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Investment Insights and Strategy Series by PCM – March 2024

The MSCI Asia Pacific Ex-Japan Index (+4.3%) slightly grazed past the MSCI World Index (+4.1%) on account of strong market performance from China & Hong Kong. China (+9.4%) & Hong […]

A glance on “Swiftonomics”: The impact of tourism on a country’s economy

The “Swiftonomics” effect refers to the economic impact generated by Taylor Swift, highlighting her ability to catalyze economic benefits for local communities through specific actions such as her world tour […]

ASEAN-ISE: Empowering Sustainable Development through Collaborative ESG Initiatives

On 15th Feb 2024, four ASEAN stock exchanges namely Bursa Malaysia, the Singapore Exchange (SGX), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) will be jointly […]

The Impact of the Fed’s Rate Cut on the Malaysian Market

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in January 2024 concluded with the decision to maintain the Fed funds interest rate within the range of 5.25% to 5.50%, as widely […]

Investment Insights and Strategy Series by PCM – Feb 2024

The MSCI Asia Pacific Ex-Japan Index (-4.8%) tumbled in January, underperforming the MSCI World Index (+1.1%) as weak performances in HK, China and South Korea dragged the former. Japan (+8.4%) […]

Navigating the Challenges of Scope 3 Emissions

Navigating the Challenges of Scope 3 Emissions Asia’s strategic role in the global supply chain is underscored by its historical access to cost-effective labour, a robust manufacturing infrastructure, close proximity […]

2023 Malaysia’s ESG Wrap & Outlook for 2024

In 2023, Malaysia experienced significant developments in the realm of ESG (environmental, social, and governance). Starting with the launch of Bursa Malaysia’s Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) in March and the […]

Unlocking Opportunities: The Wood Dragon Year and its Impact on Investments

Welcome to the year of Wood Dragon! Chinese Astrology follows a 12-year recurring cycle, where each year is symbolised by an animal, forming the 12 zodiac signs. Interestingly, each zodiac […]

PCM Managed Accounts Thrive Amid Malaysia’s Market Challenges

Despite the strong global market rally in 2023, the FBMKLCI or KLCI underperformed most of the regional markets, down -2.7% in 2023 (Figure 1). This is mainly due to foreign […]

Investment Insights and Strategy Series by PCM – Jan 2024

Global markets sustained robust momentum in December, buoyed by the moderation of US inflation data. This development fuelled market expectations for a pause in the rate hike cycle in 2024 […]

Farewell, 2023, and Greetings to 2024! (2.0)

Building upon the article released last week, we are zooming into five themes that investors should closely monitor in 2024. Theme 1: Peaking interest rates bode well with equities; Emerging […]

Farewell, 2023, and Greetings to 2024!

Farewell, 2023, and Greetings to 2024! In 2023, notable events unfolded, such as the Regional Banking Crisis in March and the subsequent suspension of the US Debt Ceiling in late […]

ESG gaining momentum in Malaysia

Development in ESG is ever-evolving, staying current to align with global developments. In Malaysia, from National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) to the Budget 2024, there is a surge of initiatives […]

Investment Insights and Strategy Series by PCM – Dec 2023

Global markets have rebounded strongly in November with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield stabilising around the 4.40% range after hitting 5% a month ago, reflecting a shift in market expectations […]

Malaysia’s Progress in Green Sukuk

  The Malaysian bond and sukuk market are strategically positioned to offer essential financing for productive and socially responsible projects. Malaysia has pioneered the issuance of Green SRI Sukuk since […]

Investing in fixed income assets

In November’s FOMC meeting, the Fed maintained the FFR at 5.25-5.50%. US Treasuries faced heavy losses in October, with the 10Y UST hitting 5.00% but have now retreated to 4.39% […]

Malaysia’s Pioneering Role in ESG Reporting for SMEs

While ESG reporting is frequently associated with listed companies, it is important to recognise the increasing awareness that ESG considerations are pertinent to businesses regardless of the sizes, including Small […]

Investment Insights and Strategy Series by PCM – Nov 2023

Global markets have remained weak throughout October, dented by concerns about higher interest rate, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield briefly exceeding 5% after 16 years. Investors remain cautious due […]

Malaysia’s Flood Mitigation Revolution

The continuous rain in Malaysia has become quite a regular affair lately. Just half an hour of rain and we are already talking about potential flash floods. Malaysia’s susceptibility to […]

Navigating Opportunities: Israel-Hamas Conflict, 2024 U.S. Recession (?), & U.S. Presidential Election

Markets are playing catch-up to the new regime with the bond yields have surged to 16-year highs. The markets now believe central banks would not swiftly relax policies due to […]

ESG efforts in Budget 2024

In Budget 2024, the Malaysian government continues its dedicated efforts towards sustainable development and energy transition, implementing a range of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Certainly, there are numerous […]

Navigating Market Challenges: Opportunities Amidst Global Uncertainties

Global markets remained weak throughout September, with MSCI World declining -4.6% due to challenges in the US markets, including labour union strikes and government shutdown fears. In addition to that, […]

Sustainable Funds Regain Momentum in 2023

In Morgan Stanley’s most recent report “Sustainable Reality“, it is highlighted that during the first half of 2023, sustainable funds returned to their historical trend of surpassing traditional funds in […]

Malaysia Market Update Post State Election

Malaysia’s equity market has shown increased resilience following the state election. Foreign investors were net buying Malaysia equities, with net inflows of RM1.4bn in July, RM140.8mn in August and RM270.3mn […]

NETR Launch – Steps towards Sustainable Green Economy (Part 2)

In our previous article, we discussed the first stage of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which the government introduced on July 27, 2023. The unveiling of the second phase […]

Charting Malaysia’s Future: NIMP 2030 – A Blueprint for Resilient Industrial Transformation and Sustainable Growth

Overview On September 1st, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim introduced the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), an industrial policy for the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services sectors spanning seven years […]

Strategic Positioning for ESG-Conscious Investors

When investors are interested in ESG-themed (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investments, there are several sectors they can consider for their investments. These sectors have gained attention due to their strong […]

ESG: Catalyst for Enhanced Valuations and Profitability

In our previous article, we have explored Malaysia’s government commitments towards attaining environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. In fact, the government aims to deliver on renewable energy (RE) capacity […]

What’s next for China & Malaysia

With Country Garden missing recent debt payments, investors have raised concerns about the recovery in the housing market and the broader economy. Not only that, July saw a widespread weakening […]

NETR Launch – Steps towards Sustainable Green Economy

The government has recently introduced the first phase of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). This roadmap outlines the strategy to expedite the nation’s shift from a conventional fossil fuel-driven […]

Global Central Bank Actions and Asian Market Resilience: July 2023 Recap

The Fed raised the Fed funds rate (FFR) by 25bps to 5.25%-5.50% in July’s FOMC meeting. However, Fed Chair Powell did not give a clear indication that the additional rate […]

The Rising EV Trend in Malaysia

Malaysia is dedicated to reinforcing its commitment towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by as early as 2050. The country possesses a well-defined plan and a comprehensive ecosystem, along with abundant […]

Malaysia – Look for Silver Linings

In 2023, the stock market has been dominated by a select group of mega-cap US tech companies, commonly referred to as the “magnificent 7.” These companies include Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, […]

Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Investing: Strategies for Better Decisions (2.0)

Emotions play a significant role in our decision-making processes, and when it comes to investing, they can have a profound impact on our ability to make rational choices. Emotions such […]

The Influence of ESG Factors on Consumer Behaviour and Brand Perception

Consumer attitudes have undergone a noticeable transformation in recent years, as an increasing number of individuals actively prioritise sustainable and socially responsible products and services. This shift signifies a growing […]

Navigating Global Economic Landscape and Uncovering Opportunities in 2H2023 and Beyond

As widely expected, the Fed paused its hiking campaign in June, However, according to the Fed’s Dot Plot projections, the interest rates may potentially reach as high as 5.6% before […]

When EV meets ESG

In recent years, the world has witnessed a growing emphasis on sustainable practices across various industries. One notable area experiencing this paradigm shift is the automotive industry, which is rapidly […]

The Defensive Nature of Dividend Investing: A Strategy for Uncertain Times (Part 2.0)

The Defensive Nature of Dividend Investing: A Strategy for Uncertain Times (Part 2.0) During times of weak market conditions, investors encounter challenges in remaining invested. Taking Malaysia market as example, […]

Embracing Social Responsibility for Sustainable Growth

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, companies are increasingly recognising the importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). This involves fostering a corporate culture that places emphasis on certain elements […]

Navigating Global Markets: Debt Ceiling Concerns, China’s Recovery, and Investment Opportunities

Global markets traded mixed in May as investors watched for signs of progress in the US debt ceiling negotiations ahead of the June 1 deadline. To recall, the debt ceiling […]

ESG Investing in The Era of Chaos

According to Morningstar Direct’s “Q1 2023 Review on Global Sustainable Fund Flows”, global sustainable funds attracted USD 29 billion of net inflow in the first quarter of 2023, down from […]

Malaysia’s Progress Towards Carbon Neutrality

According to a recent report by MSCI Inc., the percentage of public companies disclosing Scope 3 emissions has risen to 35%, a 5% increase since October last year. Additionally, almost […]

Private Managed Account (PMA) Alpha – Strategy Explained

Equities and bonds are commonly favoured by many investors, while commodities are often overlooked as an investment option. This may be due to various reasons, including a lack of understanding […]

The Resilience of Asia

Although the world economy is expected to face a challenging year with global growth decelerating and inflation remaining high and the ongoing war in Ukraine, and banking strains in the […]

ESG and Corporate Governance: Importance and Progress in Malaysia

  Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters have gained significant importance for both corporations and investors in the recent years. Corporations are facing mounting pressure to take accountability for their […]

An Overview of Fixed Income Outlook in 2023

Fixed income markets experienced a sharp selloff in 2022, but this has led to improved yields and valuations. As attention shifts from inflation to slowing growth and the potential for […]

Examining the Commodities Market: Risk and Opportunities

The recent upheaval in the global banking industry has triggered a new black swan to global growth outlook. As a result, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its previous […]

Understanding Quality Investing and Why It Matters?

What is Quality Investing? Investors who advocate a quality approach to investing prefer high-quality companies that generate free cash flow and a reasonable return on equity. Aside from that, investors […]

Large Cap vs. Small Cap: Understanding the Differences and When Size Matters

Large-cap stocks are stocks of established, well-known companies with high market capitalisation. These companies have a proven business model, a stable earnings outlook, and a long operating history. They typically […]

Why Investing in Industry Leaders can Reduce Risk and Boost Returns

The Fed’s Dilemma At the March policy meeting, the Fed’s FOMC raised the Fed Funds Rate (FFR) by 25bps to 4.75-5.00%, in line with market forecasts. The terminal rate on […]

How will ESG and Energy Transition evolve on the path towards Net Zero?

There are multiple factors that have contributed to sustainability becoming a major priority. The demand from investors and financial markets for a robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and […]

When Giants Fall: The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse and Lessons Learned for the Future

When all the good stuff happens at once, it can really hit your wallet where it hurts! You’ve got your friend’s wedding, the school reopening, a family trip, and to […]

The Defensive Nature of Dividend Investing: A Strategy for Uncertain Times

Dividend investing can be a powerful tool for generating passive income and building long-term wealth. In our previous article, we explored how dividend investing can be an effective strategy during […]

Understanding Value vs Growth Investing: Which Strategy is Right for You?

Over the past 13 years, growth stocks have had a favourable environment, which was accelerated by the increased demand for online services, digital entertainment, and technology that facilitated remote work […]

Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Investing: Strategies for Better Decisions

Emotions can play a crucial role in investment decision making among investors. Most investors tend to base their decisions on their emotional reactions to numerous market circumstances, which might result […]

Driving value through ESG Investing

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing, sometimes referred to as Sustainable Investing or Socially Responsible Investing, is an investment style which incorporates sustainability factors when making investment decisions alongside traditional […]

7 Investment Styles: Which Fits You?

An investment style is simply the approach that investors take when assembling a portfolio of assets to meet their investment objectives. Investment styles can be divided and subdivided into a […]

Why should you add Commodities into your portfolio?

A glimmer of hope emerged in January after the market’s year-long gloom as inflation slowed, interest rates dropped, China reopened, and earnings came in better than feared. Most global equity […]

Why are dividends appealing during inflationary times?

The likelihood of recession has increased in various regions, notably the developed markets (DM), as a result of higher inflation, soaring energy prices, and rising interest rates. Central bank policies […]

Sectors to focus in 2023

We all know 2022 hasn’t been kind to global investors with both equities and bonds having simultaneously suffered negative returns. The key question will be whether the bears strike back […]

How to work smarter not harder using SMART goals?

Do you have short term or long term goals in life, but you always find it difficult to achieve them? It’s okay for us to fall short of our goals […]

How Do We Juggle Our Finances in Different Life Stages

Do you ever find your finances are in a constant state of change? One minute you are juggling with repaying your education loans and the next minute you are planning […]

Why Is Personal Financial Planning Important?

* PhillipCapital Malaysia has recently conducted a quick poll on Instagram over 100 respondents to study the financial behaviour of individuals in Malaysia. Do you ever feel like you don’t […]