the stocks.
There will also be big buying in Apple (AAPL US) following a float increase driven by Berkshire Hathaway Inc Cl A (BRK/A US) selling last quarter.


S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: Dell, Palantir Make It (Finally!); Apple Upweight

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>Price action on SPX is extremely similar to prior major topping patterns in April 2000 and August 2007, which is why we recommended reducing risk near 5670-5783 last week.</li>
<li>Additional similarities to 2000/2007 (other than price action) include the Fed cutting rates, recession indicators such as the Sahm rule and Schannep Recession Indicator (SRI) triggered, and yield curve un-inverting.</li>
<li>SPX resistance is in the 5670-5783 range; if a major top is happening, that is where it would start from (using the 2000 and 2007 tops as comparisons).</li>
</ul>


Price action on SPX is extremely similar to prior major topping patterns in April 2000 and August 2007, which is why we recommended reducing risk near 5670-5783 last week.
Additional similarities to 2000/2007 (other than price action) include the Fed cutting rates, recession indicators such as the Sahm rule and Schannep Recession Indicator (SRI) triggered, and yield curve un-inverting.
SPX resistance is in the 5670-5783 range; if a major top is happening, that is where it would start from (using the 2000 and 2007 tops as comparisons).


Recessionary Signals as SPX Tests Resistance; Downgrading Energy to Underweight

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

US: Recession Risk up Sharply as NFP and ISM Manufacturing Signal Downturn Ahead

Unemployment rate (avg 4.2% in Jun-Jul'24) is 0.57% higher than Nov'23-Jan'24, indicating recession ahead; so does deterioration in ISM mfg new...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Select Sector Indices: Inflows to Apple, Palantir, Dell Will Add to SPX Buying

Constituent changes to the SPX and the market consultation proposals being adopted result in a round-trip trade of US$31.5bn. Apple and...

Brian Freitas

China & HK Strategy: Sell in September and Go Away, Really?

It pays to be cautious for HSI investors in Sep and Oct, with opportunities for a year-end rally in Nov and Dec. Despite the 3% drop in MTD, it is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: Dell, Palantir Make It (Finally!); Apple Upweight

There are 3 changes for the SnP500, 8 for the SnP400 and 15 for the SnP600 Index. Dell and Palantir have finally been added. There is huge size to...

Brian Freitas

Recessionary Signals as SPX Tests Resistance; Downgrading Energy to Underweight

Recessionary Signals as $SPX Tests Resistance; Downgrading Energy $XLE to Underweight; WTI Crude Oil Breakdown. Still expecting more downside. $XLB...

Vermilion Research

US: Recession Risk up Sharply as NFP and ISM Manufacturing Signal Downturn Ahead

Unemployment rate (avg 4.2% in Jun-Jul'24) is 0.57% higher than Nov'23-Jan'24, indicating recession ahead; so does deterioration in ISM mfg new...

Prasenjit K. Basu

Select Sector Indices: Inflows to Apple, Palantir, Dell Will Add to SPX Buying

Constituent changes to the SPX and the market consultation proposals being adopted result in a round-trip trade of US$31.5bn. Apple and...

Brian Freitas

China & HK Strategy: Sell in September and Go Away, Really?

​It pays to be cautious for HSI investors in Sep and Oct, with opportunities for a year-end rally in Nov and Dec. Despite the 3% drop in MTD, it is...

Osbert Tang, CFA

S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: Dell, Palantir Make It (Finally!); Apple Upweight

There are 3 changes for the SnP500, 8 for the SnP400 and 15 for the SnP600 Index. Dell and Palantir have finally been added. There is huge size to...

Brian Freitas

Recessionary Signals as SPX Tests Resistance; Downgrading Energy to Underweight

Recessionary Signals as $SPX Tests Resistance; Downgrading Energy $XLE to Underweight; WTI Crude Oil Breakdown. Still expecting more downside. $XLB...

Vermilion Research

It pays to be cautious for HSI investors in Sep and Oct, with opportunities for a year-end rally in Nov and Dec. Despite the 3% drop in MTD, it is...