Articles
14 January 2019

ASEAN morning bytes

General market tone: Risk-off.

Expectations for lackluster earnings coupled with disappointing Chinese trade data reported to keep a lid on risk sentiment.

International theme: Trump hopeful for a deal with China

  • President Trump's remarks that “we are going to be able to do a deal with China” raise hope for some progress on the trade front even as his standoff with the Democrats continues.

EM Space: Markets likely to remain in defensive mode

  • General Asia: Emerging markets took a hit on Monday after China reported disappointing trade numbers. Defensive theme looks to be intact today with investors worried about slowing global growth while geopolitical concerns remain lurking in the background given the US shutdown and UK Prime Minister May’s struggles.
  • Indonesia: Trade data for December is due today. Analysts' expectations are centered on a narrower trade deficit due to slower import growth of 7.7% as against 11.7% in the previous month, while exports likely recovering to post 1.0% growth after a 3.3% contraction. The government has been active in carrying out measures to lower the current account deficit to GDP ratio from an estimated 3% in 2018. Bank Indonesia’s Governor Warjiyo sees the current account deficit in 2019 equivalent to 2.5% of GDP as the government clamps down on imports.
  • Philippines: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reports data on overseas Filipino remittances for November, an important source of foreign currency to finance wide trade deficit. The consensus estimate of 8.3% YoY rise in inflows follows 8.7% growth in October.

What to look out for: Fed speakers

  • Indonesia trade (15 January)
  • Philippines OCW remittances (15 January)
  • Fed Kashkari, Kaplan and George speak (16 January)
  • Bank Indonesia policy meeting (17 January)
  • Fed Quarles speaks (17 January)
  • Thailand reserves (18 January)
  • US consumer sentiment, industrial production, trade and retail sales (14-18 January pending shutdown)
  • Fed Williams speaks (18 January)

Disclaimer

"THINK Outside" is a collection of specially commissioned content from third-party sources, such as economic think-tanks and academic institutions, that ING deems reliable and from non-research departments within ING. ING Bank N.V. ("ING") uses these sources to expand the range of opinions you can find on the THINK website. Some of these sources are not the property of or managed by ING, and therefore ING cannot always guarantee the correctness, completeness, actuality and quality of such sources, nor the availability at any given time of the data and information provided, and ING cannot accept any liability in this respect, insofar as this is permissible pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations.

This publication does not necessarily reflect the ING house view. This publication has been prepared solely for information purposes without regard to any particular user's investment objectives, financial situation, or means. The information in the publication is not an investment recommendation and it is not investment, legal or tax advice or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Reasonable care has been taken to ensure that this publication is not untrue or misleading when published, but ING does not represent that it is accurate or complete. ING does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication. Unless otherwise stated, any views, forecasts, or estimates are solely those of the author(s), as of the date of the publication and are subject to change without notice.

The distribution of this publication may be restricted by law or regulation in different jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this publication comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions.

Copyright and database rights protection exists in this report and it may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any person for any purpose without the prior express consent of ING. All rights are reserved.

ING Bank N.V. is authorised by the Dutch Central Bank and supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). ING Bank N.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands (Trade Register no. 33031431 Amsterdam).