ASEAN Speaks

In this week's ASEAN Speaks, our host Thilan breaks down the key developments shaping Singapore’s markets as the US government shutdown nears resolution and expectations rise for a December Fed rate cut.In light of that, we review Singapore banks’ 3Q results, highlighting why OCBC has been upgraded to BUY, while DBS remains a BUY and UOB a HOLD. Thilan explains the trends driving net interest income, non-interest income, and capital returns across the sector.Our TMT analyst Hussaini, then joins to discuss SingTel, sharing insights from its Associate performance and how that could influence upcoming results.Covering for Samuel, our gaming analyst, Sheryl covers Genting Singapore's strong 3Q results, reiterating its BUY call due to upcoming 4Q seasonality, and expansion in non-gaming attractions as key drivers for continued growth.Promo: Don’t miss our Punchy Techy Offer! Win up to SGD5,000 in shopping vouchers by executing BUY trades on Azeus Systems, Info-Tech Systems, or AvePoint until 31 January.

The countdown to year-end has begun and markets are showing momentum. In this week’s episode of Market Monday, host Thilan breaks down the key movers and macro shifts shaping Singapore’s investment landscape.Xuan Hao shares his BUY initiation on iFAST with a target price of SGD11.95, highlighting the catalysts behind the fintech’s strong outlook.Next, we turn to Sheng Siong, which surged nearly 6% after strong 3Q results. Analyst Hussaini reiterates a BUY rating, calling the supermarket chain one of the best proxies for Singapore’s domestic growth story.Special guest Tim Philips, founder of TimTalksMoney and SGX Academy Trainer, joins to discuss SaaS and cloud stocks such as AvePoint and what makes this sector appealing to investors.Promo: From now until 31 January, investors who trade AvePoint, Azeus Systems, or Info-Tech Systems on SGX will receive a SGD20 shopping voucher.

In this week’s episode of ASEAN Speaks, Thilan Wickramasinghe, our Head of Research, introduces the 3Q25 Singapore banks outlook, and discussed "value-up" reforms that could unlock value and sustain the SMID rally. We then turn to Hussaini Saifee, our TMT analyst, who breaks down his decision to downgrade SEA Limited to a HOLD, citing slower margin recovery.Finally, our host, Jarick Seet, discusses his decision to maintain a BUY on Marco Polo Marine, highlighting their new growth opportunities. Stay tuned for more insights on ASEAN markets in our next episode.

In this week’s episode, Seng Yeow hosts, joined by Erica and Hussaini. Seng Yeow opens the discussion with the week’s key geopolitical and macro developments — including renewed Israel–Hamas tensions and the U.S. plan to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports by November 1 — framing them as signs of growing strain in global markets. He notes that “markets don’t die of altitude — they die of exhaustion,” reflecting the cautious investor sentiment seen lately. Erica shares insights on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, highlighting the country’s push for long-term self-sufficiency and structural reforms. Hussaini wraps up with a defensive view, reiterating a BUY rating on Sheng Siong for its resilient fundamentals and steady performance amid uncertainty.

In this week’s episode of ASEAN Speaks, Hussaini Saifee, our TMT analyst, introduces the emerging concept of Agentic Commerce — what it means for the future of online shopping, how it compares to existing e-commerce platforms, and the implications for key regional players such as Sea Ltd.We then turn to Malaysia, where our host, Thilan, breaks down the state of digital banks. With five new licensees, competition is heating up, but profitability remains a distant goal. Jarick Seet shares insights from his recent roadshow with Sanli Management, outlining key growth drivers and the rationale behind his strong BUY call on the company.Finally, Krishna Guha discusses his upgrade on Lendlease Global Commercial Trust, highlighting company-specific drivers, the impact of falling benchmark rates, and his quick take on the overall REIT sector outlook.

In this week’s episode of ASEAN Speaks, Singapore takes center stage with a construction boom that could reshape the economy. Our Macro Team forecasts the sector to grow at more than 5% annually between 2025 and 2030—well above GDP. Hak Bin shares how this compares with past cycles, what’s fueling the surge, the potential spillover to the broader economy, and the key risks to watch.We then move to the Telco and Internet space. Hussaini breaks down Optus’ latest outage just as a Singtel delegation meets Australian regulators, plus what Simba’s latest results mean for Singtel and StarHub. He also covers Grab’s launch of self-driving services in Punggol and what it could mean for earnings and valuations. And with Wilmar’s cooking oil case overturned by Indonesia’s Supreme Court, Hussaini explains the implications for the stock.Tune in for these insights and more to help you navigate the week’s market moves.Edited by Xuan Hao, Wanzhen

In this week's episode of ASEAN Speaks, out host Thilan unpacks the bullish momentum in Singapore's markets and the launch of SGX's new Next 50 indxed, as well as what they mean for small- and mid-cap investors.Sheryl takes us through Eric's deep dive on ComfortDelGro's underperformance versus the STI, and how earnings from Copenhagen could provide a boost. Finally, Xuan Hao shares fresh insights on Food Empire, highlighting strong earnings momentum in Vietnam, the brand's positioning in a competitive market, and how management is navigating headwinds in Russia.

In this week’s ASEAN Speaks, our host Thilan kicks off with the latest tailwinds driving Southeast Asia’s internet and telecom sectors.Hussaini, our TMT analyst, breaks down Sea Limited’s Shopee momentum and AI-driven gaming push, then explains why he’s bullish on Singapore Telecommunications and Indosat.Finally, Seng Yeow from our Quant team reviews Malaysia’s 2Q earnings season, highlighting positive market sentiment and key portfolio rebalancing signals.Edited by Shaina and Sheryl

In this week’s ASEAN Speaks, our host Thilan looks at why Singapore continues to attract safe haven flows amidst regional uncertainty.Hussaini, our TMT analyst, shares why he thinks the telco sector still has more upside, with a new BUY on StarHub and higher target price on Singtel.Next, our transport analyst, Eric highlights ComfortDelGro’s latest CityCab deal, explaining why this could close the performance gap with other midcaps.Across the Causeway, Desmond wraps up 1H results for Malaysian banks and explains why “no bad news is good news” for the sector heading into 2H.Edited by Wanzhen & Shaina

In this week's ASEAN Speaks, our host Thilan goes through the many tailwinds boosting Singapore's market.Brian comes in to talk about Singapore's recent jump in manaufacturing numbers and why the economics team is forecasting a potentially higher GDP growth for Singapore.Hussaini, our TMT analyst talks about Singtel's recent investor day and the key takeaways that he believes supports his reiteration of a BUY on Singtel.Focusing on Indonesia, Etta goes through why he believes GoTo share price is likely to double after GoTo posts their 1H numbers amidst the chaos happening in Indonesia currently.Jarick also comes on to highlight ISOTeam's FY25 earnings, their future prospects and expected rebound as well as on Marco Polo Marine's interest on listing in Taiwan.Edited by Bruce