Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defended his plans to overhaul the US economy through dramatic tariff increases and more direct consultation with the Federal Reserve, arguing that his policies would result in substantial growth despite projections that his agenda would fuel inflation and spike the national debt.

“It’s going to have a massive effect, positive effect,” Trump told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait on Tuesday in an interview at the Economic Club of Chicago.

Throughout the hour-long exchange, Trump repeatedly dismissed predictions by economists that his policies would have a net-negative impact on the economy and pass costs onto US consumers.

The former president shrugged off the possibility that his proposed tariffs might disrupt supply chains or squeeze small businesses, saying companies would rapidly return manufacturing to the US to avoid the levies. He argued that the impact of his plans to deport millions of undocumented migrants would be offset by legal migration. And, he said, his leadership would inspire loyalty rather than anger from allies.

“We’re all about growth,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring companies back to our country.”

The Republican nominee’s claims were warmly received by attendees at the event, who cheered his argument that dramatically increasing tariffs on foreign goods would protect “the companies that we have here and the new companies that will move in.”

The room was packed with about 600 people and a sizable contingent of Trump staffers. Executives in the room included Ashley Duchossois, chair of Duchossois Capital Management, the Chicago-based dynasty that’s known for its ties to the Churchill Downs racetrack and traditionally votes Republican. Carole Brown, Chicago’s former chief financial officer under then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, attended as a member of the club.

Pat Greco, wearing a red hat with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan and a dark suit, stood out in the ballroom. The 32-year-old corporate attorney said it was his first Trump event, though he had met the former president once before.

“I was shocked he was coming, to be honest,” Greco said before Trump started speaking.

Trump is banking on a similar reception from voters, who are already casting their ballots in what polls forecast to be a razor-thin contest with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris three weeks before Election Day.

Federal Reserve

Trump indicated he would pursue many of the norm-smashing tactics of his first term were he returned to the Oval Office, including seeking greater influence at the Federal Reserve.

While the former president sidestepped a question about whether he would seek to remove Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, he said it was fair game for a president to tell the central bank’s chief how he thinks interest rates should change.

“If you’re a very good president with good sense, you should be able to at least talk to him,” Trump said, adding that he did not believe a president should be able to mandate change.

Trump also mocked the job of running the Fed.

“It’s the greatest job in government,” Trump said. “You show up to the office once a month and you say, ‘let’s say flip a coin’ and everybody talks about you like you’re a God.”

Federal Deficit

Trump also dismissed concerns over the federal deficit, long a focus of Republican presidential campaigns, arguing without evidence that the totality of his economic platform would outpace the cost to taxpayers.

The former president has vowed to carry out an aggressive campaign of deregulation, renew expiring tax cuts, lower the corporate tax rate to 15% from 21%, and offer fresh tax reductions and benefits to bolster domestic manufacturing — policies cheered by prominent Wall Street and corporate leaders.

But the proposals would cost trillions of dollars and threaten to worsen a US federal deficit that’s already historically large. Some investors are betting Trump’s policies will leave the US saddled with more debt and higher inflation and interest rates. America’s annual deficit is already close to $2 trillion.

Trump has sought to offset some of those costs by threatening across-the-board tariffs, which he aims to impose on both US allies and adversaries, including a 60% levy on imports from China and 10% duties on the rest of the world.

Trump said the tariffs would help “tremendously” in preventing China and other countries from flooding the US with products that threatened key industries, like the auto sector.

But economists say tariffs are unlikely to create the revenue he needs. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates the tariffs could raise over $200 billion a year. The US took in an estimated $4.9 trillion in revenue in fiscal 2024.

Trump dismissed those projections, saying doubters were simply “wrong” about the impact of tariffs.

“We will grow,” he said. “The only way you can do it is through the threat of tariffs.”

Unproven Assertions

Occasionally testy exchanges included many of the unproven assertions or falsehoods that have peppered Trump’s campaign events, from inaccurate claims about the number of undocumented migrants who have been convicted of murder to claiming fraud was to blame for his defeat in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

On migration, Trump acknowledged the concerns of business owners worried his proposed immigration raids could shrink the labor supply, but indicated he would replace those migrants with people coming into the country legally.

“I want a lot of people to come into our country but I want them to come in legally,” Trump said.

During his first term, Trump proposed immigration policies that would have reduced the number of immigrants entering the country and prioritized high-skill workers, which economists warned could impact industries currently reliant on migrant labor.

Capitol assault

US Steel, Google

Trump-Putin relationship

Source: The edge markets

Three of Southeast Asia’s biggest economies will unveil monetary policy decisions from 3pm Malaysian time on Wednesday, influenced by everything from politics, inflation and currency volatility to geopolitical risks.

Bank Indonesia last month surprised markets with an early rate cut, but recent rupiah weakness means a majority of analysts expect officials to hold. The Philippine central bank has strongly flagged it will keep lowering rates. And the Bank of Thailand (BOT) is expected to continue defying government calls to cut borrowing costs, despite weak growth and inflation that’s below the bottom of its target range.

All three nations are highly sensitive to the health of the global economy. But they are also diverse: Indonesia has clout in commodities; Thailand has large tourism and manufacturing sectors; and the Philippines is home to a vast outsourcing industry serving global companies. The general consensus is for policymakers to hold or cut on Wednesday, with rate hikes virtually off the table

Indonesia

Bank Indonesia will keep the benchmark rate at 6%, according to 30 of 41 economists in a Bloomberg News survey, with the rest expecting another 25-basis-point cut. Bloomberg Economics is one of those seeing a quarter point as possible.

In September, policymakers in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy embarked on an easing cycle ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) move. But renewed market volatility, fuelled by weaker US economic data and Middle East tensions, may lead emerging markets to be more cautious in moving lower. The rupiah has dropped more than 2% against the dollar this month, forcing the central bank to intervene in markets for the first time in months.

So policymakers led by governor Perry Warjiyo may hold this month and ease later in the quarter, according to DBS Bank economist Radhika Rao. “It will be a close call,” she said.

In general, the central bank is unlikely to reverse its easing stance. Low inflation and subdued consumption support the case for further rate cuts to help domestic demand, said Brian Lee, an economist at Maybank Securities Pte Ltd, who expects rate cuts to be deferred to November and December.

With near record-high foreign exchange reserves, Bank Indonesia may rely more on market intervention to stem any further rupiah declines. It may also need to keep the yields on its rupiah-denominated securities attractive to lure enough foreign inflows to keep the currency stable.

Philippines

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Eli Remolona told Bloomberg News earlier this month that he expects quarter-point cuts at each meeting, for a total 175-basis-point reduction by the end of 2025.

Inflation fell to its lowest in four years in September, thanks to slower increases in the prices of rice and other food items. Some 24 of 26 economists in a Bloomberg survey expect BSP to cut its target reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 6%, the lowest since February 2023.

“What can make BSP step back from sustained rate cuts are the risks of worsening global oil prices and if the Fed slows on easing,” said Angelo Taningco, the chief economist and head of research at Security Bank Corp, adding that he expects both BSP and the Fed to make two 25-basis-point cuts this quarter and another 100 basis points next year.

The Philippine peso has fallen about 4% against the US dollar this year, but recent foreign flows into the local stock market have limited losses. The relatively stable currency and tepid economic growth are other reasons for BSP to continue to ease. It lowered the reserve requirement ratio to 7% for big lenders, pulling another lever to support the economy.

Thailand

Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will likely resist the government’s rate cut calls once again and keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5%, the highest level since 2013, for the sixth straight time, according to 22 of 27 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Five predict a quarter of a percentage point cut.

“Financial stability and high levels of household debt have been the cornerstone of the MPC’s decision making until now, helping it push back on government’s and financial markets’ calls for easing,” said Shreya Sodhani, a regional economist at Barclays plc, who expects the central bank to stand pat this year. “The MPC now needs to walk a fine line to balance the trade-off between financial stability and its impact on growth.”

Still, many economists including Standard Chartered plc see a growing possibility of a cut either at this meeting or the next, given a slew of factors including the subdued growth outlook, below-target inflation, and political and private sector pressure. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul said earlier this month a 25-basis-point cut would be a good start, adding he thinks the central bank will cut rates this year.

Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Sanan Angubolkul said on Oct 9 that lower borrowing costs would help businesses grappling with high expenses and a strong baht. The local currency gained 14% in the third quarter, making the nation’s exports more expensive compared to competitors.

The government is separately pushing to raise the 2025 inflation target from the 1% to 3% range to 1.5% to 3.5%, people familiar have said. There has also been manoeuvring to place Kittiratt Na-Ranong, a critic of the BOT’s hawkish monetary policy and a ruling party loyalist, in the key role of chairman, which could add pressure on governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput.

The governor underscored the importance of independence in setting monetary policy last month. He also said decisions will be guided by the outlook for domestic economic and financial conditions and inflation. One of his predecessors, Tarisa Watanagase, warned that government meddling could have “disastrous consequences” for Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

Source: The edge markets

[Quick Facts]

[News Details]

[Today's Focus]

Japanese food and beverage operator Food Innovators Holdings (FIH) commenced trading under the code “KYB” on the Catalist board on Oct 16.

It opened at $0.20 or 9.1 per cent below its initial public offering price (IPO) of $0.22 a share.

FIH’s trading debut comes a day after the company announced that its IPO closed with 14 million of its new shares fully subscribed at $0.22 apiece.

It comprised 13 million placement shares and one million public shares, representing 10.8 per cent of the company’s total number of shares.

There were 264 valid applications for a total of 6.3 million public shares. Since there were one million shares available to the public for subscription, this translates to a subscription rate of 6.3 times.

All 13 million placement shares were also fully allotted, including 47,000 shares to chief executive Yasuaki Kubota.

The proceeds from the IPO will go towards funding the expansion of FIH’s food retail business within and outside Japan. It will also be used to purchase new Japanese food brands and for general working capital.

FIH, incorporated in 2019, has two main business pillars – food retail in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, and restaurant leasing and subleasing in Japan.

Under food retail, FIH owns and operates restaurant concepts. It also helps Japanese food concepts expand into other markets.

FIH recorded $1.4 million in net profit in FY2024, reversing from a loss of $3.4 million in the preceding financial year. Its FY2024 revenue was $43.8 million, up 10.3 per cent.

Its listing comes as another Catalist-listed restaurant operator, RE&S, is set to be delisted.

RE&S, which runs yakiniku chain Yakiniku-Go and doughnut chain Mister Donut, is expected to be delisted on Oct 17, after the company agreed to a buy-out offer from a unit of private equity firm Southern Capital Group.

Source: Straitstimes

Key Highlights

WTI Crude Oil price started a fresh decline from the $78.80 resistance.

A connecting bearish trend line is forming with resistance at $72.80 on the 4-hour chart.

Gold could aim for more gains above the $2,670 level.

Bitcoin could accelerate higher if it settles above $66,500 and $67,000.

WTI Crude Oil Price Technical Analysis

WTI Crude Oil price rally stalled near the $78.80 resistance zone. The price started a fresh decline and traded below the $75.00 level.

Looking at the 4-hour chart of XTI/USD, the price settled below the $73.20 level, the 100 simple moving average (red, 4-hour), and the 200 simple moving average (green, 4-hour). The bears were able to push the price below the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $66.94 swing low to the $78.78 high.

The bulls are now trying to protect the $69.75 support. It is close to the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $66.94 swing low to the $78.78 high.

On the downside, the first major support sits near the $68.50 zone. A daily close below $68.50 could open the doors for a larger decline. The next major support is $65.50. Any more losses might send oil prices toward $60.00 in the coming days.

On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $72.2 level. The next major resistance is near the $72.80 zone. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $72.80 on the same chart, above which the price may perhaps accelerate higher.

In the stated case, it could even visit the $76.00 resistance. Any more gains might call for a test of the $78.80 resistance zone in the near term.

Looking at Gold, the price is still showing a lot of positive signs and might aim for more upsides above the $2,670 level.

Economic Releases to Watch Today

US Import Price Index for Sep 2024 (MoM) – Forecast -0.3%, versus -0.3% previous.

US Export Price Index for Sep 2024 (MoM) – Forecast -0.4%, versus -0.7% previous.

Macro: