SHARE THIS Although the Reserve Bank of New Zealand stated in May that inflation was likely to return to its target range of 1-3% per annum if the Official Cash Rate remained at a restrictive level for some time, market expectations for interest rates...
SHARE THIS We believe that our “New Singapore” narrative focusing on sectors and companies that represent the future of the city-state will remain relevant in 2024. Energy transition has risen to prominence within the New Singapore narrative in...
SHARE THIS This month we discuss why the equity market is relatively unaffected by the political scandal shaking Japan’s ruling party; we also assess how 2024 could become an inflection point in the country’s “savings to investments” drive.
SHARE THIS Our economic system is based on a model of take, make and waste that consistently over-utilises and fails to replenish Earth’s valuable, but dwindling resources. The need to transform how we interact with nature creates a major opportunity...
SHARE THIS This month we focus on the prospect of Japanese stocks sustaining their upward trajectory after reaching record highs; we also assess how the country’s Q4 GDP contraction sharpens the focus on consumption and wages in 2024.
SHARE THIS We remain very strong supporters of the healthcare sector. In addition to the well-known demographic drivers, innovation is enabling structural changes in healthcare delivery and in our view these changes will confer years of strong organic...
SHARE THIS The US presidential election in November continues to cast a long shadow, and as the race between the 45th (Donald Trump) and 46th (incumbent Joe Biden) presidents quickens, divisions have only widened. The investment world is no exception,...
SHARE THIS What a difference a month can make. Discussions have pivoted from interest rate cuts in the US to the possibility of an increase, while Chinese equities have rallied sharply on a combination of attractive value and hopes of effective policy...
SHARE THIS This month we look beyond Japan’s impressive dividends and share buybacks from the perspective of corporate governance reform; we also explain how the “quantity effect” associated with exports may reduce the relevance of currency levels.
SHARE THIS This month we focus on the surge in long-term JGB yields and whether it poses a threat to equities; we also discuss the potential upside for Japan’s small- and mid-cap stocks.
SHARE THIS In China, we await confirmation of real, positive fundamental change before increasing our confidence towards the country, and we maintain a highly selective approach. Elsewhere, a combination of AI-induced excitement and positive structural...
SHARE THIS This month we assess why the market is unfazed by Japan’s upcoming leadership change; we also explain how a bid for a prominent Japanese convenience store operator has highlighted how affordable domestic firms now look in the eyes of their...
SHARE THIS The start of the Fed’s rate cut cycle was a boost to risk sentiment, with resilient US data and declining inflation placing the market in a goldilocks situation. Likewise, the start of a global rate cutting cycle sets up a positive...
SHARE THIS As with the other markets, Japanese equities reacted immediately to Donald Trump's US presidential election win. The immediate election impact is expected to fade relatively quickly, with market focus turning to the trade policies Trump may...
SHARE THIS We believe that a changing political environment could present opportunities across asset classes in 2025, with fixed income in particular poised to benefit as markets adjust to more realistic inflation expectations.
SHARE THIS Many may expect the incoming Trump administration's transactional approach to be detrimental to the geopolitical and macroeconomic landscapes. However, we believe that Washington's mercantilist stance should not prevent Asian markets from...
SHARE THIS China has been feeling the pressure with Donald Trump due to return for his second term as US president. However, during Trump's first term China actually outperformed the S&P 500 index, which demonstrates the importance of domestic policies...
SHARE THIS This month we discuss signs of improvement in the Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s market communication following its recent rate hike; we also focus on Japan's economic resilience amid a flurry of trade-related headlines impacting the markets.
SHARE THIS For 30 years, policy factors like falling corporate tax and interest rates were seen to have generated a bulk of corporate profits, reducing stock-selection opportunities. There are indications that this policy-driven earnings era is coming...
SHARE THIS The US tariff-induced turmoil could slow the pace of the Bank of Japan’s rate hikes, but the cycle of wages and prices, which has made the central bank confident about monetary tightening, is expected to remain intact over the longer term.