Bfm :: Market Watch

The transportation sector has encountered several challenges in the first half of this year, including supply chain disruptions, the Red Sea crisis, and adverse weather conditions in Asia. These factors have been reflected in the mixed earnings of key players. Will the second half of the year provide some relief? Ahmad Maghfur Usman, Equity Analyst at Nomura Malaysia, shares his analysis.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The US energy sector has seen positive price action, with Vistra Corp and Constellation Energy coming out as top performers on the S&P 500. Can energy stocks that supply power to data centres replace tech stocks for the AI trade? Tony Nash of Complete Intelligence weighs in on this and more.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts have recorded a 7% year-to-date rise on the Bursa Malaysia REIT Index in 2024. Jessica Low, a senior analyst at MIDF Research, provides her insights into the outlook for these asset classes and whether or not the current positive momentum still has legs.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

While many analysts are bullish on the US economy achieving a soft landing, independent market analyst Laurent Lequeu is less sanguine about the the outlook. He weighs in on projected trends for the US economy, as well as the potential effects of the PBOC's monetary policy stimulus on Chinese equities.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Does the 50 basis point rate cut by the US Federal Reserve still signal a healthy US economy? We get reactions from Joe Quinlan of the US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management on the likelihood of a soft landing and headwinds that could derail these projections.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Malaysia has experienced weaker consumer confidence in the first half of this year, driven by the boycott movement and the rising cost of living. With the recent strengthening of the Ringgit and interest rate cut by the US, could this help boost sentiment and stimulate consumption in our country? Syifaa' Mahsuri Ismail, Equity Analyst at Hong Leong Investment Bank, shares her outlook on consumer stocks.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Last week was a historic one for Wall Street, as the Fed delivered a super-sized rate cut and all three indices are now near record levels. What are the key economic indicators to watch for signals on the health of the US economy and how might other central banks pivot in response to the Fed's easing cycle? We discuss market trends with Kingsley Jones of Jevons Global.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Singapore’s Second Finance Minister, Chee Hong Tat, recently announced plans to review regulatory structures in an effort to revive the city-state’s equities market. These steps follow increasing calls from industry players for government intervention to address the shrinking market capitalisation and sluggish trading volumes on the SGX. Adrian Loh, Head of Research at UOB Kay Hian Singapore, shares his perspective on the outlook for Singapore’s capital market.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Two days after the US Federal Reserve announced a 50-basis-point rate cut, equities reacted strongly with the Dow Jones and S&P500 indices closing at record highs, and above key resistance levels. Tim Mulholland, President at TJM Limited in Chicago analyses the market response and where there might be opportunities for investors going forward.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Hong Kong’s equity market fell behind India’s in total share value for the first time earlier this year, slipping to eighth worldwide in terms of the value of listings in 2024, behind even Madrid and Amsterdam. Peter Lewis, Director at Peter Lewis Consulting (China) Ltd, gives his take on the future potential of Hong Kong, whose performance is tied to China’s economic and business sentiment.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

The US Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates for the first time in more than four years, reducing the target for its key lending rate by 0.5 percentage points, to the range of 4.75%-5%. Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy at Mizuho Bank shares his insights into how this decision affects equities, currencies and the overall global economy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The FBMKLCI has strengthened by 14% on a year-to-date basis, while the Ringgit has appreciated by 10% against the US Dollar. What's driving confidence in the Malaysian economy, and which equities could see upside from these trends? We get an analysis from Chehan Perera of CGS International.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

The US Federal Reserve begin their two-day policy meeting today with investors widely anticipating the first expected rate, unwind its cycle of aggressive hikes, which started in March 2022. Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at IG International talks about how this decision might impact equities as well as the US dollar in the coming months.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The central banks of Brazil, Norway, South Africa, Japan and Britain are all expected to hold policy meetings this week. But perhaps the most watched will be the US Federal Reserve. Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist at the US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management, shares his insights into whether or not a rate cut will happen and at what quantum.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The bets are on for the number and quantum of Fed rate cuts till 2025. We ask Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade for his expectations and what will be the neutral rate. We also ask his views on the Chinese equity markets which have hit a low last seen in 2019.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

Singapore’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector has been seeing a sluggish performance  as the iEdge S-Reit Index is down by 2.8% on a year to date basis, underperforming the broader Strait times index which is up 9% for the same period. Krishna Guha, Analyst at Maybank Securities gives us his perspective and what are this top picks.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have warned of lower earnings. We ask Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence why and how this is correlated to the Fed Fund rate cut. We also look at the recent appreciation of the Yen and does this mean the end of the Japanese equity rally.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

With the Federal Reserve set to cut rates in September, what are the implications to Asean markets after a relatively good run. Andrew San, Head of ASEAN Equities, Amundi Malaysia gives us his perspective whilst looking specifically at Malaysia which is the best performing market in the region.Image Credit: shutterstock.com

The US inflation report and consumer sentiment survey will be the data points coming out this week ahead of the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting on 17-18 September. Will this calm concerns over the US economy's health? Economist Carlos Casanova of UBP gives us his projections for the Fed monetary policy. Image Credit: shutterstock.com

SGX did start on a weak note at the beginning of the year but it appears fortunes might be changing as it's up more than 8% on a year to date basis. What were the catalysts for rerating and is there still an upside in a rate easing cycle? Geoff Howie, Market Strategist, at Singapore Exchange tells us.Image Credit: shutterstock.com