Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF

ASEA

Market cap $69.5M

By 2030, global trends will be dominated by AI, electrification, renewable energy, and demographic shifts (retired baby boomers), shaping investment opportunities and risks. Equity markets, especially US and AI-related stocks, are currently overvalued; investors should prepare a shopping list for quality ETFs and stocks to buy after downturns. Top ETFs span global, US, Asia, India, renewables, EVs, aging demographics, lithium, gold, and silver, balancing growth and defensive themes.

Among APAC equity markets, Australia has a higher beta to oil prices while India, Indonesia and Thailand have lower betas. Domestic political uncertainties have been one main reason for the decoupling trend seen in Indonesia and Thailand.

The Global X Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) invests in large, liquid equities in Southeast Asia, with a 3.2% dividend yield and $60 million AUM. ASEA tracks the FTSE Asean 40 Index, focusing on major companies in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. A significant downside is the lack of diversification, with the top 5 companies comprising over 40% of total assets, increasing volatility.

After experiencing GDP growth of 4.2% in 2023, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' growth rate is forecast to accelerate to 4.6% and 4.8% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The region's diverse economies, demographic dividend, and improving education and labor force participation offer significant opportunities for investors across multiple sectors and countries. Structural changes like nearshoring and market-friendly reforms are enhancing ASEAN's attractiveness as a manufacturing hub and investment destination, benefiting from lower bond yields.

While the China macro story of ongoing transition is a headwind to the rest of Asia, there is more to the region's economic health than this.

The total nominal GDP of the ten ASEAN nations measured in US dollar terms amounted to USD 3.6 trillion in 2022, more than doubling compared with total GDP of USD 1.6 trillion in 2009. Singapore's GDP growth rate improved to a pace of 2.8% y/y in the fourth quarter of 2023 according to the advance estimate of GDP from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

With moderating inflation levels in most Asian countries and great growth potential in the medium to long term, investing in Emerging Asian countries can prove beneficial.