Beware of frothy Asian and emerging markets

AmBank Group chief economist Anthony Dass(pic), who is projecting a 4.5% GDP growth this year for Malaysia, said the economic growth hinges largely on domestic demand and private investment. To this end, he told StarBiz it is imperative for the government to arrest the alarming decline in private-sector investments which has slid from 6.9% in the third quarter of last year (3Q18) to 0.4% in 1Q19.

INVESTORS in Asian and emerging markets (EMs) that had rebounded strongly since the rout last year, may have to buckle up as the froth builds up in global equities.

Amidst easy financial conditions, weakening growth and a soft patch for earnings growth are overlooked in the current equities rally.