MONEY MASTER

Bitcoin’s rally surged close to $90,000 on Tuesday, with the overall cryptocurrency market surpassing its pandemic-era high as investors anticipate a favorable climate under President-elect Donald Trump . Bitcoin has jumped 32% since the US election on Nov 5, reaching a record of $89,599 . Trump’s promises, including potential crypto-friendly policies and establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve , have boosted market optimism. This marks a shift from previous regulations, sparking speculative buying across large and small tokens, lifting digital assets' value to $3.1 trillion . Options trading shows bets that Bitcoin could top $100,000 by year-end, with increasing institutional interest in Bitcoin futures. MicroStrategy, a major corporate holder of Bitcoin, added about 27,200 tokens (worth roughly $2 billion) to its holdings recently. The rally’s momentum has stirred talks of possible corrections, but confidence remains strong, with Bitcoin up 110% in 2024 . The shift in Trum...

With the anticipated impact of president-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies, currency traders are increasingly positioning the euro and yuan as likely to experience the most significant declines. This shift comes as Trump's proposed tariff policies are expected to drive the US dollar higher. In the week following Trump’s election victory, investors have leaned heavily into dollar call options —bets on a stronger dollar—primarily against the euro and yuan . Data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp (DTCC) highlights that euro-dollar and dollar-yuan options were the most actively traded on Monday, with dollar-yuan call option trades on the DTCC notably outweighing put options by a 3 to 2 ratio . Trump's tariff-heavy agenda , which includes a potential 60% fee on Chinese imports and an across-the-board 10% tariff on all US imports , is fueling these moves toward a stronger dollar. On the political front, European risks are compounding the outlook for the euro . G...

Malaysia’s Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli stated that the US administration change will not alter Malaysia's commitment to its economic reforms , which are shaped by domestic needs and long-term objectives. While Malaysia monitors global shifts , Rafizi emphasized that structural reforms in key sectors like semiconductors and energy transition are essential to strengthen the economy and ensure future resilience. He noted that US economic policies are influential, but Malaysia’s reforms will remain self-driven. "Regardless of international changes, we will adapt as necessary but stay focused on our own agenda," Rafizi said, adding that Malaysia remains prepared to respond to global shifts from major trading partners, including the US.

Donald Trump has reclaimed the White House after a divisive campaign that defied polls and criminal charges. Kamala Harris conceded but vowed to continue her "fight for freedom and dignity." Trump’s win represents a strong shift in voter sentiment, with Americans prioritizing economic and border security concerns. Harris consoled her supporters, calling for resilience while refusing to align with Trump’s vision. Biden plans to address the nation on Thursday. Trump, along with Vice President-elect JD Vance, aims to take office on January 20 with promises of sweeping changes, including firing civil servants he deems disloyal and possibly replacing regulatory heads. He has tapped prominent figures, such as Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for administration roles. Trump's Electoral College win was bolstered by strong support across at least five battleground states. His victory also secured a Republican majority in both the Senate and House , easing the way for h...

Donald Trump’s election victory has shifted investor interest to India and Japan due to concerns over potential tariffs on Chinese goods, which could reach up to 60%. Morgan Stanley has reiterated its preference for India and Japan stocks over China, as India is seen as a manufacturing alternative with a domestic-driven economy, offering relative immunity to global risks. Meanwhile, Japanese stocks stand to gain from higher U.S. interest rates, which may weaken the yen and benefit Japan’s exporters. Supply chain shifts away from China also support investment in India, Japan, and Southeast Asia, according to veteran investor Mark Mobius, who noted that India has the labor force to match China’s. Following the election, the MSCI Japan and MSCI India indexes rose over 1.5%, while MSCI China dropped more than 2%. Analysts expect ongoing pressure on Chinese stocks if Beijing’s stimulus efforts fall short, potentially increasing investments in Japan. However, Societe Generale m...

Malaysian bonds are facing increased vulnerability to outflows as local yields rise alongside US Treasuries , following Donald Trump’s election win. Analysts suggest this trend could continue, particularly given the sharp ringgit depreciation against a strengthening dollar. Malaysian bonds saw net outflows of RM11.2 billion (US$2.6 billion) last month — the largest since March 2020 — according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) data. This outflow, coupled with a sell-off in US Treasuries and a weakening ringgit, is pressuring yields higher. Notably, the 90-day correlation between Malaysian bonds and the ringgit has risen to 0.63, signaling that as the ringgit weakens, bond yields tend to rise. “The election outcome suggests continued dollar strength ,” said Philip McNicholas, Asia sovereign strategist at Robeco Group in Singapore. “With Treasury yields steepening, there’s a risk of further foreign withdrawal from emerging-market (EM) assets , especially Malaysia’s lower-yielding bonds.”...

Most Asian stocks slid on Thursday as investors weighed the economic impact of Trump’s second presidency , particularly his promise of increased tariffs . In response, the dollar climbed , adding over 1% on Wednesday. Major indices fell in China, Australia, and South Korea , while Japan showed mixed results. This followed a record surge in the S&P 500, which climbed 2.5% on Wednesday, marking its best post-election day ever, with the Nasdaq 100 up by 2.7% . Many expect the Federal Reserve (Fed) to cut interest rates today, a move closely watched by global markets. US stock gains largely reflect expectations of Trump’s pro-business agenda , centered on tax cuts and lighter regulations , which could potentially bolster corporate profits. However, Treasury yields jumped 16 basis points as Trump’s fiscal and tariff plans are predicted to fuel inflation, complicating the Fed’s efforts to reduce borrowing costs. In China, the CSI 300 Index fell by 1% , marking its second consecutive d...

The Thai baht fell to a six-week low on Thursday, while most Asian currencies fluctuated in a narrow range and regional equities edged lower as traders adjusted their expectations for US Federal Reserve rate cuts and considered the impact of a potential second Trump presidency . The baht dropped by 1% to 33.83 per US dollar , marking its lowest level since Sept 10, as the currency resumed trading after a holiday. Other regional currencies such as the Singapore dollar and Philippine peso gained 0.2%, while the South Korean won increased slightly by 0.1%. The US dollar index , which tracks the currency against six rivals, remained close to a three-month high , buoyed by the perception that an outsized 50-basis-point rate cut from the Fed is now less likely. This sentiment was reinforced by rising treasury yields . Additionally, anticipation of a Trump victory in the US presidential election added to the dollar's strength, as his tax and tariff policies are considered infla...