LATAM Countries Revisited

Download PDF: LATAM Countries Revisited PC Argentina The Fernandez government is taking a hard stance on the debt renegotiation, postponing interest payment until 2023 and forcing a 5-12% haircut on the bond principal value. The “Globales” bond’s principal under restructuring amounts to 6.7% GDP and its annual interest expense close to 0.4% GDP. The keyContinueContinue reading “LATAM Countries Revisited”

Monthly April 2020: Peak COVID-19, Counting the Cost of the Lockdown, and Equity Screaming Buy!

Download PDF: Monthly_202004 With the COVID-19 already spreading globally for over two months now and stock market seems to have bottomed, investors are right to ask whether we are at the peak of COVID-19 infection rate. In this article, we discuss where we are in the COVID-19 crisis cycle, the implication on countries’ banking systemContinueContinue reading “Monthly April 2020: Peak COVID-19, Counting the Cost of the Lockdown, and Equity Screaming Buy!”

Emerging Markets in The Next Decade

Download PDF: Monthly_202001 In this first publication for 2020, we are outlining our bullish view on selected EM countries which will likely benefit as investors diversify from U.S. equities. It has been pretty much a consensus by now that risk assets will likely to do well this year, with some strategists betting on the value/growthContinueContinue reading “Emerging Markets in The Next Decade”

Checking the Pulse on Global Economy: Strategy for 2020

Download PDF: monthly_201912 Risk aversion has come down of late, as highlighted by the rebound in real yield from a deep negative level in G7 economies ex-Italy. The improving global outlook despite apparent weakness in credit Chinese data, however, is concerning. The less forceful and diminishing stimulus administered by the Chinese government in the lastContinueContinue reading “Checking the Pulse on Global Economy: Strategy for 2020”

South Africa: Country Overview

Download PDF: South Africa Research South Africa could easily pass as a country that combine various Emerging Markets sins: rampant corruption, mismanagement of government assets and low productivity. Unless a clear economic and political reform is done, it is likely that the country will slowly drift deeper into the abyss. From a political point ofContinueContinue reading “South Africa: Country Overview”

Musings on Commodity Prices, Inflation Turnaround and Cycle Turning Point

Download PDF: Monthly_201911 The structural backdrop of excess global savings, lackluster global consumption and investment demand and deleveraging cycle have all push bond yields lower. Meanwhile, the slack in manufacturing activity since 2014, magnified by the trade war, has push commodity prices in real terms to a level equal to those in 2001. Subjectively, itContinueContinue reading “Musings on Commodity Prices, Inflation Turnaround and Cycle Turning Point”

Indonesia: Country Overview

Download PDF: Indonesia Research Two decades after the Asian Financial Crisis that created a havoc in Indonesian economy and politics, Indonesian role in global trade has been stagnating… … and is still very much influenced by the fluctuation in commodity prices, although at a lesser extent. Relative to other Emerging Market countries, Indonesia’s integration toContinueContinue reading “Indonesia: Country Overview”

October 2019: 1st Anniversary of Putamen Capital

Download PDF: Monthly_201910 Risk and Return This month marks the 1st anniversary of Putamen Capital, with Putamen Growth Fund (PGF), our sole and flagship fund, recorded 34.15% return between October 24th, 2018 and September 30th, 2019. Since the inception, we have been exploring various type of equity, option and volatility strategy across developed and emergingContinueContinue reading “October 2019: 1st Anniversary of Putamen Capital”

Mexico: Reaching Cyclical Bottom

Download PDF: Mexico_Reaching_Cyclical_Bottom It is likely that Mexican economic condition will improve going forward. Various indicators are at level comparable to those in 2013 and 2016 downturn and monetary stimulus is currently on progress. The easing stance of global monetary policy and reflationary effort in China are further likely to ease domestic condition and benefitContinueContinue reading “Mexico: Reaching Cyclical Bottom”

The Sweet Spot for Emerging Market Bonds

Downlaod PDF: Emerging Market Bonds High-yielding EM government and corporate bonds are likely to perform well in negative yields environment as investors search for yield. Although debt level has been rising, interest cost has been declining. Profit growth has also been outpacing the increase in interest cost, which does not translate the increase in debtContinueContinue reading “The Sweet Spot for Emerging Market Bonds”