Asia

Talks of a détente are premature and there is no domestic political basis in China or the US to support a true détente. Investors should not underappreciate global risk, on the basis of a détente, and should avoid Greater China equities in the next 18 months.

China is facing a risk of deflation. Marginal interest rate cuts and targeted stimulus will be insufficient to boost China’s growth given the current deflationary mindset and the danger is that the economy may be entering a liquidity trap. Deflation is bullish for government bonds, but negative for equity prices. Chinese share prices will continue to decline.

Malaysian central bank raised policy rates last month. What will it do to Malaysian bank stocks and the overall share market? How about fixed income market?

The normalization of oil storage markets in the Northern Hemisphere; strong demand, aided by China stimulus this year; and continued production discipline supports our view Brent prices likely have bottomed, and will move higher from here. We raised our 2023 Brent forecast $2/bbl to $92/bbl. Our forecast for next year is revised upward by $5/bbl to $120/bbl. Price risk remains to the upside, particularly if KSA exercises its option to extend production cuts of 1mm b/d.

Policymakers will likely continue to stimulate domestic demand via targeted measures and piecemeal stimulus. Yet, the economy will disappoint unless Beijing provides “irrigation-style” stimulus. The latter is not our base case scenario.