Download PDF: monthly_202103Download Part I. World’s Equity Valuation One year after the Covid-19-induced market crash, global equity market has gone through a V-shaped recovery with stock market in many countries breaking record high level amid ample monetary and fiscal stimulus. The U.S. market valuation – now trading at cyclically-adjusted P/E (CAPE) of 32 times –ContinueContinue reading “March 2021: Thoughts on Valuation, Oil, and Silver Demand”
Tag Archives: outlook
South Africa: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Download PDF: southafrica_full202011Download South African government released its medium-term budget plan late last October, highlighting the steps it will take to bring the country’s spiraling public debt under control. South African assets had been bombed out this year, which offers attractive investment opportunities from a tactical point of view. However, structural outlook remains bleak andContinueContinue reading “South Africa: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly”
South Africa: Is The Worst Yet To Come?
Download PDF: south_africa_202010Download South African government fiscal situation turned from bad to worse this year amid a shortfall in tax revenue and increase in spending to support growth (Chart 1). The government’s revision to its budget in June mainly reflects a shifting of its spending, i.e. delaying projects to 2021/2022 or beyond while prioritizing fundsContinueContinue reading “South Africa: Is The Worst Yet To Come?”
Where Are Precious Metals Headed?
Download PDF: where-are-precious-metals-headedDownload The rally in gold and silver prices this year has been impressive, although both metals have corrected somewhat. With the prospect of further stimulus still being debated, it is useful to revisit the thesis behind our bullish call on precious metals and reassess our portfolio positioning. First, let us start with theContinueContinue reading “Where Are Precious Metals Headed?”
The Bearish Case for Oil Price and Energy Stocks
Download PDF: the-bearish-case-for-oilDownload The long-term demand growth of energy products remains intact, mainly arising from rising middle class in emerging market countries. Oil will remain a major source of energy in the coming decades, however, oil-based power source is increasingly replaced by gas and other renewable sources, including solar and wind technologies. EIA projects oilContinueContinue reading “The Bearish Case for Oil Price and Energy Stocks”
Key Points on China: The Bubble That Never Pops – Thomas Orlik
As an Emerging Markets analyst, the issue on China has always been divisive. On one side, the bear points to high household and corporate leverage, alongside local government opaque finance vehicle that masks the true government borrowing. But on the other hand, the bull has gained the higher ground in the past decade as muchContinueContinue reading “Key Points on China: The Bubble That Never Pops – Thomas Orlik”
Taking A Pulse on EM Recovery
Download PDF: taking-a-pulse-on-em-recoveryDownload The current economic situation in majority of EM countries is still very bleak amid various lockdown measures, but the worst has likely passed as economic activity continue to recover in most countries (Chart 1). There are signs that even in the worst-hit EM countries, measured by number of deaths per hundred thousandContinueContinue reading “Taking A Pulse on EM Recovery”
Assessing EM Countries’ Vulnerabilities and MMT in EM Universe
Download PDF: assessing-em-countries-vulnerabilitiesDownload EM equity has experienced indiscriminate sell-off during the peak of this year’s market rout, with losses ranging from 20% to 60% across 18 countries. Since its March’s low, however, few countries have staged a strong asset prices recovery, whereas others are still lagging and have barely recover half of their losses (ChartContinueContinue reading “Assessing EM Countries’ Vulnerabilities and MMT in EM Universe”
Revisiting Our View on Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa
Download PDF: revisiting-latam-and-emea-countriesDownload Brazil: Negative Outlook Valuation is dearer than the average EM countries, although the rout has knocked out excessive valuation for Brazilian stocks. Book value multiple has indeed declined from 2.3x to 1.8x currently, but weak profitability due to depressed commodity prices has translated into an expensive forward earnings multiple at 14x, whichContinueContinue reading “Revisiting Our View on Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa”
Indonesia: An In-Depth Analysis
Download PDF: the-investment-case-for-indonesian-equitiesDownload Preparing the Groundwork for A Takeoff Indonesia’s macro profile has significantly improved in the past decade despite still running fiscal and current account deficit. First, government spending has been reoriented toward building human and capital stock, supported by the country’s high savings rate, while public debt level remained among the lowest acrossContinueContinue reading “Indonesia: An In-Depth Analysis”