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Can decide on Monday, Andy :) Lol, no pun intended. If you can recalled our conversations previously that I have rebalanced my QES position starting end of last year. I am waiting for lower thirties opportunities which has yet to appear.
Go slow on tech stocks unless it is really cheap from valuation perspectives due to upcoming volatile months - tariffs discussions (baseline 10%, paused reciprocal tariffs, sector specific tariffs - auto, steel, solar, pharma, and even country specific tariffs), interest rates decision by US Fed (Jun, July, Sep) and the tax bill currently being debated which should be decided by Aug probably.
The external headwinds mentioned above will dampen the sentiment. As for QES results, didn't see anything alarming apart from lower revenue and hence lower PAT. The revenue is kinda low for Q1 and Singapore geo dropped quite a bit. No idea whether it's the tariffs impact or sector specific impact - need to observe further.
And a stronger Q3 in the making with a strong export number for Malaysia in July probably? SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Malaysia’s overall exports in July jumped by 6.8% year on year, due to front-loaded shipments before the US’ reciprocal tariffs took effect on 7 August.
The export growth reversed two months of contraction and was primarily driven by a 22.5% year on year jump in electrical & electronic (E&E) exports, preliminary official data showed on 19 August. Total imports in July grew 0.6% year on year, resulting in a trade surplus of ringgit (M$) 14.98 billion ($3.54 billion).
July exports to the US grew 3.8% year on year to M$18.47 billion amid higher exports of E&E products, manufactures of metal and rubber products. Exports to other major trading partners such as mainland China (6.8% year on year), Singapore (22.2%) and Taiwan (46.6%) also grew in July amid front-loading of shipments.
Chemical and chemical product exports shrank 10.7% year on year in July.
Although Malaysia’s prospects were boosted by the US reducing ‘reciprocal’ tariffs to 19% from 25% previously, its trade outlook is still subject to downside risks for the rest of the year, said Singapore-based UOB Global Economics & Markets Research in a note on 19 August.
Uncertainty persists regarding US-China trade talks after reciprocal tariffs were further suspended to 10 November, and the effect of 19% tariffs will be reflected starting this month, UOB said.
In light of these downside risks, the bank kept its 2025 full-year export growth forecast at 3.8% tentatively, down from the country’s 5.8% shipment growth in 2024.