Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>On Thursday, the Nikkei came out with an <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/BOJ-to-widen-interest-rate-target-range-to-support-bank-profits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> during the lunch break of equities trading. The headline said <em>"BOJ to widen interest rate target range to support bank profits" </em>and indeed in the article it noted that the BOJ would allow the long end of the curve to fluctuate more widely, creating a slightly steeper curve. This could lead to slightly better bank profits less because of the extra 5bp on the curve but more because of the expectation of forcing borrowers to pay more on an absolute basis. </p><p>What was MORE important for equity markets was the idea that the BOJ <em>"would also abolish its target for purchasing exchange-traded funds, now 6 trillion yen ($55 billion) per year, and instead vow to make such purchases only in times of market turmoil."</em></p><p>The article also suggested that the "Target" would be removed for the ¥90bn of J-REITs they buy as a base case (doubled now to ¥180bn as the ¥6trln was doubled to ¥12trln in the depths of the covid crash of March 2020). </p><p>This move caused Nikkei to underperform TOPIX on the day. TOPIX actually ended up on the day, and ended above where the market closed the AM session before the article came out. Nikkei fell, and started underperforming TOPIX from that point on. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/872/original/Screenshot+2021-03-21+at+3.26.17+PM.png?1616311594" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195872"></figure><p></p></section><p>Nikkei underperformed TOPIX in the AM session on Friday, and when the BOJ announcements came mid-day on Friday, there were additional subtleties involved. </p><p>The details are <a href="https://www.boj.or.jp/en/announcements/release_2021/rel210319c.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. The presentation with the basic details is <a href="https://www.boj.or.jp/en/announcements/release_2021/k210319b.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p><ul>
<li>The target rates for ETF and REIT buying will be abolished, but the current "Target Rate" of annual buying will become annual maxima (¥12 trillion for ETFs, ¥180bn for J-REITs, with ongoing maximum ownership limits on ETFs in place).</li>
<li>Buying of ETFs and J-REITs will be conducted "as necessary" "in times of market turbulence" and such buying will be done only on TOPIX ETFs.</li>
<li>The "Special Rules for Purchases of ETFs to Support Firms Proactively Investing in Physical and Human Capital" will continue as before with only specific ETFs permitted in this group. The amount of ~¥300bn/year and ¥1.2bn per business day will continue.</li>
</ul><p>It based the new policy on the Reference <a href="https://www.boj.or.jp/en/announcements/release_2021/k210319c.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">document</a> which backs up the changes in policy is <em>much</em> more interesting reading.  Appendix 5 and Chart 12 are the parts you want to read.</p><p>The hypotheses and results are described here.</p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/869/original/Screenshot+2021-03-21+at+3.02.28+PM.png?1616310186" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195869"></figure></section><p>There are a couple of other side conclusions but the base understanding is...</p><div class="content-highlight"><p>When the BOJ steps into the market in size, in times of market turbulence, and when stocks are trading below their medium-term average, it has a greater effect per dollar spent on market-wide risk premia as measured in option premia than buying in normal times, and size matters when looking at the risk premia change on single stocks.  </p></div><h3>What This Means</h3><ul>
<li>When the BOJ steps into the market in size, in times of market turbulence, and when stocks are trading below their medium-term average, it has a greater effect per dollar spent on market-wide risk premia as measured in option premia than buying in normal times, and size matters when looking at the risk premia change on single stocks.  </li>
<li>Expect the BOJ to follow the concept of its study (Appendix 5 again).</li>
<li>Expect the BOJ to pay greater attention to futures activity. </li>
</ul><h3>What This Does NOT Mean</h3><ul><li>It does NOT mean the BOJ will be selling any ETFs.</li></ul><hr><p>It is worthwhile taking a look at WHY the market reacted the way it did on Thursday and Friday afternoon, and it is worthwhile looking at what the BOJ ETF buying might look like going forward. </p><p>So we do so below the fold.</p><p>Note: This is part 1 of the analysis of potential future BOJ ETF Buying. Part II looks at the difference in single stock makeup. </p>

On Thursday, the Nikkei came out with an article during the lunch break of equities trading. The headline said "BOJ to widen interest rate target range to support bank profits" and indeed in the article it noted that the BOJ would allow the long end of the curve to fluctuate more widely, creating a slightly steeper curve. This could lead to slightly better bank profits less because of the extra 5bp on the curve but more because of the expectation of forcing borrowers to pay more on an absolute basis. What was MORE important for equity markets was the idea that the BOJ "would also abolish its target for purchasing exchange-traded funds, now 6 trillion yen ($55 billion) per year, and instead vow to make such purchases only in times of market turmoil."The article also suggested that the "Target" would be removed for the ¥90bn of J-REITs they buy as a base case (doubled now to ¥180bn as the ¥6trln was doubled to ¥12trln in the depths of the covid crash of March 2020). This move caused Nikkei to underperform TOPIX on the day. TOPIX actually ended up on the day, and ended above where the market closed the AM session before the article came out. Nikkei fell, and started underperforming TOPIX from that point on. Nikkei underperformed TOPIX in the AM session on Friday, and when the BOJ announcements came mid-day on Friday, there were additional subtleties involved. The details are here. The presentation with the basic details is here.
The target rates for ETF and REIT buying will be abolished, but the current "Target Rate" of annual buying will become annual maxima (¥12 trillion for ETFs, ¥180bn for J-REITs, with ongoing maximum ownership limits on ETFs in place).
Buying of ETFs and J-REITs will be conducted "as necessary" "in times of market turbulence" and such buying will be done only on TOPIX ETFs.
The "Special Rules for Purchases of ETFs to Support Firms Proactively Investing in Physical and Human Capital" will continue as before with only specific ETFs permitted in this group. The amount of ~¥300bn/year and ¥1.2bn per business day will continue.
It based the new policy on the Reference document which backs up the changes in policy is much more interesting reading.  Appendix 5 and Chart 12 are the parts you want to read.The hypotheses and results are described here.There are a couple of other side conclusions but the base understanding is...When the BOJ steps into the market in size, in times of market turbulence, and when stocks are trading below their medium-term average, it has a greater effect per dollar spent on market-wide risk premia as measured in option premia than buying in normal times, and size matters when looking at the risk premia change on single stocks.  What This Means
When the BOJ steps into the market in size, in times of market turbulence, and when stocks are trading below their medium-term average, it has a greater effect per dollar spent on market-wide risk premia as measured in option premia than buying in normal times, and size matters when looking at the risk premia change on single stocks.  
Expect the BOJ to follow the concept of its study (Appendix 5 again).
Expect the BOJ to pay greater attention to futures activity. 
What This Does NOT MeanIt does NOT mean the BOJ will be selling any ETFs.It is worthwhile taking a look at WHY the market reacted the way it did on Thursday and Friday afternoon, and it is worthwhile looking at what the BOJ ETF buying might look like going forward. So we do so below the fold.Note: This is part 1 of the analysis of potential future BOJ ETF Buying. Part II looks at the difference in single stock makeup. 

Quantifying the BOJ Change in ETF Policy: Assessing Future ETF Buying Methodology

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Pacific Textiles has staged a sharp rebound, bouncing off the HKD3.50 level it had ploughed at the start of the pandemic to briefly surge above HKD6.00. There have been a few false dawns in the past but the stock’s multiple has been depressed and even after its recent surge, remains extremely reasonable. With the company slowly adding to its net cash position even during tough times, a return to revenue growth and the earnings and dividends which accompany that could drive further strong performance.</p>

Pacific Textiles has staged a sharp rebound, bouncing off the HKD3.50 level it had ploughed at the start of the pandemic to briefly surge above HKD6.00. There have been a few false dawns in the past but the stock’s multiple has been depressed and even after its recent surge, remains extremely reasonable. With the company slowly adding to its net cash position even during tough times, a return to revenue growth and the earnings and dividends which accompany that could drive further strong performance.

Pacific Textiles – Breaking Out of Its Slump

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/136/651/original/2020-05-29_06-37-52.png?1590701909" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="136651"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>LIMPING HOME</strong> - 42 companies reported results on Thursday of which 32 were for the full-year. Of these, 38% made FY2021 forecasts of which only three scored positively. Seventy more companies will announce today, including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/olympus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:356:1" rel="noopener">Olympus Corp (7733 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yamaha-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7411:1" rel="noopener">Yamaha Motor (7272 JP)</a>, leaving only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba (6502 JP)</a> from the 'trillion yen club' for next week. </p>

Source • Japan AnalyticsLIMPING HOME - 42 companies reported results on Thursday of which 32 were for the full-year. Of these, 38% made FY2021 forecasts of which only three scored positively. Seventy more companies will announce today, including Hitachi Ltd (6501 JP), Olympus Corp (7733 JP), and Yamaha Motor (7272 JP), leaving only Toshiba (6502 JP) from the 'trillion yen club' for next week. 

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 28th May - Nissan, Nikon & Toray

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/136/350/original/2020-05-28_06-43-04.png?1590615802" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="136350"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>ALL GOOD</strong> - Japan has had a 'good' COVID-19 relative to many countries. With a little help from the Bank of Japan, Japanese equities are only 11% below the December peak, despite a ten-year low in corporate earnings and the prospect of much worse in that regard in the coming months. Companies have retained staff, and consumer confidence has fallen less than in other developed economies. Production lines were not shut down, resulting in a GFC-like spike in the inventory ratio. The stable Yen will make it harder for exporters to the developing world to clear the stockpiles. Accordingly, the alphabetic 'shape' of Japan's post-COVID recovery will between "V" and "L" and will be more prolonged.</p><p><strong>SLIM TAILS</strong> - We are now in the slim tail of the earnings 'season' with only seven larger caps reporting yesterday of which just two made forecasts for the current year.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/136/353/original/2020-05-28_07-10-35.png?1590617452" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="136353"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>INTERNAL DEFICIENCIES -</strong> Another 42 companies will announce results today. The largest of these by market cap will be <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/otsuka-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12292:1" rel="noopener">Otsuka (4578 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nissan-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:72:1" rel="noopener">Nissan (7201 JP)</a> (finally), and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toray-industries-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:625:1" rel="noopener">Toray (3402 JP)</a>.  Of the companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥1 trillion, only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/olympus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:356:1" rel="noopener">Olympus (7733 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba (6502 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hitachi-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7797:1" rel="noopener">Hitachi (6501 JP)</a> remain after which this series of Insights will be brought to close. That these three companies required an extra month to prepare their accounts suggests severe deficiencies in the internal reporting structures of these companies.</p>

Source • Japan AnalyticsALL GOOD - Japan has had a 'good' COVID-19 relative to many countries. With a little help from the Bank of Japan, Japanese equities are only 11% below the December peak, despite a ten-year low in corporate earnings and the prospect of much worse in that regard in the coming months. Companies have retained staff, and consumer confidence has fallen less than in other developed economies. Production lines were not shut down, resulting in a GFC-like spike in the inventory ratio. The stable Yen will make it harder for exporters to the developing world to clear the stockpiles. Accordingly, the alphabetic 'shape' of Japan's post-COVID recovery will between "V" and "L" and will be more prolonged.SLIM TAILS - We are now in the slim tail of the earnings 'season' with only seven larger caps reporting yesterday of which just two made forecasts for the current year.Source • Japan AnalyticsINTERNAL DEFICIENCIES - Another 42 companies will announce results today. The largest of these by market cap will be Otsuka (4578 JP), Nissan (7201 JP) (finally), and Toray (3402 JP).  Of the companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥1 trillion, only Olympus (7733 JP), Toshiba (6502 JP), and Hitachi (6501 JP) remain after which this series of Insights will be brought to close. That these three companies required an extra month to prepare their accounts suggests severe deficiencies in the internal reporting structures of these companies.

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 27th May - Recruit, DNP & Dentsu

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/748/original/2020-05-16_08-18-15.png?1589584720" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133748"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>"WORSENING"</strong> - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/788/original/2020-05-16_12-10-50.png?1589598664" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133788"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>DECOMPOSED</strong> - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/795/original/2020-05-16_12-47-02.png?1589600841" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133795"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RETICENCE</strong> - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/802/original/2020-05-16_13-27-57.png?1589605282" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133802"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>NOT CHEAP</strong> -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/801/original/2020-05-16_14-00-16.png?1589605245" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133801"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>FIDDLING ABOUT</strong> - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.</p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/133/884/original/2020-05-17_12-54-22.png?1589687679" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="133884"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div><p>In the <strong>DETAIL</strong> below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.</p><div><ul>
<li>The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the <strong>490</strong> results announcements was <strong>206:45:239</strong>. The average change in Results Score was <strong>-0.2</strong>.</li>
<li>For the <strong>205</strong> revisions/initial forecasts, the split was <strong>49:10:146</strong>, and the average Revision Score was <strong>-7.5</strong>. Of the <strong>364</strong> companies declaring full-year results, <strong>47%</strong> made forecasts for the current year.</li>
<li>Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-group-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:315:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Group (9984 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/terumo-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6708:1" rel="noopener">Terumo Corp (4543 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/komatsu-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8416:1" rel="noopener">Komatsu (6301 JP).</a>
</li>
</ul></div>

Source • Japan Analytics"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from our Results &amp; Revision Score data series. The correlation between the series is 0.80, with the only significant deviation occurring in 2016, Coincident conditions are assessed as "worsening" wording that is unchanged since August 2019. Source • Japan AnalyticsDECOMPOSED - Our Score is decomposed into a Results Score, an Annual Forecast/Revision Score and an Interim Forecast Revision Score.  The last two are ten-year lows; the first should join them next week. A notable limiting factor is the shortage of forecasts being made. Without this reticence, both forecast Scores would be considerably lower.Source • Japan AnalyticsRETICENCE - 77% by number and 81% by value of companies with year-ends in  March, June, September, or December have already reported. Of these 2,464 companies representing ¥438 trillion of market cap, just 1,119 have issued annual forecasts for the current year, and 583 have made interim forecasts. Of all listed companies, one-third by market value are currently unable to see ahead twelve months and only 16% by value and 23% by number are prepared to look forward four-and-a-half months. This unusual degree of reticence leaves the sell-side without their regular anchoring comfort blanket.Source • Japan AnalyticsNOT CHEAP -  Even allowing for the lack of a full complement of forecasts, the market's forward multiple is at a five-year high with Net Income expected to reach levels first seen in 2015, 37% below the December 2018 peak. The ten-year peak trailing multiple was 29 on aggregate Net Income of  ¥14.6 trillion, which was ten times the 2009 trough.Source • Japan AnalyticsFIDDLING ABOUT - The Bank of Japan has reduced the amount of its daily ETF program for a second time; however, intervened for the last three days of last week seemingly intent on keeping the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) above 20,000. The cumulative total of BoJ purchases represents over 5% of the Total Market Value.Source • Japan AnalyticsIn the DETAIL below, we review some market data trends, look at the Results &amp; Revision Score trends by Sector (a 15-year timeline is shown above), apply some KPMG 'recovery analysis' to Japan and look at Friday's results and revisions.
The balance between positive/neutral/negative of the 490 results announcements was 206:45:239. The average change in Results Score was -0.2.
For the 205 revisions/initial forecasts, the split was 49:10:146, and the average Revision Score was -7.5. Of the 364 companies declaring full-year results, 47% made forecasts for the current year.
Fifty-one will announce today, the largest of which by market capitalisation will be Softbank Group (9984 JP), Terumo Corp (4543 JP), and Komatsu (6301 JP).



🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

Japan

TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. manufactures yarns, synthetic fibers, and man-made leather used as apparel and industrial materials.  The Company also makes chemical products such as polyester films, engineering plastics, and resin materials.  Toray develops information equipment such as electronic circuit and liquid crystal color filter.

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Toray Industries (3402 JP)

Quantifying the BOJ Change in ETF Policy: Assessing Future ETF Buying Methodology

The BOJ has announced a change in ETF Buying Program Parameters. The study/review they did is required reading to understand how they might buy...

Travis Lundy

Pacific Textiles – Breaking Out of Its Slump

While Pacific Textiles has already risen significantly, the turnaround in revenue expectations is significant and the stock had fallen to such...

Mio Kato

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 28th May - Nissan, Nikon & Toray

LIMPING HOME - 42 companies reported results on Thursday of which 32 were for the full-year. Of these, 38% made FY2021 forecasts of which only...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Results & Revisions 27th May - Recruit, DNP & Dentsu

ALL GOOD - Japan has had a 'good' COVID-19 relative to many countries. With a little help from the Bank of Japan, Japanese equities are only 11%...

Campbell Gunn

🇯🇵 JAPAN MARKET UPDATE 18th May - "Worsening"

"WORSENING" - The Cabinet Office updated their Business Condition Leading Indicator for March this week, confirming the trend already apparent from...

Campbell Gunn

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