ASEAN Speaks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Southeast Asia is expected to be ahead in the adoption of Web 3.0 and metaverse-related tools and technologies. We discuss the catalysts with Dhruv Vohra, who is the Managing Director of Meta (formerly known as Facebook) Business Group, Southeast Asia. For more info, check out Meta’s study with Bain & Co on Southeast Asia Digital Consumers here Producer and presenter: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG

Our analysts unpack their 2023 Year Ahead: Defensive Harbour report—forecasting a mild global recession with ASEAN-6 markets emerging as a defensive play, delivering yet again higher GDP growth than China. 00:15 - Roundup - Ong Seng Yeow 00:56 - Fed moves - Suhaimi Ilias 07:40 - ASEAN inflation - Chua Hak Bin 09:45 - ASEAN interest rate - Chua Hak Bin 11:12 - Bonds outlook - Se Tho Mun Yi 15:13 - ASEAN economic - Chua Hak Bin 18:18 - TH current account - Lee Ju Ye 21:31 - THB - Saktiandi Supaat 22:38 - Yen, RMB, USD - Saktiandi Supaat 27:40 - MYR outlook - Saktiandi Supaat Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG