By Gustavo Medeiros, Ben Underhill
The Emerging View

The case for emerging market small cap equities

EM small caps are assumed to be the risky cousin of US small caps. The data says otherwise: nearly nine in ten are profitable, on half the forward multiple of the Russell 2000. We make the case for the asset class.

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Weekly investor research

Oil relief welcome before Wednesday’s FOMC

After 13 consecutive nights of strikes, the US paused its attack on Iran over the weekend, welcome relief ahead of Wednesday's FOMC. Elsewhere, Samsung and SK Hynix signed USD 950bn of US supply deals and Bank Indonesia's governor resigned.
Weekly investor research

The arrival of Kimi K3 tests investors’ faith in Jevons’ Paradox

Chinese open-weight model Kimi K3 raises questions over AI lab monetisation, testing investors’ faith in Jevons’ Paradox. The Korean memory stock unwind extends, US CPI turns negative and the Bank of Korea hikes for the first time in three years.
Weekly investor research

Hormuz hostilities and a memory stock correction

US-Iran hostilities push oil back to nearly USD 80 and Korean memory stocks fall in a positioning unwind. SK Hynix’s ADRs debut on Nasdaq, China’s central bank adds to gold, and Ukraine secures EUR 140bn in weaponry pledges at the Ankara NATO summit.

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Weekly investor research

Strong month for EM debt ends in softer week

Upwards GDP revisions in US lead markets to reprice ‘bullish scenario’ of rate cuts and soft-landing. Strikes in Israel after nationwide protests against Netanyahu’s handling of hostage negotiations. China considers a plan to allow homeowners to...
Weekly investor research

More dovish Fed supporting EM returns

Jackson Hole pivot from Powell leaves 50bps September cut on the table. Brent crude rises back above USD80 on heightened geopolitical risk and Libyan supply constraints. China and Indonesia hold policy rates, signalling a pivot after the Fed’s first...
Weekly investor research

Risk off, risk on.

Very strong week for global equities, spurred by benign US retail sales and jobs data. MSCI ACWI is now just 1.7% away from July record high. Jokowi’s last budget kept an austere framework in Indonesia.The Thai parliament quickly appointed Paetongtarn...
The Emerging View

Be greedy when others are fearful: But no rush

Warren Buffett’s mantra of “being greedy when others are fearful” has delivered good returns for faithful investors over the long term. Our analysis shows that asset allocators who buy Emerging Market (EM) assets during volatility spikes have delivered...
Weekly investor research

Volatility is back

Markets in panic mode this morning after position unwinding…
The Emerging View

The US Election’s impact on Emerging Markets

Since early June, Trump has been polling as the most likely candidate to win the 2024 presidency. After a disastrous July, Biden dropping out of the Presidential race is a boost for the Democrats. Kamala Harris is a better candidate and may gather...
Weekly investor research

Crowded positions unwound as EM upgrades gather pace

Unwind of crowded positions dominated price action over the last two weeks. G-20 OECD leading indicator revisions show a weaker-than-expected cycle. Discussions for a ceasefire in Ukraine intensified. Heightened risk of conflict between Iran and...
Weekly investor research

Softening US data weighs on Dollar, buoying EM assets.

Trump shooting changes the dynamics, but not the trends, of the US presidential race. EM assets outperformed last week, buoyed by a weaker Dollar. China further restricted short selling as data weakened ahead of the Third Plenum. South Korea discussed...
Weekly investor research

Encouraging EM stories, turbulent Western politics.

US Treasuries rally despite ‘Trump premium’ post-debate. In the UK, Labour won a ‘loveless’ landslide. Far-right tide stemmed in France as left-wing coalition won most votes. Purchasing Managers Indices softened further in Europe, resilient in EM Asia
Weekly investor research

Amuse-bouche

The US Presidential debate and the first round of the French general elections are just starters for the political trends impacting the west. In contrast, the President of South Africa appointed its national unity government, which is likely to lead to...
The Emerging View

The untold story of improving EM fundamentals

Since the Covid shock, high global inflation, aggressive US fiscal expansion and a strong dollar have created a challenging environment for Emerging Market (EM) countries.
Weekly investor research

Political uncertainties from DM countries in focus

Geopolitical uncertainties abound after G-10 central banks start a tentative easing cycle. The US and global economies remain very imbalanced. China announced a monetary policy framework overhaul. Argentina delivered on fiscal consolidation and reforms…
Live at the Sub-ICs

Elections in South Africa: A new GNU

It’s been exactly 30 years since then-President Nelson Mandela enabled South Africa’s transition from an apartheid white-minority government to a democratically-elected government by bringing several political parties together to form a...
Weekly investor research

Lower inflation is the signal, random dots on a chart is noise.

Global stock volatility increased due to the French snap elections, the Fed’s hawkish tone, and deteriorating economic data. EM stocks were supported by Asia. Global bond yields declined after lower US inflation data. The EU announced tariffs on...