'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/527/original/2020-11-14_11-37-16.png?1605390226" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171527"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan Analytics</div></section><p><strong>EUPHORIC UP VOLUME</strong> - In the wake of the US election, volume reached the highest levels since March this week and the 'breakout' of the deeply-flawed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 </a>index attracted some attention.</p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-stock-exchange-tokyo-price-index-topix" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22910:1" rel="noopener"></a><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/528/original/2020-11-14_11-41-14.png?1605390632" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171528"></p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"></figure></section><p><strong>LOWER HIGHS</strong> - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-stock-exchange-tokyo-price-index-topix" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22910:1" rel="noopener">Topix</a> has a few more false summits to overcome to return to the 1980s. A failure to rise above the 2019 high would result in a technically-unhelpful third 'lower high'. Meanwhile, the Yen continues to drift higher against the US dollar. A breach of the ¥100 level would not be supportive of further market upside.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/534/original/2020-11-15_07-35-54.png?1605393369" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171534"></figure></section><p><strong>RSI &gt;80</strong> - The 5-day Relative Strenght Index also rallied to above 80 for only the third time this year, and suggests a period of consolidation is ahead.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/538/original/2020-11-15_07-45-36.png?1605394410" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171538"></figure></section><p><strong>DISCONNECTED</strong> - Unusally, the RSI peak was not matched by a corresponding peak in the Toraku advance/decline ratio. This rally is narrowly concentrated and vulnerable to correction without a broader base of support. Absolute breadth has been steadily falling since the beginning of September and is a bearish signal for the market overall.</p><p><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/539/original/2020-11-14_11-30-48.png?1605394669" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171539"></p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/540/original/2020-11-14_09-56-01.png?1605395057" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171540"></figure></section><p><strong>TOPIX SMALL LAGS AGAIN</strong> - Lastly, the spread between TOPIX and TOPIX Small has fallen to close to a six-month low suggesting an over-concentration in index 'heavyweights'.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/541/original/2020-11-15_08-10-28.png?1605395444" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171541"></figure></section><p><strong>NOT CHEAP</strong> - With only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/recruit-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15070:1" rel="noopener">Recruit (6098 JP)</a> left to report among large caps, the mostly-interim results 'season' has concluded. Trailing operating income has reached a six-year low of ¥40 trillion and a further 10% decline is projected over the next four months. More optimistically, forecast Net Income is within ¥0.5 trillion of the trailing total and has risen by ¥1.8 trillion over the last week. Trailing and forecast multiples are just above 30 times and discount a return to a pre-COVID economy by the summer. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/582/original/2020-11-15_12-53-24.png?1605412418" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171582"></figure></section><p><strong>TURNING THE TIDE</strong> - As in the past, the Cabinet Office Leading Indicator bottomed out in sync (allowing for the reporting lag) with the bottoming out of trailing and forecast earnings momentum for our cap-weighted universe of listed companies. A forthcoming Insight will review the Sector, Peer Group and company highlights of the lastest results and revisions.</p><hr><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• BEST &amp; WORST •</strong></p></div><div>
<p>Our best and worst pairing from Friday's announcements is IT security specialist <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/change-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27414:1" rel="noopener">Change (3962 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/olympus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:356:1" rel="noopener">Olympus (7733 JP)</a>.</p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/583/original/2020-11-15_13-06-16.png?1605413211" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171583"></figure></section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/171/584/original/2020-11-15_13-07-40.png?1605413274" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="171584"></figure></section><div>
<hr>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DAILY STATS</strong></p>
<hr>
</div>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>540 Quarterly Results</strong></p></div>
<div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Results Score:</strong> 42% Positive / 12% Neutral / 46% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Results Score Change:</strong> -0.3 points</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average % Change in Revenue:</strong> -7.7% Quarter YoY / -5.3% Rolling TTM YoY </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Operating Profit Margin Change:</strong> -2.4ppt</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Percentage Making Quarterly Losses:</strong> 25%</p></li>
</ul></div>
<hr>
<div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>216 Annual • 29 Interim Forecasts/Revisions</strong></p></div>
<div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><p><strong>Annual Forecast/Revision Score:</strong> 46% Positive / 14% Neutral / 40% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> 31% Positive / 17% Neutral / 52% Negative</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Average Forecast/Revision Score Change:</strong> +0.1 points</p></li>
</ul></div>
</div>

Source for all charts &amp; tables: Japan AnalyticsEUPHORIC UP VOLUME - In the wake of the US election, volume reached the highest levels since March this week and the 'breakout' of the deeply-flawed Nikkei 225 index attracted some attention.LOWER HIGHS - Topix has a few more false summits to overcome to return to the 1980s. A failure to rise above the 2019 high would result in a technically-unhelpful third 'lower high'. Meanwhile, the Yen continues to drift higher against the US dollar. A breach of the ¥100 level would not be supportive of further market upside.RSI &gt;80 - The 5-day Relative Strenght Index also rallied to above 80 for only the third time this year, and suggests a period of consolidation is ahead.DISCONNECTED - Unusally, the RSI peak was not matched by a corresponding peak in the Toraku advance/decline ratio. This rally is narrowly concentrated and vulnerable to correction without a broader base of support. Absolute breadth has been steadily falling since the beginning of September and is a bearish signal for the market overall.TOPIX SMALL LAGS AGAIN - Lastly, the spread between TOPIX and TOPIX Small has fallen to close to a six-month low suggesting an over-concentration in index 'heavyweights'.NOT CHEAP - With only Recruit (6098 JP) left to report among large caps, the mostly-interim results 'season' has concluded. Trailing operating income has reached a six-year low of ¥40 trillion and a further 10% decline is projected over the next four months. More optimistically, forecast Net Income is within ¥0.5 trillion of the trailing total and has risen by ¥1.8 trillion over the last week. Trailing and forecast multiples are just above 30 times and discount a return to a pre-COVID economy by the summer. TURNING THE TIDE - As in the past, the Cabinet Office Leading Indicator bottomed out in sync (allowing for the reporting lag) with the bottoming out of trailing and forecast earnings momentum for our cap-weighted universe of listed companies. A forthcoming Insight will review the Sector, Peer Group and company highlights of the lastest results and revisions.• BEST &amp; WORST •
Our best and worst pairing from Friday's announcements is IT security specialist Change (3962 JP) and Olympus (7733 JP).


DAILY STATS


540 Quarterly Results

Results Score: 42% Positive / 12% Neutral / 46% Negative
Average Results Score Change: -0.3 points
Average % Change in Revenue: -7.7% Quarter YoY / -5.3% Rolling TTM YoY 
Average Operating Profit Margin Change: -2.4ppt
Percentage Making Quarterly Losses: 25%


216 Annual • 29 Interim Forecasts/Revisions

Annual Forecast/Revision Score: 46% Positive / 14% Neutral / 40% Negative
Interim Forecast/Revision Score Change: 31% Positive / 17% Neutral / 52% Negative
Average Forecast/Revision Score Change: +0.1 points



🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update & Results & Revisions 11/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​13 - Euphoria!

Chart based progressive global trading strategies, Chart Partners

Thomas Schroeder

Chart based progressive global trading strategies

Chart Partners

Chart Partners objective is to discover medium-term cycle turns and profit opportunities before they unfold, within structural trends while preserving capital with clear degrees of risk. We have real return ideas. 

Markets are dynamic and trading systems must reflect this. It is crucial to determine underlying correlations and lead-lag relationships within global markets and the impact on linked instruments. Our weekly Chartonics product gives you short-term trading strategies that can be applied within the medium and longer term macro trends that are mapped out in our strategy updates. 

Our methodology fuses global market variables and isolates drivers in trends. We specialize in FX, index trade in NY and Asia with a focus on Asian stocks. 

Technical Analysis

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Technical Analysis

<p>Favored longs in A shares, ASX, Japan, Taiwan and Korea are hitting some resistance levels (to reduce longs) and sets up a fade with a focus on fresh buy supports. This fade stems from the likelihood of bull energy being deflated given Trump will contest election results and call for re counts which in turn will delay stimulus certainty and see the current euphoric rally pause as bull triangles form in the SPX and NDX (buy weakness). Fed remarks on slowing growth concerns may also throw water on this reaction spike. We like adding risk on weakness.</p><p>Shorts outlined to trade a pullback lower short term.</p>

Favored longs in A shares, ASX, Japan, Taiwan and Korea are hitting some resistance levels (to reduce longs) and sets up a fade with a focus on fresh buy supports. This fade stems from the likelihood of bull energy being deflated given Trump will contest election results and call for re counts which in turn will delay stimulus certainty and see the current euphoric rally pause as bull triangles form in the SPX and NDX (buy weakness). Fed remarks on slowing growth concerns may also throw water on this reaction spike. We like adding risk on weakness.Shorts outlined to trade a pullback lower short term.

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> has shown resilience versus US and regional sell pressure but this may be coming to an end as hiding places come under fire. A bearish rising wedge is maturing into the next push toward the 24k macro triple top (daily and weekly chart tops). There is very little upside outside the tactical bounce bet from 23,000 to re test 23,600 (which has capped numerous rally attempts).</p><p>Price rising wedge is the dominant pattern to trade and where we have been buying lower support and selling topside resistance as the rising range contracts into an axis point of inflection (to fade the top of the range with increasing odds of breaking wedge support) on the back of maturing bear divergence.</p><p>23,600-800 sell zone with ideal triple top at 24k and a downside target of 21k.</p>

Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) has shown resilience versus US and regional sell pressure but this may be coming to an end as hiding places come under fire. A bearish rising wedge is maturing into the next push toward the 24k macro triple top (daily and weekly chart tops). There is very little upside outside the tactical bounce bet from 23,000 to re test 23,600 (which has capped numerous rally attempts).Price rising wedge is the dominant pattern to trade and where we have been buying lower support and selling topside resistance as the rising range contracts into an axis point of inflection (to fade the top of the range with increasing odds of breaking wedge support) on the back of maturing bear divergence.23,600-800 sell zone with ideal triple top at 24k and a downside target of 21k.

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

<p><strong><em>*A Market With Little Discipline: </em></strong>Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all too happy to remove the moral hazard involved with excessive risk taking. This has resulted in the creation of a giant vortex of liquidity which could be as large as USD 1 quadrillion;</p><p><strong><em>*Broken Credit Ratings Agency Model:</em></strong> In our view, the credit ratings agency model is permanently broken as waterfall risks in various rated pools and tranches have become increasingly significant with the markets unable to self-regulate and regulators either unable to regulate (or told not to regulate);  and</p><p><strong><em>*SEC Far From Being Aggressive With Enforcement: </em></strong>In reality, the fines paid by Kroll/DBRS are not even a drop in the bucket compared with the USD 1.5 bn and USD 864 mn fines paid by S&amp;P (MH) and Moody's (MCO.US), respectively, to settle similar charges associated with the GFC. Whether this reflects more of a lower level of violations or a much less aggressive SEC regulator can be debated. It will be interesting to see is whether these investigations are expanded to include 2018-19 deals which appear to have even greater conflicts - particularly under Biden administration. </p>

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all too happy to remove the moral hazard involved with excessive risk taking. This has resulted in the creation of a giant vortex of liquidity which could be as large as USD 1 quadrillion;*Broken Credit Ratings Agency Model: In our view, the credit ratings agency model is permanently broken as waterfall risks in various rated pools and tranches have become increasingly significant with the markets unable to self-regulate and regulators either unable to regulate (or told not to regulate);  and*SEC Far From Being Aggressive With Enforcement: In reality, the fines paid by Kroll/DBRS are not even a drop in the bucket compared with the USD 1.5 bn and USD 864 mn fines paid by S&amp;P (MH) and Moody's (MCO.US), respectively, to settle similar charges associated with the GFC. Whether this reflects more of a lower level of violations or a much less aggressive SEC regulator can be debated. It will be interesting to see is whether these investigations are expanded to include 2018-19 deals which appear to have even greater conflicts - particularly under Biden administration. 

<p>What is becoming more apparent is the inability for US equities to see weakness stick in the face of negative news with a bullish backdrop of pending stimulus with a Democrat win gaining traction. What happens between now and November is our real focus to pinpoint cycle lows either near October 19th or late October. Delayed stimulus will unnerve markets (as will the prospect of higher corporate tax) but a clear bullish underpinning for a rally into year end.</p><div>Game plan is tactical short for lows into 19th/late October to buy risk for a rise into December and early 2021 on the back of a fresh round of stimulus. Risk to reward and liquidity favors buying weakness in coming weeks.</div><div></div><div>The widening gap between liquidity driven equities markets and the real economy will come to the surface in 2021 if with some undercurrents expected into the year end.</div><div></div><div>Asia long picks - A shares, Australia, Thailand and India.</div><div>Asia short picks - HK, Taiwan, Korea and Nikkei 24k.</div>

What is becoming more apparent is the inability for US equities to see weakness stick in the face of negative news with a bullish backdrop of pending stimulus with a Democrat win gaining traction. What happens between now and November is our real focus to pinpoint cycle lows either near October 19th or late October. Delayed stimulus will unnerve markets (as will the prospect of higher corporate tax) but a clear bullish underpinning for a rally into year end.Game plan is tactical short for lows into 19th/late October to buy risk for a rise into December and early 2021 on the back of a fresh round of stimulus. Risk to reward and liquidity favors buying weakness in coming weeks.The widening gap between liquidity driven equities markets and the real economy will come to the surface in 2021 if with some undercurrents expected into the year end.Asia long picks - A shares, Australia, Thailand and India.Asia short picks - HK, Taiwan, Korea and Nikkei 24k.

Asia Shorts and What to Buy into October Weakness

Japan

The Nikkei-225 Stock Average is a price-weighted average of 225 top-rated Japanese companies listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Nikkei Stock Average was first published on May 16, 1949, where the average price was ¥176.21 with a divisor of 225. 

Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update & Results & Revisions 11/13 - Euphoria!

EUPHORIC UP VOLUME - In the wake of the US election, volume reached the highest levels since March this week and the 'breakout' of the deeply...

Campbell Gunn

Asia Fade Levels and Fresh Long Supports

Asia is kissing key resistance levels that sets up a fade with a focus on fresh buy supports. Trump will contest election results/call for re...

Thomas Schroeder

Nikkei Rising Wedge Trade but over Owned

Nikkei 225 resilience is coming to an end as hiding places come under fire. Bearish rising wedge is maturing toward the 24k macro triple top (daily...

Thomas Schroeder

Ratings Agencies – Beyond Repair

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia Shorts and What to Buy into October Weakness

What is becoming more apparent is the inability for US equities to see weakness stick in the face of negative news with a bullish backdrop of...

Thomas Schroeder

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update & Results & Revisions 11/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​13 - Euphoria!

EUPHORIC UP VOLUME - In the wake of the US election, volume reached the highest levels since March this week and the 'breakout' of the deeply...

Campbell Gunn

Asia Fade Levels and Fresh Long Supports

Asia is kissing key resistance levels that sets up a fade with a focus on fresh buy supports. Trump will contest election results/call for re...

Thomas Schroeder

Nikkei Rising Wedge Trade but over Owned

Nikkei 225 resilience is coming to an end as hiding places come under fire. Bearish rising wedge is maturing toward the 24k macro triple top (daily...

Thomas Schroeder

Ratings Agencies – Beyond Repair

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia Shorts and What to Buy into October Weakness

What is becoming more apparent is the inability for US equities to see weakness stick in the face of negative news with a bullish backdrop of...

Thomas Schroeder

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Market Update & Results & Revisions 11/13 - Euphoria!