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featured insights & webinar
Given the trade tensions and looming risks of de-globalisation, it is likely that China will embark on a different growth path in the aftermath of COVID, and increasingly rely on domestic demand to drive growth. This structural shift holds significant implications for EM Asia. In fact, ASEAN replaced the European Union as China’s biggest trading partner in 1Q20. And as a result of the increased tension and US protectionist measures targeting China, and pressure for MNCs to choose which one they side with under the pretext of protection against production disruptions in China, ASEAN and notably Vietnam are clear winners. But a more nuanced picture is closer to the truth. That is, the shifts in supply chains are more likely to be gradual than dramatic.
May 17, 2020
Yes, possibly. The different approaches taken by the US and China towards managing COVID-19 has likely set the stage for a widening of the growth differential between the two countries. Immediately, the earlier reopening of the Chinese economy means China’s GDP will still show a bit of growth this year. This compares to the controversial, tentative easing of restrictions in the US, only in May. Even if the US gradually normalizes from here, its GDP for will end 2020 with a big hole, which will take three to four years to fill. If China maintains its productivity growth, it should be able to manage a long-term average GDP growth rate of around 5.8% a year. Meanwhile, long-term US GDP growth from 2022 onwards could ease to 1.5% on lower investment/lower productivity growth. Taking into account IMF projected growth rates for 2020 and 2021, China could overtake the US in Dollar terms by 2029.
May 12, 2020
We previously highlighted the gaming industry just after the coronavirus outbreak in Account of an atypical, tech-enabled CNY holiday. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging on globally and people spend more time at home social distancing, the gaming industry has shown greater potential of booming opportunities. The large demographic base of tech-savvy and mobile-first youths born in the digital era provided a strong head start for China, especially in eSports.
May 10, 2020
Some of you or your kids might have just started your animal crossing journey as the newest social activity amid the COVID lockdown. In fact, it was estimated that the global video game market generated over USD 150 billion in revenue by the end of 2019. Within video gaming, eSports, also known as Electronic Sports, which often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions has evolved over the last decade, into a significant, professional industry already. Global revenue in esports is estimated to be over 1 billion US dollars, and China currently accounts for about 20% of it. In this mini-webinar, we hope to share with you the latest interest findings about the virtual land of video gaming, eSports, and live streaming in China!
May 07, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down productivity and daily lives, stagnated the global supply chain, and affected financial market returns across almost all asset classes. In the first quarter of 2020, all markets around the world reported negative returns with varying degrees. While it seems that all is going the same direction, especially in the equities’ world, the fundamental risk factors were not. Among the fundamental factors we employ for China A shares, some has performed better than others amidst the market drawdown.
Apr 27, 2020
Premia CSI Caixin China New Economy ETF performed well and went up by 3% in a down market. In this article, we would like to share with you the reasons behind the strong performance and the comparison of this strategy with the other mainstream indexes that investors usually track in respect to performance attribution, sector allocation, niche thematic exposure and top drivers.
Apr 23, 2020
The Chinese government recently launched a stimulus package around the idea of “New Infrastructure” in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. What exactly does this new buzzword #NewInfrastructure entail? And more importantly, where do the investible opportunities lie beyond the tech giants Alibaba and Tencent?
Apr 16, 2020
The market performance of gold in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis has left its fans a little puzzled. From a peak of USD 1703 on 9 March, it retreated to USD 1451 on 16 March - a 15% decline. Should one hold gold now, or rather park in cash tools? Our senior advisor Say Boon Lim demystifies in this piece.
Apr 13, 2020
As global asset prices have slumped on the back of the COVID-19 outbreak, concerns have arisen from supply chain disruptions to about global recession and a liquidity crisis. In this webinar, David Lai and Larry Kwok would discuss the lessons learned from the GFC, share our observations of some pandemic-led trends and implications, and suggest a few related investment ideas.
Apr 12, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a worldwide pandemic, a global slowdown, arguably a recession and hopefully not a depression. Business activities globally have been halted due to the outbreak and demand has been shrinking significantly as well. Apart from some of the Asian countries including China, we have yet seen an inflection point of the case curves in most countries. In this article, we’d like to share some notable leading Chinese players in the space that have been working hard to fight against the virus for the domestic and global community.
Apr 02, 2020
BY TOPICS
Chart Of the Week
Michael Ng
Indonesia's fiscal position is stronger than the recent sell-off implies. S&P puts general government debt at 40.9% of GDP in 2025, the third lowest of the 15 markets in the chart, and expects it to hold broadly steady at 40.3% in 2026 and 40.2% in 2027. That compares with a simple Asian average of 52.7% easing to 51.7%, and a major developed-market average of 106.0% rising to 107.6%. Japan, India, Malaysia and China all carry heavier debt loads.What rattled markets was an equity-market issue, not a fiscal one. On 15 October, MSCI proposed moving Indonesia from “Emerging Market“ to “Standalone Market“ status, citing opaque shareholding structures and suspected coordinated trading. Jakarta shares fell 11.6% in a single session, the steepest one-day drop since 1998. Indonesia government international bonds and sukuk, by contrast, barely flinched: five-year CDS widened from roughly 84–88bp in late September to around 100bp by 22 October, with part of that move predating MSCI's announcement and tracking higher US Treasury yields.Nothing has yet changed in Indonesia's index status. MSCI will consult until April 2027 and announce a final decision by 30 June 2027, leaving time for reform. Authorities have already moved, mandating a 15% minimum free float, requiring disclosure of 1% shareholdings and removing highly concentrated stocks from the JCI. Enforcement will decide the outcome, but if these measures stick, the episode could leave Indonesia with a more transparent and investable market than before.The Premia J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Investment Grade USD Bond ETF (3411 / 9411 HK) holds Indonesia as one exposure among many. The ETF spans 124 issuers across Asia ex-Japan, with Indonesia at roughly 15%: about 10% across Indonesian government bonds and sukuk, and 5% across quasi-sovereign and corporate names including Bank Mandiri, Freeport Indonesia, Indofood, Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, Minejesa Power, Pertamina and PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara - high-quality investment-grade issuers.
Oct 28, 2026
