Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:<ul>
<li>Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.</li>
<li>Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.</li>
<li>Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).</li>
</ul>This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and is not) on the signatory list.

Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:
Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.
Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.
Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).
This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and is not) on the signatory list.

The War on Greenwashing: UK Stewardship Code "Successful Signatories" Has Broader Implications

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

EURO STOXX 50 Price EUR / Technical Analysis

Our intermediate-term outlook remains constructive with major support levels holding on the broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE). Still, we continue to see some reason for caution as various market dynamics have deteriorated, leading us to a more neutral outlook in the near-term.

Our intermediate-term outlook remains constructive with major support levels holding on the broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE). Still, we continue to see some reason for caution as various market dynamics have deteriorated, leading us to a more neutral outlook in the near-term.

As the market churns in a one step forward, one step back fashion, we remain in wait-and-see mode as to whether recent improvements in cyclical value areas of the market have staying power. Considering the lack of breakouts or breakdowns in key cyclical areas of the market, our neutral outlook remains intact. In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Consumer Discretionary, Financials, and Manufacturing: Retailers, Auto Parts, Canadian Banks, and Building Products and Fixtures.

As the market churns in a one step forward, one step back fashion, we remain in wait-and-see mode as to whether recent improvements in cyclical value areas of the market have staying power. Considering the lack of breakouts or breakdowns in key cyclical areas of the market, our neutral outlook remains intact. In today’s report we highlight attractive Groups and stocks within Consumer Discretionary, Financials, and Manufacturing: Retailers, Auto Parts, Canadian Banks, and Building Products and Fixtures.

U.S. Equity Strategy: One Step Forward, One Step Back

While the S&amp;P 500 has hit marginal new highs, price action of the S&amp;P 500 and the price and RS of several Sectors/subsectors is similar to the periods leading up to the October 2018 and May 2019 breakdowns. We draw several similarities in today’s report, and we continue to believe upside is likely to be muted from here barring additional positive developments.

While the S&amp;P 500 has hit marginal new highs, price action of the S&amp;P 500 and the price and RS of several Sectors/subsectors is similar to the periods leading up to the October 2018 and May 2019 breakdowns. We draw several similarities in today’s report, and we continue to believe upside is likely to be muted from here barring additional positive developments.

U.S. Equities: Mixed Signals Punctuate Muted Outlook

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

There are plenty of risks for Singapore’s banks as the US-China trade war starts during 2Q19. We have not seen the financial impact yet, but as we near the quarter end, banks will have to take this into consideration. Even without immediate changes to defaults, forward looking loss given default (LGD) or probability of default (PD) will surely feature.  The income impact from less trade related income will likely start in 2Q19. Of course, we should not forget about oil and gas services related exposures, where oil prices are nearly in free fall and where bad loans in this segment never declined.

There are plenty of risks for Singapore’s banks as the US-China trade war starts during 2Q19. We have not seen the financial impact yet, but as we near the quarter end, banks will have to take this into consideration. Even without immediate changes to defaults, forward looking loss given default (LGD) or probability of default (PD) will surely feature.  The income impact from less trade related income will likely start in 2Q19. Of course, we should not forget about oil and gas services related exposures, where oil prices are nearly in free fall and where bad loans in this segment never declined.

United States

Royal Bank of Canada is a diversified financial services company. The Company provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking, and transaction processing services. Royal Bank offers its services to personal, business, public sector and institutional clients with operations worldwide.

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Royal Bank Of Canada (RY CN)

The War on Greenwashing: UK Stewardship Code "Successful Signatories" Has Broader Implications

Telegraph from European front in global war on greenwashing. U.K. names stewardship victors ("not greenwashers"). Many notable casualties. Anti...

Kyle Rudden

Major Breakout For EURO STOXX 50

Our intermediate-term outlook remains constructive with major support levels holding on the broad global indexes (MSCI ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equity Strategy: One Step Forward, One Step Back

As the market churns in a one step forward, one step back fashion, we remain in wait-and-see mode as to whether recent improvements in cyclical...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equities: Mixed Signals Punctuate Muted Outlook

While the S&P 500 has hit marginal new highs, price action of the S&P 500 and the price and RS of several Sectors/subsectors is similar to...

Vermilion Research

DBS – Three Things To Remember

There are plenty of risks for Singapore’s banks as the US-China trade war starts during 2Q19. We have not seen the financial impact yet, but as we...

Daniel Tabbush

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