
ASEAN Speaks
ASEAN Speaks by Maybank presents conversations with market analysts and thought leaders across Southeast Asia on topics covering equities, fixed income, forex, economics, sustainability, and current affairs that impact regional markets.
Latest episodes

Feb 20, 2023 • 29min
Weekly Briefing: People-Friendly MY Budget, Robin Hood SG Budget
This Friday, on the 24 February, Malaysia will be re-tabling its Budget 2023. We expect it will set the budget deficit to GDP ratio at -5% versus the original Budget at negative 5.5%. We also look at the impact of Singapore’s Budget that was released last week.
00:29 - Roundup - Winson Phoon
04:04 - MY Budget 2023 - Suhaimi Ilias
09:15 - SG Budget - Chua Hak Bin
13:54 - SG Budget on equities - Thilan Wickramasinghe
16:14 - SG exports - Lee Ju Ye
17:47 - TH GDP - Lee Ju Ye
19:15 - ID interest rates - Lee Ju Ye
20:56 - PH interest rate - Zamros Dzulkifli
23:20 - MY plantation - Ong Chee Ting
27:02 - PH consumer - Daphne Sze
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Feb 13, 2023 • 28min
Weekly Briefing: New BOJ Governor, SG Bank Earnings And REITs, Penang Developers
Our analysts dovetail into the effects of China’s re-opening and the impact on Singapore’s bank earnings to be released this week. We also discuss our first reports of the year on Singapore REITs and China’s inflation; revisit property developers in Penang; and consider the policy stance of Kazuo Ueda, expected to be the next governor of the Bank of Japan.
00:23 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin
02:37 - MY GDP - Suhaimi Ilias
04:46 - MY employment - Suhaimi Ilias
07:21 - ASEAN strategy - Anand Pathmakanthan
10:21 - Kazuo Ueda appointment - Saktiandi Supaat
14:06 - China inflation - Brian Lee
16:33 - TH hikes - Lee Ju Ye
18:29 - SG banks - Thilan Wickramsinghe
21:56 - SG REITs - Krishna Guha
24:12 - MY property - Wong Wei Sum
25:55 - TH healthcare - Yuwanee Prommaporn
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Feb 7, 2023 • 29min
Weekly Briefing: Disinflation, Forex Strategy, Love At First Sight For SG Budget?
At the FOMC meeting last week, the Fed hiked rate by 25bp, and recognised that the disinflationary process has started. Our analysts project what’s ahead for more hikes, implications on bonds and our forex strategy for ASEAN. Singapore will also be unveiling its Budget on 14 February - we examine how it will be a Valentine’s gift for Singaporeans.
00:29 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias
05:13 - US rates - Winson Phoon
07:07 - ASEAN bonds - Winson Phoon
07:23 - SG Budget - Chua Hak Bin
10:55 - ID inflation - Lee Ju Ye
13:19 - VN & Cambodia economics - Brian Lee
16:36 - USD, Yen, MYR, Peso - Saktiandi Supaat
22:53 - ASEAN currencies - Saktiandi Supaat
25:01 - PH conglos - Jacqui de Jesus
26:54 - PH telco - Rachellen Rodriguez
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 30, 2023 • 33min
Weekly Briefing: Resurgent Chinese Travel, US Debt Ceiling, MY Plantation Report Card
Our analysts discuss the impact of China’s re-opening across ASEAN in terms of growth and inflation; what we need to watch as the US hits its debt ceiling, and structural issues of Malaysia’s oil palm sector.
00:21 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias
04:50 - MY banks - Desmond Ch’ng
06:58 - ID interest rate outlook - Lee Ju Ye
08:38 - TH interest rate outlook - Lee Ju Ye
09:40 - PH GDP - Zamros Dzulkifli
12:17 - SG GDP, inflation - Chua Hak Bin
16:26 - MY, ID bond markets - Winson Phoon
19:29 - FX report - Saktiandi Supaat
23:27 - US debt ceiling - Saktiandi Supaat
24:55 - MY plantation - Ong Chee Ting
28:43 - ASEAN markets - Anand Pathmakanthan
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 16, 2023 • 23min
Weekly Briefing: Undervalued ASEAN Gems, EV Plays
While fading re-opening tailwinds and interest rate hikes will weigh on growth in 2023, balanced by China’s Covid easing, our analysts discuss undervalued beneficiaries in ASEAN, and Indonesia electric vehicle (EV) stocks to watch.
00:19 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin
02:16 - ASEAN highlights - Anand Pathmakanthan
07:15 - Gloves - Wong Wei Sum
08:22 - TH picks, elections - Yuwanee Prommaporn
10:51 - TH banks - Jesada Techahusdin
13:19 - PH picks - Jacqui De Jesus
15:40 - PH consumer - Daphne Sze
18:25 - ID EV - Richard Suherman
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 11, 2023 • 8min
The Investor: Indonesia Market Strategy
The Indonesian equity market was one of the best performing in Asia Pacific but may not be so in 2023 despite China’s re-opening and pre-election goodies. Jeffrosenberg Chen Lim, Head of Equity Research at Maybank Sekuritas explains.
Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 9, 2023 • 28min
Weekly Briefing: Who’s The Fairest Of Them All?
While ASEAN has been a defensive harbour for investors, the fortunes of individual markets would vary. Our analysts discuss supportive factors and potential headwinds.
00:14 - Roundup - Suhaimi Ilias
01:14 - SG growth - Chua Hak Bin
04:52 - ID, TH inflation - Lee Ju Ye
07:32 - PH inflation - Zamros Dzulkifli
09:32 - Credit outlook - Winson Phoon
13:34 - MY equities - Anand Pathmakanthan
15:32 - SG equities - Thilan Wickramasinghe
16:40 - ID equities - Jeff Lim
18:11 - VN equities - Hoang Huy
20:33 - Crackdown - Huy
22:34 - Fengshui - Thilan
24:11 - Plantation - Ong Chee Ting
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 6, 2023 • 17min
The Investor: Leaping Or Slumbering Rabbit Year For Fengshui?
Master Ken Koh, founder of the House of Fengshui in Singapore discusses the fengshui outlook for the markets and businesses in 2023 - the good and the bad.
Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Jan 4, 2023 • 14min
The Investor: Positioning In A Year Of Two Halves And Permacrisis
Chan Han Chin, Portfolio Strategist at Maybank Investment Bank discusses the model portfolios that his team has created and how best investors should position themselves in a year of two halves (volatility followed by recovery) and the possible scenario of a continuing permacrisis (permanent crisis).
Presenter & Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Dec 12, 2022 • 30min
Weekly Briefing: Transitioning, Gearing Up For 2023
As the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank meet respectively this week to decide on rates, our analysts look at what’s in store for ASEAN inflation, markets and investment themes for 2023 including our top Malaysia and Singapore ESG stock picks.
00:17 - Roundup - Chua Hak Bin
02:20 - FOMC - 4 things - Suhaimi Ilias
04:02 - ECB expectations - Suhaimi Ilias
05:10 - TH inflation drop - Lee Ju Ye
06:30 - PH inflation up - Zamros Dzulkafli
09:09 - ASEAN inflation peak - Lee Ju Ye
11:05 - ASEAN stocks, picks - Anand Pathmakanthan
14:51 - MY earnings, picks - Anand Pathmakanthan
17:46 - SG ESG - Thilan Wickramasinghe
19:57 - MY ESG - Anand Pathmakanthan
24:00 - Oil prices, picks - TJ Liaw
25:47 - PH giants - Jacqui De Jesus
27:20 - TH healthcare picks - Yuwanee Promaporn
Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG