Macro Tailwinds, Plantations and Large Cap Outlooks

<p>In this episode, host Thilan Wickramasinghe previews a pivotal week for markets, with investors watching Fed Chair Kevin Warsh&#39;s Jackson Hole remarks for clues on rates, elevated oil prices, multi-decade-high bond yields, and Nvidia&#39;s results for signs the AI rally can extend. At home, Singapore&#39;s macro readings stay strong, with the construction pipeline getting a further boost from the Prime Minister&#39;s National Day Rally speech.</p><p>Meanwhile, plantation analyst Chee Ting Ong reviews the CPO price rally, noting an uneven El Niño impact: rainfall deficits south of the equator threaten 2027 output more than Malaysia&#39;s, keeping prices volatile into year-end before trending higher early next year. He keeps BUY calls on First Resources and Bumitama Agri, and flags Sarawak Oil Palms and Genting Plantations as his top regional picks, the latter also benefiting from its Johor land bank.</p><p>Economist Brian of Maybank Research unpacks Singapore&#39;s NODX, up 24.2% in July on electronics and AI-linked demand, prompting an upgrade to the 2026 forecast to 18%. He plays down blanket-tariff risk from the US transshipment crackdown, seeing it as an opportunity for Singapore, and highlights the NDP&#39;s $62,000 child support package and major land-reclamation plans as reinforcing a multi-year construction boom.</p><p>Thilan makes the case for SATS despite its 15% share-price drop, pointing to 11% revenue growth, resilient cargo volumes, and margin pressure he views as cyclical rather than structural, maintaining BUY with a SGD5.09 target.</p><p>REITs analyst Krishna covers CLI&#39;s stronger-than-expected first half, driven by lower costs and a tax reversal, and looks ahead to SGD7–9 billion in value-unlocking opportunities and an upcoming Investor Relations Day as catalysts, keeping the BUY call intact.</p><p>The Chart Guy also flags fresh trading buy ideas on CSC Global and City Developments.</p><p>Have a profitable trading week!</p>