In the week of Hari Raya Idul Adha, we saw a number of interesting insights, both equity bottom up and top down and thematic. At the start of the week, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX SP) hosted a research conference with Smartkarma in Singapore, including Dr. Jim Walker as a keynote speaker. The event was well attended with around 180 delegates participating, with some interesting panelists in including Hugh Young of Aberdeen Asset Management and Adrian Teng, Group Finance Director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd (JCNC SP) amongst others.

Dr. Jim Walker 's key note speech at the conference was entitled "Reinventing Singapore's Growth Engines", where he presented a very positive picture for not only Singapore but also South East Asia as a whole. This uncharacteristically bullish view (he stated that he has "never been more optimistic") is driven his projections of a weaker USD, along with a cyclical and structural growth recovery, aided by strategically strong demographics. Dr. Jim Walker upgraded Singapore to overweight in his June Strategy report. For a full recount of his key note address, please scroll to the bottom of this report.

In Thailand: Watch the Downside Risks, Jason Tan Notes that the Thai economy extended its remarkable run, growing by a sterling 3.7% in 2Q17, driven primarily by exports but also complemented by private sector activity.

In his insight, Tech Upswing Supports Export-Oriented Economies, Jason Tan notes that manufacturing output surged in July 2017, driven mainly by a booming electronics sector but growth was evident across the board and even in sectors that have been underperforming, such as transport engineering. Jason suggests that we could see an outsized boom in economic growth in the 3Q17 GDP figures.

In Malaysia: Government Raises Pressure on the Opposition, Manu Bhaskaran highlights a pick up in Investigations into past scandals, with a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) investigating foreign exchange losses incurred by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) during the prime ministership of Dr. Mahathir Mohamed. 

In The Philippines: Chinks in Duterte’s Armour, Manu Bhaskaran examines recent events which may dent the Philippine President's popularity. 

In his insight, Micro-Mechanics: Riding the Global Semiconductor Cycle; Solid FY17 Results, Nicolas Van Broekhoven revisits Micro Mechanics (Holdings) Ltd (MMH SP) after the release of the company's 1H17 results. 

In the third in a series of insights, World War Three: Part 3 - Demographics Baked in the Cake, Dr. Jim Walker continues to examine the threat to developed nations from worsening demographics and aging populations.  In Asia, an entirely different picture emerges, one that makes it the most important growth story of the next half century. 

In Sathorn Series B: KBANK Goes to Indonesia, our Thai guru Athaporn Arayasantiparb, CFA discusses Kasikornbank Pcl (KBANK TB) 's acquisition of a 10% stake in Indonesia’s Maspion bank.

In ASEAN Outlook: Four Themes from 2Q17 GDP Figures, Manu Bhaskaran takes a look back and 1H economic figures in ASEAN and identifies four key themes.

In Yangzijiang Placement - Management’s Good Track Record Should Translate into Accretive Acquisitions, our own Toh Zhen Zhou looks at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (YZJSGD SP) which is raising US$157m through the issuance of 137m primary shares.

In Singapore Myanmar InvestCo - Placement, Henry Soediarko comments on the recently announced placement through CLSA of up to 15,411,600 new shares at S$0.48 each.

This insight is part of Smartkarma. For more follow this link.