Despite uncertainties in the market in the first half of 2023, the market has outperformed exceptions. In this edition, EquitiesFirst reviews changes in US CPI, manufacturing PMI, how interest rates have affected currencies and the rescue actions taken post bank collapses.

Thailand’s private credit market has faced significant shifts since our last report in February 2022. This volume explores new market developments in Thailand for outstanding non-performance loans, private debt securities issuances, capital raising for SMEs and margin loans.

The number of brokers in Hong Kong has increased significantly over the last decade, leading to fiercer competition. Because of this, a majority of brokers are looking into new revenue channels, new products and new markets. This volume explores how broking companies can benefit from the increase in daily average trading volume by partnering with EquitiesFirst.

The global economy has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, with countries such as the US and EU adopting policies to cool down their economies. However, this has led to some large banks such as Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank encountering difficulties and even going bankrupt.

China’s government has recently lifted their strictest Covid procedures that led to long-term travel restrictions and lockdowns. In this edition, EquitiesFirst covers how the easing of restrictions in China may affect market confidence, the global tourism market, APAC debt markets and China’s economy.

In 2022, central banks raised interest rates and the World Bank warned of a potential global recession. Pressure from high inflation rates, a possible recession, and higher interest rates caused turbulence in financial markets. In this edition, EquitiesFirst shares our observations from the elapsed year and our insights and expectations for 2023.