CLSA Head of Thematic Research, Amar Gill gives us a regional perspective on the following: 

- impact of US, Eurozone risk on ASEAN growth

- how much of FDI headed to SEA would target Malaysia

- how much of a concern inflation is

- ASEAN trading link - possible targets for M&A in financial sector

- Malaysians' buying power vs Singaporeans - how and when gap will be narrowed 

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Today on Market Watch, we speak to Dodge O. Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor and Fuest Capital Managers. He discusses whether the US stock markets are on the upswing or if a correction is on the horizon. He also shares his expectations on the flurry of housing data due out this week, and talks about FedEx's quarterly report as a bellwether for the broader US economy. 

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Craig Chan, Head of FX Strategy, Asia ex-Japan, at Nomura Singapore talks about

- expectations for the Yuan, after China Premier Wen Jiabao said he'd let the currency float more freely

- risk appetite for Emerging Market currencies

- USD-RM, questions sustainability of dollar strength

- near term risk for RM, why possibly USD/RM at 3 in six months

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Tim Mulholland, Managing Director, China-America Capital Company, Chicago, discusses:

- Strong US data - good times back US;
- China - Japan - Hong Kong - increasing US Treasury holdings - interpret;
- Major selloff in bonds - whether Fed - further quantitative easing;
- “The big debate" - whether beginning massive switch out of Treasurys and bonds and into equities;
- Apple - Jobs' Departure - Skyrocketing share price - phenomenon;
- Expose on "toxic" Goldman Sachs culture

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OSK Research Head Chris Eng, talked about managing election risk, short term and long term, and whether it's too late to get on the consumer stock bandwagon. Discussed: 

- Padini - at RM1.50 today, OSK Research target price at RM1.80

- Johore Tin - OSK Research is the only house with a BUY call on this stock at RM1.51

- QL Resources - OSK Research has a BUY call on this stock at RM3.64

He also commented on a Goldman Sachs ED colume in Wednesday's IHT, citing how the client has ceased to be the focal point of the business - making money is. Chris Eng tells us which is it locally: client first or money. 

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Today on Market Watch, we speak to Ben LeBrun, Market Analyst and Commentator at Options Express in Sydney. He discusses:

--  Moody's warned that the growth in demand for steel in China was set to slow to 5.7 percent this year, nearly half of the average of the last three years. Analysts expect that the slowdown will have a major effect on Australian coal and iron ore exports, which account for 60 percent of the country's income from exports. Ben discusses the how this will probably hurt the Australia's two-speed economy. 

--  It should have a significant impact on the revenue of the miners like Fortescue Metals Group, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton -- but so far, it look like full steam ahead for them, especially Fortescue, which just commenced a successful round of debt raising. 

--  Ben says the mining tax, which is being furiously debated in parliament -- will live or die with the current government. 

--  And the Australian rare earths sector has inadvertently received a boost because of China's restrictions on its exports of the materials. But now a complaint has been lodged at the WTO against China -- and this could potentially force the Chinese to loosen their chokehold on rare earth. Ben says this will definitely have implications for Australian rare earths miners, like Lynas. Find out more about this interesting story. 

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Fadhli Ikram, Vice President/Head of Islamic & Institutional Dealings at Jupiter Securities on expectations for KLCI today, why he likes Catcha Media despite low volumes, property websites mushrooming and Dutch Lady, even at 52-week highs. 

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Today on Market Watch, Michael A. Yoshikami, Founder & CEO of Destination Wealth Management in San Francisco discusses:

--  Retail sales recorded their largest gain in five months in February, up 1.1%, despite rising gas prices. Economists say the February numbers will have them raising their estimates for first quarter GDP. Michael says the data reflects an improving economy, particularly in discount retailers, like WalMart and Costco. However, he adds that gasoline prices are the headwinds that the US has to be concerned about. 

--  At the FOMC meeting yesterday, the US Federal Reserve kept policy on hold and gave a more optimistic outlook for the economy, but gave no hint that further monetary easing is on its way. No surprises there, Michael says. The Fed is more concerned about avoiding a double dip recession than infation at this point. 

--  Yesterday the S&P500 was at its highest level since June 2008, up 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite was trading at a 12 year high, above 3,000. Michael says the rally is set to continue but points out that the higher market sentiment was not just about what the Fed had to say but more in anticipation of the banks' stress tests. 

--  The US, along with the European Union and Japan, have formally asked the World Trade Organization to settle a dispute with China over its restrictions on exports of raw materials, including rare earth. Tensions between the US and China have been mounting as election-year politics in the US put China trade ties in the spotlight. But no all-out trade war looming, according to Michael, as the US has been down this road many times before. China and the US need each other to grow its respective economies. 

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Ahmad Maghfur Usman, OSK Research Analyst talked about his upgraded call for the automotive sector from Underweight to Neutral. Addressed DRB Hicom's denial of plans to re-badge any car models into Proton, not much upside to this sector, vehicle sales for the year, why UMW (BUY at RM7.88) and MBM Resources (BUY at RM5.34) are his top picks. 

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Joe Quinlan, MD and Chief Market Strategist at US Trust-Bank of America Private Wealth Management in New York., discusses:

- US Data - upturn - jobs market - recovery issues;
- Impressions - US equities trading - thinnest levels in 2012;
- Chinese hints - Yuan - approaching fair value - thereby halting its six-year appreciation;
- Europe - Portuguese yielding <13 percent - Why;
- Airbus - six large European airlines - EU plans - charge carbon pollution jeopardising jobs - China orders - implications;

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