MONEY MASTER

Markets React Positively to Trade Truce Asian equities rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump extended a 90-day pause on tariffs with China, removing a key near-term risk for investors ahead of a closely watched U.S. inflation report. The  MSCI Asia-Pacific Index  gained 0.4%. Japan’s  Nikkei 225  surged to a record high as trading resumed after a public holiday. The U.S. dollar edged lower, while gold climbed 0.4%. The tariff truce pushes the deadline to  November 10 , avoiding an immediate hike in duties on Chinese imports such as rare earth magnets and certain technologies. “All other elements of the Agreement will remain the same,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. Focus Turns to US Inflation Data Attention now shifts to July’s  Consumer Price Index (CPI)  report, expected later Tuesday. Economists project a  0.3% rise in core CPI , which strips out food and energy. Markets are pricing in about a  90% probability of a Septembe...

After months of deep corrections and industry pessimism, Malaysia’s glove sector is showing early signs of a turnaround—offering investors an opportunity to accumulate select counters at  multi-year low valuations . In the latest sector review, market analysts highlighted that glove manufacturers are currently trading at  -2 standard deviations below their 1-year forward P/B average , a level that typically signals deep-value territory. Valuations Reflect Fear, Not Fundamentals Despite the sector being in a down-cycle, companies like  Hartalega (HARTA)  and  Kossan Rubber (KOSSAN) continue to post profits and maintain operational stability. With HARTA trading at  1.3x P/B  and KOSSAN at  1.0x , their valuations appear overly depressed—especially in light of improving demand visibility. Unlike previous downturns where companies dipped into the red, most glove players today remain operationally resilient, supported by leaner inventories and more dis...

Key Takeaway: China’s manufacturing sector showed signs of stabilization in June, driven by improved domestic demand following the  temporary US-China tariff truce . The latest  Caixin PMI print of 50.4  beat expectations and marked the first return to expansion territory in three months. What You Need to Know: Caixin Manufacturing PMI (June): Actual:  50.4 Forecast:  49.3 Prior:  48.3 First post-truce reading; signals moderate recovery in private manufacturing activity. Survey Details: Conducted by  Caixin and S&P Global , this index focuses on  small- and medium-sized, export-driven firms . Contrasts with the  official PMI , which remains below 50, reflecting persistent caution in larger SOEs. Macro Context: In  mid-May , Beijing and Washington agreed to a  90-day reduction in tariffs , reviving trade flows. Supply chains showed improvement, while domestic demand picked up — though  external demand remains weak . Economis...