Global Head of Research, Smartkarma

Mark Artherton

Global Head of Research

Ecstrat

Ecstrat is a consultancy advising on asset allocation between global equity markets, with a focus on the intersection of governments, geopolitics, governance and markets.
 
Over the past few years and more especially since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), investors have become more focused on short-term market movements and real-time returns and have consequently neglected the analysis of the underlying structural themes that underpin longer term performance.
​
More specifically we believe that the evolution of governance-based relationships between investors, controlling shareholders, labour and the state is one of the primary determinants of both relative and absolute performance between individual equity markets.
 
We will endeavour to provide investors with some of the context surrounding governance-related issues which encompass many different disciplines including history, economics and political science, as well as the financial metrics which are the most obvious manifestation of the structural characteristics of each market.
 
We will pay particular attention to the shifts and potential inflection points for governance in individual markets as these are often the best lead indicators for both economic and market performance.

Macroeconomics

<div class="content-highlight"><ul>
<li>Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle.  2015 is no exception.</li>
<li>The latest data releases support the view of a stimulus led recovery in China.  Kicking the 'reform' can down the road for a little while.</li>
<li>Unfortunately the impulse value of each stimulus is diminishing.</li>
<li>Due to the precipitous declines in commodities markets prior to this round of stimulus the commodities markets will behave differently from…</li>
</ul></div>


Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle.  2015 is no exception.
The latest data releases support the view of a stimulus led recovery in China.  Kicking the 'reform' can down the road for a little while.
Unfortunately the impulse value of each stimulus is diminishing.
Due to the precipitous declines in commodities markets prior to this round of stimulus the commodities markets will behave differently from…


Hao Wang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

We have quite a few market surprises this year, especially from China, not to mention those from Middle East. Here I would like to mention a <a href="http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2016-01/04/nw.D110000renmrb_20160104_1-02.htm" target="_blank">very important article</a> published on the front page and the whole second page on People's Daily on Jan 4th. Though the article is only in Chinese and not covered by most of the foreign media, it gives probably the best explanation of the so-called supply-side reform and more importantly the intentions of top leaders on economic policies. Given that most of…

We have quite a few market surprises this year, especially from China, not to mention those from Middle East. Here I would like to mention a very important article published on the front page and the whole second page on People's Daily on Jan 4th. Though the article is only in Chinese and not covered by most of the foreign media, it gives probably the best explanation of the so-called supply-side reform and more importantly the intentions of top leaders on economic policies. Given that most of…

What You Might Have Missed but Should Not on China's Supply-Side Reform

Ex-Buyside Principal, now doing Independent Secondary Research on Indian Equities

Pawan Sachdeva

In preparing this insight, I have tried to compare ACC (as an Indian Cement Sector Proxy) to Holcim and Anhui Conch. &nbsp;<div><ul><li>I discuss Long Term trends of cement pricing in India, environmental issues and relative cost structures.&nbsp; </li><li>I believe that this work might aid fund managers / analysts in deriving a better view on the cement sector.&nbsp; </li><li>Cement Company Managements can also use this as an analysis framework to benchmark their own performance.&nbsp; </li><li>Lastly, I also try to raise thoughts on whether 2015-2020 is like 2003-2008 for the Indian stock market.&nbsp;</li></ul><blockquote>My work examines publicly available data spanning 15 years, going back to 1999.&nbsp;</blockquote></div>

In preparing this insight, I have tried to compare ACC (as an Indian Cement Sector Proxy) to Holcim and Anhui Conch. &nbsp;I discuss Long Term trends of cement pricing in India, environmental issues and relative cost structures.&nbsp; I believe that this work might aid fund managers / analysts in deriving a better view on the cement sector.&nbsp; Cement Company Managements can also use this as an analysis framework to benchmark their own performance.&nbsp; Lastly, I also try to raise thoughts on whether 2015-2020 is like 2003-2008 for the Indian stock market.&nbsp;My work examines publicly available data spanning 15 years, going back to 1999.&nbsp;

ACC, Holcim & Anhui Conch: A Cross-Country Benchmarking Study of Cement Sector Leaders

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 5th June, Chinese cement play <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-china-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3374:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement China (743 HK)</a> announced a rubbish HK$3.22/share Offer from its parent <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asia-cement-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15350:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement (1102 TT)</a>.</li>
<li>This best &amp; final cash Offer was a ~ 45% premium to undisturbed, and a 37% discount to FY23's net cash. It's a 39% discount to 1H24's net cash.</li>
<li>The<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0802/2024080201151.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Scheme Doc</a> is now out, with a 26th August independent shareholder vote. And payment (if it were to occur) on 20th September. The IFA (unsurprisingly) says fair and reasonable. </li>
</ul>


Back on the 5th June, Chinese cement play Asia Cement China (743 HK) announced a rubbish HK$3.22/share Offer from its parent Asia Cement (1102 TT).
This best &amp; final cash Offer was a ~ 45% premium to undisturbed, and a 37% discount to FY23's net cash. It's a 39% discount to 1H24's net cash.
The Scheme Doc is now out, with a 26th August independent shareholder vote. And payment (if it were to occur) on 20th September. The IFA (unsurprisingly) says fair and reasonable. 


Asia Cement (743 HK): 26th August Vote. Shareholders Should Reject Terms

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Consumer sectors in China are gaining more focus as the government lays out steps to increase domestic consumption.</li>
<li>Hong Kong markets performed well relative to region during recent market turmoil.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-education-group-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18218:1" rel="noopener">China Education Group (839 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-reinsurance-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:993:1" rel="noopener">China Reinsurance (Group) (1508 HK)</a> experienced breakouts and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-telecom-corp-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1015:1" rel="noopener">China Telecom (H) (728 HK)</a> had a breakdown. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a> is more positive.
</li>
</ul>


Consumer sectors in China are gaining more focus as the government lays out steps to increase domestic consumption.
Hong Kong markets performed well relative to region during recent market turmoil.

China Education Group (839 HK) and China Reinsurance (Group) (1508 HK) experienced breakouts and China Telecom (H) (728 HK) had a breakdown. Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK) is more positive.



Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (AUGUST 9)

China

China Shanshui Cement Group Ltd. is an investment holding company primarily engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cement, clinker, and concrete products. It also produces and sells building materials, commercial concrete, and aggregates. The company is headquartered in Jinan, the People's Republic of China, and was incorporated in 2006.

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China Shanshui Cement (691 HK)

China - Late 2012-Early 2013 Repeat

Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle. 2015 is no...

Mark Artherton

What You Might Have Missed but Should Not on China's Supply-Side Reform

We have quite a few market surprises this year, especially from China, not to mention those from Middle East. Here I would like to mention a very...

Hao Wang, CFA

ACC, Holcim & Anhui Conch: A Cross-Country Benchmarking Study of Cement Sector Leaders

In preparing this insight, I have tried to compare ACC (as an Indian Cement Sector Proxy) to Holcim and Anhui Conch. I discuss Long Term trends...

Pawan Sachdeva

Asia Cement (743 HK): 26th August Vote. Shareholders Should Reject Terms

The Scheme failed. No surprises there. The Offer price was rubbish. 30.58% of total disinterested shares votes against the transaction, well in...

David Blennerhassett

Technically Speaking, Breakouts and Breakdowns: HONG KONG (AUGUST 9)

HK markets had lower volatility than other regional markets this week. China Ed and China Re had technical break outs while China Tel broke...

David Mudd

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