Latest news with #AlanLau
South China Morning Post
12-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Relaxed Aussie lifestyle shapes Hong Kong home
Feeling hemmed in by Covid restrictions several years ago, Alan Lau toyed with swapping his family's Mid-Levels flat for the laid-back way of life he had enjoyed in Brisbane, Australia, where he had worked decades earlier and still has business interests. Advertisement His wife, Lydia, having studied in Sydney, understood the attraction. However, not wishing to transplant their two adolescent children and leave a large extended family behind, the couple reached a compromise. As much as possible, they'd try to replicate in Hong Kong the relaxed lifestyle synonymous with Australia. Living room detail. Photo: Tan Hai Han A three-storey attached house in Tai Wai, complete with outdoor terrace and pool, hit the mark. With 2,100 sq ft of internal space to work with, plus an outdoor area of about 1,200 sq ft, Ivan Wong Wei-him, architect, designer and founder of In-between Architects, would realise the couple's vision during a year-long renovation, completed in May 2024. It wasn't just about aesthetics, Wong stresses. 'With their children still young, the family would be building their memories in this house,' he says of the three-bedroom home. 'My first thought was, 'What's best for them?'' Aside from a poolside barbecue terrace – a must – Wong regarded the ground-floor kitchen as the heart of the home. Happily, the size of the existing kitchen was adequate. Removing a wall to integrate it with the dining area allowed an island to be built, its cantilevered countertop providing additional space for four. Kitchen. Photo: Tan Hai Han The now open-plan social zone extends to a second terrace (half a level below), which comes in handy when family and friends visit for meals, as they often do.
The Star
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Thai asset rally set to extend on tariff relief and steady foreign inflows
BANGKOK (Bloomberg): The Thai baht's rally this quarter looks poised to extend, fueled by easing trade tensions and a resurgence of foreign interest in local equities. Malayan Banking Bhd. forecasts the baht will strengthen to 31.5 per dollar by year-end, while Bank of America Corp. projects a higher move to 31.0, a level not seen since March 2021. The local currency traded 0.1% lower at 32.369 per dollar on Monday. Thai markets are closed for a holiday on Monday and Tuesday. The baht has emerged as Asia's top performer this quarter, buoyed by the tariff agreement with Washington that has brightened the outlook for Thai exports. Easing worries about domestic politics and expectations of another interest-rate cut by the Bank of Thailand this week may also sustain capital inflows, bringing Thai stocks closer to a bull market. "We are keeping a medium-term positive view on the baht, expecting that both equity and bond inflows can somewhat stay supported on further Bank of Thailand rate easing and tariff clarity,' said Alan Lau, a currency strategist at Maybank in Singapore. Local stocks have rebounded more than 18% from a low in June as foreign funds return. That's put the benchmark SET Index among the top-performers globally this quarter. Thailand's export outlook has improved after President Donald Trump decided to lower tariffs on the nation's goods to 19% from 36%. The Finance Ministry raised its growth forecast for this year as it lifted projections for foreign shipments. Since April, dollar-baht has traded under its 100-day moving average within a descending channel that may see the pair approaching the 31.50 level. Given the bearish momentum, the pair could test the sub-32 level, and a close below the July low of 32.108 will increase the chances of this occurring. Equity Flows Global funds turned buyers of local shares this quarter after three-straight quarters of outflows. They have purchased $640 million of Thai equities on a net basis since the start of July. "Most companies' stocks still have very attractive valuations with better-than-expected earnings so far this year,' said Varorith Chirachon, an executive director at SCB Asset Management, the nation's largest private money manager with about $53 billion of assets. Chirachon expects the key stock index to hit 1,320 at year-end. That's 4.8% higher than the gauge's close on Friday. To be clear, risk of an economic slowdown in the second half remains as frontloaded orders end and US tariffs take effect. Uncertainty over the future of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also lingers. Constrained domestic demand could counter the risk of fading exports in the second half, "resulting in a stable current account surplus position and baht appreciation pressure,' said Claudio Piron, co-head of Asia FX and rates strategy at Bank of America. --With assistance from David Finnerty and Michael G. Wilson. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Business Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Thai asset rally set to extend on tariff relief, foreign inflows
[NEW YORK] The Thai baht's rally this quarter looks poised to extend, fuelled by easing trade tensions and a resurgence of foreign interest in local equities. Malayan Banking forecasts the baht will strengthen to 31.5 per US dollar by year-end, while Bank of America projects a higher move to 31.0, a level not seen since March 2021. The local currency traded 0.1 per cent lower at 32.369 per US dollar on Monday (Aug 11). Thai markets are closed for a holiday on Monday and Tuesday. The baht has emerged as Asia's top performer this quarter, buoyed by the tariff agreement with Washington that has brightened the outlook for Thai exports. Easing worries about domestic politics and expectations of another interest-rate cut by the Bank of Thailand this week may also sustain capital inflows, bringing Thai stocks closer to a bull market. 'We are keeping a medium-term positive view on the baht, expecting that both equity and bond inflows can somewhat stay supported on further Bank of Thailand rate easing and tariff clarity,' said Alan Lau, a currency strategist at Maybank in Singapore. Local stocks have rebounded more than 18 per cent from a low in June as foreign funds return. That's put the benchmark SET Index among the top-performers globally this quarter. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Thailand's export outlook has improved after US President Donald Trump decided to lower tariffs on the nation's goods to 19 per cent from 36 per cent. The Finance Ministry raised its growth forecast for this year as it lifted projections for foreign shipments. Since April, the US dollar-baht has traded under its 100-day moving average within a descending channel that may see the pair approaching the 31.50 level. Given the bearish momentum, the pair could test the sub-32 level, and a close below the July low of 32.108 will increase the chances of this occurring. Equity flows Global funds turned buyers of local shares this quarter after three straight quarters of outflows. They have purchased US$640 million of Thai equities on a net basis since the start of July. 'Most companies' stocks still have very attractive valuations with better-than-expected earnings so far this year,' said Varorith Chirachon, an executive director at SCB Asset Management, the nation's largest private money manager with about US$53 billion of assets. Chirachon expects the key stock index to hit 1,320 at year-end. That's 4.8 per cent higher than the gauge's close on Friday. To be clear, risk of an economic slowdown in the second half remains as frontloaded orders end and US tariffs take effect. Uncertainty over the future of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also lingers. Constrained domestic demand could counter the risk of fading exports in the second half, 'resulting in a stable current account surplus position and baht appreciation pressure', said Claudio Piron, co-head of Asia FX and rates strategy at Bank of America. BLOOMBERG
Bangkok Post
11-08-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Thai asset rally set to extend on tariff relief, foreign inflows
The Thai baht's rally this quarter looks poised to extend, fuelled by easing trade tensions and a resurgence of foreign interest in local equities. Malayan Banking forecasts the baht will strengthen to 31.5 per dollar by year-end, while Bank of America projects a higher move to 31.0, a level not seen since March 2021. The local currency traded 0.1% lower at 32.369 per dollar on Monday. Thai markets are closed for a holiday on Monday and Tuesday. The baht has emerged as Asia's top performer this quarter, buoyed by the tariff agreement with Washington that has brightened the outlook for Thai exports. Easing worries about domestic politics and expectations of another interest-rate cut by the Bank of Thailand this week may also sustain capital inflows, bringing Thai stocks closer to a bull market. 'We are keeping a medium term positive view on the baht, expecting that both equity and bond inflows can somewhat stay supported on further Bank of Thailand rate easing and tariff clarity,' said Alan Lau, a currency strategist at Maybank in Singapore. Local stocks have rebounded more than 18% from a low in June as foreign funds return. That's put the benchmark SET Index among the top-performers globally this quarter. Thailand's export outlook has improved after US President Donald Trump decided to lower tariffs on the nation's goods to 19% from 36%. The Finance Ministry raised its growth forecast for this year as it lifted projections for foreign shipments. Since April, dollar-baht has traded under its 100-day moving average within a descending channel that may see the pair approaching the 31.50 level. Given the bearish momentum, the pair could test the sub 32 level, and a close below the July low of 32.108 will increase the chances of this occurring. Equity flows Global funds turned buyers of local shares this quarter after three-straight quarters of outflows. They have purchased $640 million of Thai equities on a net basis since the start of July. 'Most companies' stocks still have very attractive valuations with better-than-expected earnings so far this year,' said Varorith Chirachon, an executive director at SCB Asset Management, the nation's largest private money manager with about $53 billion of assets. Mr Varorith expects the key stock index to hit 1,320 at year-end. That's 4.8% higher than the gauge's close on Friday. To be clear, risk of an economic slowdown in the second half remains as frontloaded orders end and US tariffs take effect. Uncertainty over the future of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also lingers. Constrained domestic demand could counter the risk of fading exports in the second half, 'resulting in a stable current account surplus position and baht appreciation pressure,' said Claudio Piron, co-head of Asia FX and rates strategy at Bank of America.
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asian currencies fall as middle east tensions boost dollar safe-haven demand
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: Emerging Asian currencies lost ground on Wednesday as the dollar held firm on safe-haven demand as the conflict between Israel and Iran entered a sixth day, while investors awaited rate decisions by the Bank Indonesia and the Federal Reserve. Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other, with US President Donald Trump calling for Iran's unconditional surrender and warning US patience was wearing thin. Moreover, market jitters intensified after officials said the US military is bolstering its presence in the region. The Israeli shekel was last largely flat at 3.5048 per dollar. It fell 0.4 per cent on Tuesday. The MSCI index of emerging market currencies edged down 0.2 per cent. The Malaysian ringgit inched 0.1 per cent lower, and the Indian rupee fell to a more than two-month low. The dollar index was little changed after a 0.6 per cent jump in the previous session. Oil prices extended gains after jumping more than 4 per cent on Tuesday. Most emerging Asian economies, except Malaysia, import the bulk of their oil requirements, and increasing crude prices also hurt their currencies. The Philippine peso fell 1 per cent to its lowest level since mid-April. The peso has performed well for most of this year, which is making it vulnerable as negative factors, including higher oil prices and concerns of a rate cut by the central bank, start weighing in, said Alan Lau, FX strategist at Maybank. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to lower its key interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday. The Taiwanese dollar was flat, and the South Korean won inched up 0.1 per cent. In Indonesia, the rupiah weakened 0.3 per cent and stocks fell 0.5 per cent ahead of the central bank's monetary policy decision later in the day. "Today's BI rate decision is likely to be a close call, split between a pause and a back-to-back rate cut," DBS analysts said in a note. Inflation developments are conducive, with recent stimulus measures expected to further restrain price pressures, however, policymakers might view the recent Middle East tensions and its impact on the regional currencies with trepidation, they added. Other regional stock markets were mixed. Manila and Singapore shares fell 0.1 per cent and 03 per cent, respectively. Taipei and Seoul equities rose 0.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively, driven by technology stock gains. Markets were also awaiting the Federal Reserve's policy decision later on Wednesday, expectating for the central bank to stand pat on rates.
