ASEAN Speaks

Riding on surging oil prices, Maybank has a strong buy call on Hibiscus Petroleum, Malaysia’s first listed SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) that has now transitioned to become a full-fledged oil and gas company. Dr Kenneth Pereira, the Managing Director discusses the reason for Hibiscus’ longevity, and how it will continue to grow in a more ESG-oriented environment when bankers are becoming more discerning about lending. Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim

Dennis Zamora, scion and President of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), one of the largest nickel producing companies in the world, discusses the prospects of the metal as it trades at a 11 year high, and his ambition for the company to become one of the top 25 on the Philippine Stock Exchange. Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim

On Friday, Singapore released its Budget 2022 that includes a slew of higher taxes to redistribute wealth while improving resilience through healthcare spending and green projects. Meanwhile foreign buying has returned to ASEAN markets. What sectors might continue to outperform and underperform as interest rates and inflation increase? Maybank's research teams across the region discuss. 00:34 - Round-up - Suhaimi Ilias 05:53 - Singapore Budget 2022 - Chua Hak Bin 14:07 - Singapore markets - Thilan Wickramasinghe 15:56 - ASEAN markets - Anand Pathmakanthan 20:13 - Indonesia trade - Lee Ju Ye 22:26 - Indonesia retail - Willy Goutama 24:17 - Plantations, La Nina - Ong Chee Ting 27:57 - Philippines earnings - Jacqui de Jesus 30:01 - Gaming - Samuel Yin Shao Yang Producer: Noelle Lim

Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC), established by Temasek in Singapore, advocates the practice of steward leadership across Asia. The principle of balancing profits, people and the planet is not new, yet many organisations pay lip service. How can we accelerate meaningful change and make this a way of business and life? We speak to Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of SAC, to learn more.

On Valentine’s Day, we cast our eyes on the timing of rate hikes, CPO price rally, MY aviation, and PH e-commerce and property segments. 00:35 - Round-up - Chua Hak Bin 04:34 - BI, BOT timing - Lee Ju Ye 09:19 - BNM timing - Suhaimi Ilias 14:15 - Inverted yield curve - Winson Phoon 18:53 - CPO price rally - Ong Chee Ting 21:38 - Watching AirAsia X - Samuel Yin Shao Yang 24:12 - PH e-commerce - Daphne Sze 26:02 - More love for PH property - Miguel Sevidal Producer: Noelle Lim

The most prominent and oldest conglomerate in the Philippines of more than 180 years old, Ayala Corporation is future-proofing by gearing up for a low carbon economy. We get into the mind of the group’s Chief Financial & Chief Sustainability Officer, Alberto de Larrazabal about the rigorous approach in achieving their ambition, about new technologies, and the project close to his heart, Kasibulan reforestation for carbon credits. Producer & presenter: Noelle Lim

Amidst global volatility, what is the market outlook and central banks' policy direction in ASEAN? Our research teams deep dive. 00:26 - Round-up - Chua Hak Bin 03:40 - Indonesia and Thailand inflation, interest rate - Lee Ju Ye 06:52  - Euro; BOE, RBA signals - Saktiandi Supaat 10:59 - ASEAN stocks - Anand Pathmakanthan 14:10 - Singapore tech over-sold - Lai Gene Lih 18:23 - Malaysia loans, banks - Desmond Ch’ng 20:24 - Thai tourism downgrade - Yuwanee Prommaporn 22:20 - India budget highlights - Jigar Shah Producer: Noelle Lim

Here are highlights from our research teams in their Monday Briefing. As inflation dominates the agenda of central banks, how should investors position themselves in the bond markets, and what forex strategies apply? Where can we seek shelter from inflation in Singapore equities? Our analysts also dig into the Thai healthcare and property sectors for opportunities. 00:36 - Round-up - Suhaimi Ilias 5:58 - Treasury yield curve prediction - Winson Phoon 11:00 - Forex strategies - Saktiandi Supaat 16:34 - Raising inflation forecast - Chua Hak Bin 21:22 - Inflation on Singapore equities - Thilan Wickramasinghe 23:27 - Thai healthcare upgrades - Yuwanee Prommaporn 25:05 - Thai property picks - Vanida Geisler Producer: Noelle Lim

In conjunction with World Wetlands Day on 2 February, we celebrate how biophilia—human’s innate tendency to connect with nature—led two individuals to make conservation their lifelong career: Irshad Mobarak, Langkawi-based naturalist at Junglewalla, and former Maybanker; and Dr A Aldrie Amir, Head of the Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability Research Centre, under LESTARI at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. They talk about their passion, what must be done to save coastal wetlands or mangroves, adding their views about carbon offset mechanisms to fund regeneration. Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim Crested serpent eagle sound credit: Rejoice Gassah, XC461263. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/461263

Tunku Alizakri Alias, former CEO of EPF, and now Chairman of MAVCAP (Malaysia Venture Capital Management), and independent director of several boards, discusses the difficulties of change and persuading boards of directors to make sustainability-first a business imperative. He says the differences are mainly generational. How can the gap be bridged? This is his first interview since leaving EPF close to a year ago. Producer & Presenter: Noelle Lim