Joel Phua

Research Analyst, Research & Portfolio Management, iFAST Singapore

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ETF spotlight: Asia ex-Japan is up 26% this year — Here's why the rally may not be overETFs

ETF spotlight: Asia ex-Japan is up 26% this year — Here's why the rally may not be over

From AI-driven semiconductor demand in Taiwan and South Korea to emerging AI monetisation in China and resilient earnings in Singapore, Asia ex-Japan offers multiple sources of growth. The iShares Core MSCI Asia ex Japan ETF offers a cost-efficient and highly liquid way to capture these opportunities across the region.

By Joel Phua | 03 Sep 2026 |928 Views
Fund spotlight: PineBridge’s lifecycle-informed, factor-based approach to US equities Funds

Fund spotlight: PineBridge’s lifecycle-informed, factor-based approach to US equities

PineBridge combines lifecycle analysis with Valuation, Quality and Sentiment signals to pursue alpha across market conditions without materially straying from the S&P 500.

By Joel Phua | 02 Sep 2026 |525 Views
US PCE inflation stalls at 3.7%: What it means for portfolio positioningMacro Research

US PCE inflation stalls at 3.7%: What it means for portfolio positioning

US inflation remains well above the Fed’s 2% target, with several upside risks potentially keeping rates higher for longer. We assess what sticky inflation and signs of softer consumer momentum mean for portfolio positioning.

By Joel Phua | 31 Aug 2026 |3250 Views
Lam Research: AI capex and rising chip complexity drive a multi-year growth runwayStocks

Lam Research: AI capex and rising chip complexity drive a multi-year growth runway

As capital pours into AI infrastructure, chipmakers need advanced manufacturing equipment to turn that spending into capacity. Lam Research supplies the deposition, etch and clean technologies at the heart of that process, giving it direct exposure to the AI build-out.

By Joel Phua | 31 Aug 2026 |2116 Views
Digital Core REIT's portfolio shift: More Asia, lower leverage, 4.1% DPU upliftStocks

Digital Core REIT's portfolio shift: More Asia, lower leverage, 4.1% DPU uplift

By doubling Digital Core REIT’s Asia-Pacific footprint and reducing aggregate leverage by nearly 300 basis points, the proposed capital recycling exercise delivers the stronger sponsor support unitholders have long been seeking.

By Joel Phua | 20 Aug 2026 |4311 Views
Eli Lilly 2Q26 earnings: GLP-1 dominance holds despite slow Foundayo launchStocks

Eli Lilly 2Q26 earnings: GLP-1 dominance holds despite slow Foundayo launch

Eli Lilly’s latest results reinforce its leadership in the GLP-1 market, despite concerns over the slow uptake of its oral obesity drug Foundayo.

By Joel Phua | 07 Aug 2026 |474 Views
US 2Q26 earnings review: Strong earnings beats, but valuations keep us underweightMacro Research

US 2Q26 earnings review: Strong earnings beats, but valuations keep us underweight

S&P 500 earnings growth accelerated sharply in 2Q26, reinforcing the resilience of corporate America despite higher costs and interest rates. We examine where earnings strength is translating into sustainable opportunities — and why we remain selective within US equities.

By Joel Phua | 06 Aug 2026 |877 Views
Alphabet 2Q26 earnings: Free cash flow turns negative. Should investors be worried?Stocks

Alphabet 2Q26 earnings: Free cash flow turns negative. Should investors be worried?

Alphabet’s aggressive AI infrastructure spending is pushing free cash flow into negative territory, but strong growth across Cloud and Search suggests these investments could be laying the foundation for substantial long-term monetisation.

By Joel Phua | 05 Aug 2026 |3947 Views
Digital Core REIT 1H26: Stable DPU and 7.3% yield offer a cushion while growth catalysts awaitStocks

Digital Core REIT 1H26: Stable DPU and 7.3% yield offer a cushion while growth catalysts await

While a temporary income gap at Linton Hall has paused near-term distribution growth, robust 25% rental reversions and strategic unit buybacks underscore the portfolio's underlying resilience.

By Joel Phua | 04 Aug 2026 |676 Views
Meta 2Q26 earnings: AI monetisation may take longer, yet the sell-off offers 89% upside potential Stocks

Meta 2Q26 earnings: AI monetisation may take longer, yet the sell-off offers 89% upside potential

While investors may have been disappointed by Meta’s selective approach to leasing out its AI compute capacity, the company is building several new avenues to monetise AI across its ecosystem.

By Joel Phua | 03 Aug 2026 |3877 Views