美国的关税公告给全球市场带来一波不确定性。尽管最初的冲击导致股市大幅回落，但在美国暂停对大多数国家的广泛关税，仅将中国作为主要加税对象后，市场情绪有所稳定。这种反复无常的政策手法令企业和投资者均感到不安，美国国债收益率也出现了异常迅速的反应。我们将密切关注贸易谈判，尤其是涉及中国的谈判，因为其结果可能在未来数月显著影响市场走势。
与此同时，美联储在经济信号混合的背景下选择维持利率不变。强劲的消费者支出和稳健的劳动力市场显示经济基础仍具韧性，但通胀压力依然存在。政治上要求降息的呼声增加了市场噪音，但美联储的下一步动作仍不确定。目前，我们将持续观察这些动态的发展，因为经济数据与政策决策之间的互动将对未来市场路径产生关键影响。
在中国，由于与美国的持续紧张关系，投资环境仍显不明朗。尽管“两会”期间宣布的财政刺激措施提供了一定支撑，包括推动消费和扶持关键产业的举措，但我们认为未来几个月仍有出台更多政策的空间。
The Fed maintained a restrictive, data-dependent stance through August and subsequently raised the federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.75-4.00% citing persistent inflationary pressures. Updated projections point to the possibility of one further increase in 2026. Elevated long-dated US Treasury yields continue to present a valuation risk particularly for growth, technology and AI-related companies, whose expected cash flows lie further in the future. At the same time, continued corporate earnings delivery and investments in strategic technologies along the tech supply chain have so far helped the global economy absorb tighter financial conditions. Strong earnings guidance from major global technology companies supports the view that investment in data centres, advanced chips and supporting infrastructure remains resilient. Within Asia, performance has diverged meaningfully across countries. Singapore remains the region’s defensible market, with strong banking profitability and wealth management inflows attracting investor interest amid global uncertainty. Taiwan and South Korea’s technology sector continues to be major beneficiaries of surging AI-related demand. On the other hand, confidence towards China’s and Indonesia’s growth outlook remains fragile. China’s slow economic momentum is a result of a weak property market and slow domestic consumption, while Indonesia’s commodity price normalisation and concerns over capital outflows weigh on sentiment. Against this backdrop, maintaining well-diversified exposure across geographies and themes remains important. We continue to be highly selective in stock selection, adhering to a disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction that prioritises quality and resilience to macroeconomic uncertainty.
Concerns around the durability of AI-related capital expenditure and intensifying competition triggered a sharp sector sell-off after a mid-July peak. Investor sentiment turned more discerning on the back of earnings season, and questions arose regarding how sustainable the AI investment pace is without eating into cash generation. Capital rotated out of semiconductors and into energy, financials and value stocks, shifting to markets and names seen as less exposed to a single-theme correction. Layered on top was renewed Middle East escalation and its effect on rates expectations. Brent crude spiked back above $100/barrel intermittently after the US reinstated a naval blockade on Iran and announced plans to impose a levy on cargo transiting Hormuz, although the levy was never implemented. This revived inflation concerns and caused markets to price a reduced likelihood of further Fed easing. Elevated US bond yields further weighed on stocks. Looking ahead, renewed conflict or another AI-related pullback could swiftly unwind recent sentiment gains and force a repricing of both rates and earnings expectations. Against this backdrop, we continue to favour a diversified, bottom-up approach that balances exposure to structural AI and technology themes with quality, less crowded names to weather through volatility.
Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., in collaboration with ACLEDA Securities Plc., successfully organized a workshop on “Golden Investment Opportunities in Securities Sector” for the Management team and staff of Forte General Insurance Plc., and Forte Life Assurance Plc., on 06 August 2026 at Forte Office, One Park Tower. The workshop provided participants with valuable insights into the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF), including its key features, investment strategy, and the opportunities available through investing in a professionally managed fund licensed by the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC). During the session, Mr. Sok Chantola, Deputy Sales & Marketing Manager of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., delivered a presentation on “Investment Value and Benefits of the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF)”, sharing knowledge on investment opportunities and the benefits of BAEF as part of Cambodia’s growing securities sector. This workshop marks another important milestone under the Strategic Partnership between Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., ACLEDA Securities Plc., Forte General Insurance Plc., and Forte Life Assurance Plc., with the aim of enhancing investment awareness, strengthening collaboration, and creating opportunities for future business growth. #BanjaranAMC #BAEF #CIS #Investment #Strategic #Financial
Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc. was honored to participate in the “Trust Forum 2026” under the theme “Trust in the Dynamics of Stakeholder System and Achievements over the Past Five Years,” organized by the Trust Regulator (TR) and presided over by H.E. Akka Pundit Sapheacha AUN Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Chairman of the Non-Bank Financial Services Authority Council, on 4 August 2026 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel. The Forum brought together senior government officials, regulators, trust-sector operators, financial institutions, and industry experts to strengthen networks, exchange insights, and shape the future of Cambodia's trust sector. Delivering the welcome address, H.E. SOK Dara, Director General of the Trust Regulator, highlighted five years of remarkable growth in Cambodia's trust sector while reaffirming ongoing efforts to foster a transparent, resilient, and sustainable ecosystem. Representing Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., Mr. Eric Loo, CEO & Executive Director of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., attended the landmark event. As a licensed fund management company in Cambodia, Banjaran AMC remains committed to working alongside and supporting our Trustee partners, driving collaboration, strengthening market confidence, and supporting the long-term growth of the financial and investment landscape.
Central banks broadly maintained a data-dependent stance through the period and remained watchful even as global energy-driven inflation eased. The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to price stability even as growth prospects softened, while the European Central Bank similarly balanced improving headline inflation against still-elevated services prices. Closer to home, the Monetary Authority of Singapore raised its 2026 core inflation forecast on concerns that persistent price pressures could dampen household spending. The Hormuz disruption has driven inflation fears that outweigh traditional safe-haven demand. Gold and silver have moved in an unusual, counterintuitive pattern, falling rather than rallying as fighting escalated. In equities, investor sentiment shifted markedly as the AI-led rally that dominated the first half of the year gave way to a bout of volatility, prompting some rotation into value and cyclicals. Asian equities showed sharp dispersion rather than uniform resilience. In July 2026, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng emerged as the standout performer on continued strength in Chinese technology and AI names, while South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei slipped from June’s rebound as the memory-chip optimism and AI trade cooled. Looking ahead, markets remain caught between two competing narratives, a genuine easing of geopolitical and energy-driven inflation pressure, against the risk of renewed hostilities or a resurgence in AI-related volatility, which could quickly reverse recent gains in sentiment and reprice rate expectations. Against this backdrop, we continue to favour a diversified, bottom-up approach that balances exposure to structural AI and technology themes with quality, less crowded names to weather through volatility.
Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., in collaboration with ACLEDA Securities Plc., successfully organized the Workshop on "Golden Investment Opportunities in Securities" as part of the 3rd Round Roadshow at ACLEDA Bank Plc., Local Branch (Khan Tuol Kouk, Sangkat Boeng Kak Ti Muoy), on the morning of 01 August 2026. The workshop aimed to enhance public understanding of capital market investments and the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF), a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS). We sincerely appreciate the support of our partners and the active participation of all attendees. Special thanks to Mr. Sok Chantola, Deputy Sales & Marketing Manager of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc., on the topic “Investment Value and Benefits of the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF)”. We look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming events.
