ASEAN Speaks

The Federal Reserve has decided to hold interest rates steady at its policy meeting. What would this mean for Malaysia and the other regional markets? Chua Hak Bin, Co-Head of Macro speaks with our analysts. 00:20 – Roundup – Chua Hak Bin 03:06 – Fed dot plot - Suhaimi Ilias 05:25 – BNM OPR, GDP – Suhaimi Ilias 09:44 – China economics – Brian Lee 15:15 – Indonesia economics – Lee Ju Ye 17:56 – Regional equities – Anand Pathmakanthan 22:21 – PH malls - Miguel Several Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

In today’s Highlight, banking analyst, Desmond Ch’ng discusses if we should still stay invested in Malaysian banks as interest rates fall. Co-Head of Macro, Chua Hak Bin moderates the call. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

Headline inflation rates in ASEAN-6 economies appear to have peaked and are moderating. Latest monetary policy actions by ASEAN central banks except for Vietnam indicate they are still cautious. 00:22 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin 02:33 - ASEAN inflation - Suhaimi Ilias 07:38 - ASEAN interest rate - Suhaimi Ilias 09:15 - ASEAN monetary policy - Suhaimi Ilias 10:40 - BNM governor - Suhaimi Ilias 11:13 - TH inflation - Lee Ju Ye 13:42 - TH China impact - Lee Ju Ye 14:49 - MY banks - Desmond Ch’ng Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

In today’s Highlight of our Weekly Briefing, Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Equity Research in Malaysia unpacks the first quarter earnings, which have been disappointing. Will the second half of the year be better? Suhaimi Ilias speaks with him. To learn more, download the Malaysia 1Q23 Results Roundup report from our trading platform. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks. Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Our analysts present forecast revisions - Vietnam’s GDP, US dollar, our year end KLCI target - and also consider undervalued plays in Thailand’s energy and retail sectors.  00:20 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias 06:53 - TH interest rate - Lee Ju Ye 09:17 - ID inflation - Lee Ju Ye 11:28 - VN GDP - Brian Lee 14:10 - USD, Euro, CNY - Saktiandi Supaat  19:00 - USDMYR - Saktiandi Supaat  21:48 - MY 1Q earnings - Anand Pathmakanthan  25:46 - TH energy - Chak Reungsinpinya 29:22 - TH retail - Suttatip Peerasub

As momentum builds up towards COP28 that will take place in the UAE, we discuss with Robert Stavins,  A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development, at the Harvard Kennedy School, on the realities of climate talks, and what could take centrestage, and the progress of the loss and damage fund. We also discuss how ASEAN could elevate its voice in climate negotiations. Stavins was in Singapore and gave the inaugural Albert Winsemius Lecture at the Nanyang Technological University. Presenter & Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

In the Highlight of our Weekly Briefing, Saktiandi Supaat, our Head of Forex Research shares his findings on what may happen to currencies when the Fed cuts rates. To learn more, go to our ASEAN x Macro report, The Pivot Play and an Event Risk That Looms. And for the full conversation with other Maybank analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks. 

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Republicans and Democrats that will help avoid a debt default. Over in ASEAN, we review a slew of indicators - inflation and interest rate expectations - and how selected sectors are doing. On currencies, we analyse why the Ringgit has been weakening against the US dollar. Also based on past US interest rate cycles, how will the US dollar do when the Fed starts cutting rates?  00:32 - Roundup - Winson Phoon 03:44 - SG GDP, inflation- Chua Hak Bin 06:58 - MY inflation, foreign reserve - Suhaimi Ilias 11:05 - ID interest rate, GDP - Lee Ju Ye 14:03 - VN interest rate - Brian Lee 15:25 - CN interest rate - Brian Lee 16:38 - USDMYR, SGDMYR - Saktiandi Supaat 23:23 - ID property - William Jefferson  26:44 - PH equities - Jacqui de Jesus 28:20 - TH telco - Wasu Mattanapotchanart

Here is the highlight from today’s Weekly Briefing. Non-oil domestic exports or NODX extended its decline in April as exports to China contracted sharply, offsetting the rebound to the US and Europe. What is the probability of a recession in Singapore? Suhaimi Ilias speaks with Chua Hak Bin. For the full conversation with other analysts, go to the latest Weekly Briefing episode on ASEAN Speaks.

While the US debates on raising its debt ceiling, we discuss our projections for Thailand post-elections, ASEAN equities as investors stay on the sidelines, China’s economy and the Renminbi, and the effects on palm oil output if El Nino arrives. 00:22 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias  06:44 - SG NDOX - Chua Hak Bin 09:31 - TH GDP - Lee Ju Ye 12:04 - TH markets - Chak Reungsinpinya 14:59 - TH retail - Suttatip Peerasub 16:53 - CN economy - Brian Lee 20:37 - Renminbi - Fiona Lim 23:05 - PH interest rate - Zamros Dzulkafli 24:49 - PH banks - Rachellen Rodriguez 26:29 - ASEAN equities - Anand Pathmakanthan 29:09 - El Nino effects - Ong Chee Ting