Milltrust Alert – Selected Insights from the Emerging Markets

Key Story

Almost every investor eye will now turn to that G-20 gathering, getting underway in Argentina today. The centerpiece will be a dinner between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Trump has hinted at a deal on trade, but threatened more tariffs if the talks don’t work out. Some disappointing data on the Chinese economy has only upped the stakes.

Elsewhere, one thing that’s off the table is a sit-down between Trump and Vladimir Putin. The U.S. president scrapped a planned one-on-one with his Russian counterpart after Russia captured Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Theresa May will keep on pitching her Brexit deal at the confab.

Key Soundbites

• SAUDI: Saudi money lost faith in prince long before Khashoggi’s murder.

• INDIA: Powell’s dovish tone made India a top Asian stock marketon Thursday

• MALAYSIA: Malaysia Beats Emerging Market Peersas Asia Outshines

• RUSSIA: The Kremlin’s latest standoff with Ukraine in the Azov Sea is forcing foreign investors to reconsider Russia, which faces the possibility of even more stringent Western sanctions.

• BRAZIL: Will Brazil come back with a bang?

• COMMODITIES: Goldman predicts commodities will soar in 2019.

Key Investment

Astra is Southeast Asia’s largest independent automotive group. Operating predominantly in Indonesia, it is the leading provider of a full range of automobile and motorcycle products. In the motor vehicle market, the group partners with Toyota, Daihatsu, Isuzu and Peugeot, as well as being the dealers for UD Trucks and BMW, and in the motorcycle market, it partners with Honda. In the automotive component sector, through its subsidiary PT Astra Otoparts Tbk, Astra cooperates with quality component producers.