F. Yap Securities / 2TradeAsia

From inflation, attention would shift to 1Q25 GDP data, expected to be released Thursday.

The market might be receptive to April’s inflation (1.4% vs March’s 1.8%), & likely to switch attention to the local central bank’s policy response.

Similar pattern may be seen, as fund managers await for results from the Fed’s policy meeting.

Market’s attention might sway to the Fed’s policy move on 06-07 May meeting, plus the release of Philippine 1Q GDP on 08 May.

Sentiment might take its cue from expectations for possible 100bps rate cut from the Fed following frail 1Q GDP in the US (-0.3%).

Gauges might finish on the plus-side, with latest headlines on tariff relief packages for the US auto industry, & Fitch’s affirmation of investment grade on the Philippines.

Similar trend from prior session might prevail, as investors shape their portfolio for the month-end repositioning.

Continuity of Friday’s advance is seen, as countries worldwide prepare countervailing measures to weather-out uncertainties from the US-China tariff standoff.

Expect volatile trades as April comes to a close, on month-end portfolio balancing.

Sentiment might take its cue from assurances of negotiations on the US-China tariff standoff, while heeding for 1Q corporate earnings guidance from largecaps.

Sentiment could sway to Wall Street’s overnight rebound, with 1Q corporate earnings in sequence.

Participants might monitor reactions to Wall Street’s overnight decline, with Trump’s latest social media tirade on the Fed.

Fund managers will sift through headlines during the Lenten break, to gauge follow-through appetite from investors spotting for bargains.

Expect volatile sessions, as participants sift through the market’s response to BSP’s policy easing, while focusing on China-US trade levy retaliation moves.

Pres. Trump’s 90-day suspension of tariffs across countries save for China, is the main theme that would support bargain hunting across equities markets in the region.