Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

PK Basu has 35 years experience covering Asia's economies and markets (equities, fixed income and currencies), including 20 years covering the global economy. He was Chief Economist (SE Asia & India) at Credit Suisse First Boston for 5 years, and Chief Asia (x-Jpn) Economist at Daiwa Securities for a similar period. Among other roles, he was global head of research at Maybank Kim Eng, Malaysia equity research head and chief ASEAN economist at Macquarie, Chief Economist at ICICI Securities, ASEAN economist and Asia sector strategist at UBS and the first chief economist at Khazanah Nasional (where he was co-head of research, and led all agri-business initiatives). PK Basu started his career in the Asia Service of WEFA (Wharton Econometrics) in Philadelphia in 1990, rising to be Director of their Asia Service in June 1994. 
PK's book, "Asia Reborn: A continent rises from the ravages of Colonialism and War to a New Dynamism" won the Tata Literature First Book Award (non-fiction) for 2018. It is the first single chronicle of the modern economic and political history of the whole of Asia (from Iraq and Turkey to Korea and Japan, and everything in between), told from an Asian perspective.

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

Biden Leaves Presidential Race, Endorses VP Harris; Contest to Tighten if Dems Unite

US Presidential Race Narrows, but Trump Still Likely to Win Without Congress Control

US: Presidential Race Narrows After a United DNC; Debates to Be Decisive

Rate-Cutting Agenda Stays, Growth Buoyed by Massive Fiscal Stimulus

US: Haley Leads Biden by 8pp; Iowa Could Make It a Trump-Haley GOP Contest

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

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Pres. Biden's disastrous debate performance (in which he looked senile and cognitively incapacitated) has led Democrats to call on him to step aside in favour of an alternate Democrat nominee.</li>
<li>In 1968, LBJ stepped aside before most primaries, and VP Humphrey won nomination at the convention. He lost the general mainly because third party candidate Wallace ate into Democrat votes. </li>
<li>Trump landslide would be inflationary (because of 10% tariffs on all imports, more on China), plus the embarrassment of having a convicted felon as president. Near-term negative for US. </li>
</ul>


Pres. Biden's disastrous debate performance (in which he looked senile and cognitively incapacitated) has led Democrats to call on him to step aside in favour of an alternate Democrat nominee.
In 1968, LBJ stepped aside before most primaries, and VP Humphrey won nomination at the convention. He lost the general mainly because third party candidate Wallace ate into Democrat votes. 
Trump landslide would be inflationary (because of 10% tariffs on all imports, more on China), plus the embarrassment of having a convicted felon as president. Near-term negative for US. 


Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU INDEX)

Biden's Catastrophic Debate Likely to Lead to 1968-Repeat; Can It End Differently?