The 2014 All-Asia Research Team: Economics, No. 3: Taimur Baig, Michael Spencer & team

Taimur Baig, Michael Spencer & team
Deutsche Bank

First-place appearances: 1

Total appearances: 9

Team debut: 2004

At No. 3 is Deutsche Bank’s team of six analysts, which falls from second place. From their base in Hong Kong, Michael Spencer and newcomer Taimur Baig co-captain a squad that covers 12 countries and wins acclaim from investors for “reports that are well-written, easy-to-read and practical,” as one loyalist puts it. “Honestly, some houses have economists writing these incredibly dense economic treatises. Their reports are timely, accessible and focused on the investment implications of economic trends.” For their part the researchers are cautiously optimistic and anticipate that Chinese equities, in particular, will deliver surprisingly good results, benefiting from a reduction in risk thanks to stronger-than-expected growth. At a regional level, they anticipate that exports will drive recovery, supported by the rebounds in Europe and the U.S. Headwinds to more robust growth, however, include higher bond yields and rising short-term interest rates over time, which could be crippling as elevated borrowing costs drive down property prices. In this context, the team generally favors cyclical stocks.

See also Michael Spencer’s profile in the 2013 All-Asia Research Team and the 2012 All-Asia Research Team.

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