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>With CPI inflation still 6%YoY and core CPI +5.5%YoY (annualised 6%MoM) in Feb'23, the Fed will be obliged to hike 25bp, and likely also reintroduce a reserve requirement for banks. </li>
<li>Unemployment at 3.6% is far below the long-accepted NAIRU of 4.5%, reflected also in average wages still rising 4.6%YoY in Feb'23. M2 declined in Dec'22-Jan'23 but needs to contract more. </li>
<li>A 50bp hike would've been warranted, but the collapse of 3 tech-related banks obliges the Fed to be a bit circumspect. The disappearance of CS can't influence the FOMC decision. </li>
</ul>


With CPI inflation still 6%YoY and core CPI +5.5%YoY (annualised 6%MoM) in Feb'23, the Fed will be obliged to hike 25bp, and likely also reintroduce a reserve requirement for banks. 
Unemployment at 3.6% is far below the long-accepted NAIRU of 4.5%, reflected also in average wages still rising 4.6%YoY in Feb'23. M2 declined in Dec'22-Jan'23 but needs to contract more. 
A 50bp hike would've been warranted, but the collapse of 3 tech-related banks obliges the Fed to be a bit circumspect. The disappearance of CS can't influence the FOMC decision. 


US: Elevated Inflation and Tight Labour Market to Force Hikes Despite Bank Turmoil

Articles from Caixin Global, Caixin Global

Caixin Global

Articles from Caixin Global

Caixin is a media group dedicated to providing financial and business news through periodicals, online content, mobile apps, conferences, books and TV/video programs. Caixin aims to blaze a trail that helps traditional media prosper in the new media age through integrated multimedia platforms.

News from Caixin

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul><li>Banking / Cover Story: 2008 Redux? SVB collapse raises questions about banking oversight</li><li>Research / China launches campaign to tackle pressing domestic challenges</li><li>Taiwan / Beijing welcomes ex-Taiwan leader’s visit to the mainland</li></ul>

Banking / Cover Story: 2008 Redux? SVB collapse raises questions about banking oversightResearch / China launches campaign to tackle pressing domestic challengesTaiwan / Beijing welcomes ex-Taiwan leader’s visit to the mainland

CX Daily: 2008 Redux? SVB Collapse Raises Questions About Banking Oversight

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>On 17 March (after market close), Meritz Financial Group (138040 KS) announced a share buyback program worth 400 billion won, which represents 5.4% of its market cap.</li>
<li>Given the relative large size of this deal, it should have a positive impact on its share price, especially on a relative basis against its competitors. </li>
<li>The collapse of SVB Financial and uncertain investors' reactions on the purchase of Credit Suisse by UBS will likely add to the global investors' negative sentiment on the financial sector. </li>
</ul>


On 17 March (after market close), Meritz Financial Group (138040 KS) announced a share buyback program worth 400 billion won, which represents 5.4% of its market cap.
Given the relative large size of this deal, it should have a positive impact on its share price, especially on a relative basis against its competitors. 
The collapse of SVB Financial and uncertain investors' reactions on the purchase of Credit Suisse by UBS will likely add to the global investors' negative sentiment on the financial sector. 


Meritz Financial Group: A Large Share Buyback Amid Global Financials Uncertainties

Independent Asian Credit Research, Bondcritic

Warut Promboon

Independent Asian Credit Research

Asian Fixed Income/Frontier Market Research

Bondcritic

Bondcritic, established in 2009, is designed to be an independent credit research voice that helps investors gain insights and unbiased analyses on Asian fixed income market. Our mission is to discover deep-value Asian high-yield and distressed bonds with a bottom-up approach, together with the help of our proprietary ESG (Environmental, Social Development, and Governance) model. At the same time, we focus on bringing investment cases of unrated and unloved issuers to the general public.

<ul>
<li>FDIC’s decision to put <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/svb-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6017:1" rel="noopener">Svb Financial (SIVB US) </a>and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/signature-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3489:1" rel="noopener">Signature Bank (SBNY US)</a> under receivership created the worldwide market panic.</li>
<li>We believe the contagion will be limited to US regional banks which could see rising funding costs and a deposit flight to larger US banks.</li>
<li>The Fed’s multiple rate hikes in 2022 have finally broken the US regional banks and we expect this event to slow down the rate hikes even further.</li>
</ul>


FDIC’s decision to put Svb Financial (SIVB US) and Signature Bank (SBNY US) under receivership created the worldwide market panic.
We believe the contagion will be limited to US regional banks which could see rising funding costs and a deposit flight to larger US banks.
The Fed’s multiple rate hikes in 2022 have finally broken the US regional banks and we expect this event to slow down the rate hikes even further.


Bond Market Monitor: A Contempt Against Depositors

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Equity Bottom-Up

Hon Hai Precision Industry / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Hon Hai results slightly beat on revenue and slightly missed on EPS, but overall the result was decent since China COVID margin impact was well managed.</li>
<li>The company has reiterated its 2025 target for gross margin to rise to 10% and over NT$1 trillion of revenue by 2025 from its new Electric Vehicle platform business. </li>
<li>While 2023E revenue was guided to be flat YoY, this was already roughly expected. We maintain our structural Long view on the shares.</li>
</ul>


Hon Hai results slightly beat on revenue and slightly missed on EPS, but overall the result was decent since China COVID margin impact was well managed.
The company has reiterated its 2025 target for gross margin to rise to 10% and over NT$1 trillion of revenue by 2025 from its new Electric Vehicle platform business. 
While 2023E revenue was guided to be flat YoY, this was already roughly expected. We maintain our structural Long view on the shares.


Hon Hai Results: Managed Q4 COVID Issues Well, Reiterates Margin Expansion & EV Targets; Stay Long

United States

SVB Financial Group is the holding company for Silicon Valley Bank.  The Bank is a commercial bank that serves emerging growth and middle-market growth companies in targeted niches, focusing on the technology and life sciences industries.  Silicon Valley operates offices throughout the Silicon Valley and other areas of California, as well as in other states.

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SVB Financial (SIVB US)

US: Elevated Inflation and Tight Labour Market to Force Hikes Despite Bank Turmoil

CPI inflation of 6%YoY & core CPI rising 6%MoM annualized leave no room for the FOMC to abjure a rate hike. The collapse of 3 techy banks will mean...

Prasenjit K. Basu

CX Daily: 2008 Redux? SVB Collapse Raises Questions About Banking Oversight

Cover Story: 2008 Redux? SVB collapse raises questions about banking oversight. China launches campaign to tackle pressing domestic challenges.

Caixin Global

Bond Market Monitor: A Contempt Against Depositors

We believe the SVB-SBNY contagion will be limited to US regional banks which could see rising funding costs and a deposit flight to larger US banks.

Bondcritic

Hon Hai Results: Managed Q4 COVID Issues Well, Reiterates Margin Expansion & EV Targets; Stay Long

The company has reiterated its 2025 target for gross margin to rise to 10% and over NT$1 trillion of revenue by 2025 from its new Electric Vehicle...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

US: Elevated Inflation and Tight Labour Market to Force Hikes Despite Bank Turmoil

CPI inflation of 6%YoY & core CPI rising 6%MoM annualized leave no room for the FOMC to abjure a rate hike. The collapse of 3 techy banks will mean...

Prasenjit K. Basu

CX Daily: 2008 Redux? SVB Collapse Raises Questions About Banking Oversight

Cover Story: 2008 Redux? SVB collapse raises questions about banking oversight. China launches campaign to tackle pressing domestic challenges.

Caixin Global

Meritz Financial Group: A Large Share Buyback Amid Global Financials Uncertainties

On 17 March (after market close), Meritz Financial Group (138040 KS) announced a share buyback program worth 400 billion won, which represents 5.4%...

Douglas Kim

Bond Market Monitor: A Contempt Against Depositors

We believe the SVB-SBNY contagion will be limited to US regional banks which could see rising funding costs and a deposit flight to larger US banks.

Bondcritic

Hon Hai Results: Managed Q4 COVID Issues Well, Reiterates Margin Expansion & EV Targets; Stay Long

The company has reiterated its 2025 target for gross margin to rise to 10% and over NT$1 trillion of revenue by 2025 from its new Electric Vehicle...

Vincent Fernando, CFA