U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection

Last week the Chinese central bank finally cut one-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) by 10bps from 3.8% to 3.7%, and also cut five-year LPR by 5bps to 4.60%, the first cut since April 2020 when global economy was in the midst of pandemic uncertainty. In the past two months we have also seen the creditContinue reading “U.S. Growth Outlook, Commodity and Equity Sector Selection”

Global Macro Outlook 2022 – A Year of Policy Reversal and Cross-Cyclical Adjustments

This research paper is prepared by and is the property of H-o-l-o-c-e-n-e.com and Putamen Capital and is circulated for informational and educational purposes only. This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other groupContinue reading “Global Macro Outlook 2022 – A Year of Policy Reversal and Cross-Cyclical Adjustments”

Chinese Slowdown, Policy Easing, and the Dollar

Download PDF: Chinese manufacturing and services PMI print for August shows growth continued to shift lower amid tight credit and fiscal condition, although it is probably worsened by the mini-outbreak and restrictions last month that distort the number to the downside. One important thing to note is that growth momentum in the rest of worldContinue reading “Chinese Slowdown, Policy Easing, and the Dollar”

EM Strategy and Dissecting EM Stocks Performance

Download PDF: Potential peak in U.S. Treasury yield and copper/gold ratio, and gangbuster data coming from China, U.S., and Europe point to the passing of maximum growth momentum in post-pandemic recovery. Despite the pandemic still raging in parts of the world, especially in EM countries, strong recovery in China and the developed world mean ultra-easyContinue reading “EM Strategy and Dissecting EM Stocks Performance”

Turkey and EM Policy Normalization

Download PDF: I) Turkey: Back to Coma Again? Various indicators were still flashing red even before President Erdogan fired Naci Agbal – the central bank governor he appointed just four months ago – for pursuing a hawkish monetary policy. Although his firing of Mr. Agbal is akin to shooting himself in the foot and undermineContinue reading “Turkey and EM Policy Normalization”

Turkey: The CBRT Strikes Back and A New Hope?

Download PDF: The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey finally capitulated to market pressure and raised its policy rates by 200 bps last week amid a weakening lira. This is a reversal of its aggressive easing policy since the 2018 crisis, when the central bank has been under government pressure to bring its policyContinue reading “Turkey: The CBRT Strikes Back and A New Hope?”

A Tale of Two Latam Countries: Brazil and Mexico

Download PDF: Brazilian manufacturing sector’s recovery has been surprisingly strong post-pandemic, outpacing other EM countries, despite the still poor health care situation and strict lockdown restriction nationally. However, the strong rebound has not been followed proportionately by the country’s asset prices, contrary to the development seen in Mexico (Chart 1). The country still records contractingContinue reading “A Tale of Two Latam Countries: Brazil and Mexico”

Taking A Pulse on EM Recovery

Download PDF: 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 thousand population,Continue reading “Taking A Pulse on EM Recovery”

Assessing EM Countries’ Vulnerabilities and MMT in EM Universe

Download PDF: 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 (Chart 1).Continue reading “Assessing EM Countries’ Vulnerabilities and MMT in EM Universe”

A Tale of Two Countries: Indonesia and Philippines

Download PDF: As a rising growth star in the Emerging Market universe and South East Asia region, both Indonesia and Philippines share many similarities. First, both countries run fiscal and current account deficit. Second, both have a government that are currently focusing on building the country’s capital through multi-year infrastructure projects. Third, they have aContinue reading “A Tale of Two Countries: Indonesia and Philippines”