Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

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

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a>’s share price took a beating over the last few months. It began when Chinese regulators halted the $35 billion IPO of Alibaba spinoff, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a>, the world's largest financial technology company. Afterwards, China’s top antitrust watchdog, The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), fined Alibaba for not making adequate declarations to authorities about past acquisitions and also filled an investigation into Alibaba’s suspected monopolistic practices. Then, The People's Bank of China ordered Ant group to formulate a rectification plan and an implementation timetable to comply with new regulatory and anti-monopoly requirements. Meanwhile, the founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma went missing for months.This is probably the worst time period in Alibaba’s history. Therefore, a lot of pressure was on Alibaba yesterday to release strong 3QFY21 results. Although not amazing, the company managed to beat consensus revenue and OP by 3.0% and 3.2% respectively.

Alibaba Group (BABA US)’s share price took a beating over the last few months. It began when Chinese regulators halted the $35 billion IPO of Alibaba spinoff, Ant Group (6688 HK), the world's largest financial technology company. Afterwards, China’s top antitrust watchdog, The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), fined Alibaba for not making adequate declarations to authorities about past acquisitions and also filled an investigation into Alibaba’s suspected monopolistic practices. Then, The People's Bank of China ordered Ant group to formulate a rectification plan and an implementation timetable to comply with new regulatory and anti-monopoly requirements. Meanwhile, the founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma went missing for months.This is probably the worst time period in Alibaba’s history. Therefore, a lot of pressure was on Alibaba yesterday to release strong 3QFY21 results. Although not amazing, the company managed to beat consensus revenue and OP by 3.0% and 3.2% respectively.

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)

As we have said many time before, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> 2021 and 2022 dividend futures are a structural sell due to changes to the index composition that will lower the fair value of the futures.There were 18 inclusions and 17 deletions from the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> in 2020 with a shift from higher dividend yield Financials and Energy stocks to lower dividend yield stocks (or zero dividend yield stocks) from the Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology sectors.We see this trend continuing in 2021 with quite a few changes front-loaded that will affect the fair value of the HSCEI 2021 dividend futures. More changes at the back end along with potential changes to the index methodology could lower the fair value of the HSCEI 2022 dividend futures too.In this Insight, we lay out the possible changes to the index constituents and to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> methodology that will impact the dividend futures.

As we have said many time before, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) 2021 and 2022 dividend futures are a structural sell due to changes to the index composition that will lower the fair value of the futures.There were 18 inclusions and 17 deletions from the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) in 2020 with a shift from higher dividend yield Financials and Energy stocks to lower dividend yield stocks (or zero dividend yield stocks) from the Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology sectors.We see this trend continuing in 2021 with quite a few changes front-loaded that will affect the fair value of the HSCEI 2021 dividend futures. More changes at the back end along with potential changes to the index methodology could lower the fair value of the HSCEI 2022 dividend futures too.In this Insight, we lay out the possible changes to the index constituents and to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) methodology that will impact the dividend futures.

HSCEI Dividends - Structural Sell; Bank Dividends the Swing Factor

Index Rebalance

There are a lot of changes expected to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> over the next 6 months.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a> lists on 5 February and we expect the stock to get Fast Entry to the index with the change implemented at the close of trading on 22 February.The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) will announce the results of the March 2021 review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March. We expect 1 inclusion and 3 exclusions at the review.At the current time, we expect 3 changes at the June 2021 review. There are a few stocks that are close adds and deletes and the actual number of changes could be higher.There are a few large IPOs that could take place this year that could get those stocks Fast Entry/ regular entry into the index. The main ones are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/didi-chuxing-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27467:1" rel="noopener">DiDi Chuxing (1284375D CH)</a>, JD Logistics, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bytedance-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27936:1" rel="noopener">ByteDance (1460967D CH)</a>'s Douyin and a possible revival of the shelved <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> IPO.Then there is the possibility of some large 'homecoming' listings getting included in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> over the next few reviews. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:179:1" rel="noopener">Baidu (BIDU US)</a> is rumored to have picked banks and is said to plan a listing in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinduoduo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27250:1" rel="noopener">Pinduoduo (PDD US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bilibili-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26793:1" rel="noopener">Bilibili Inc (BILI US)</a> as other names on the list.In this Insight, we lay out the potential roadmap of upcoming changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)</a> along with the impact on the stocks.

There are a lot of changes expected to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) over the next 6 months.Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK) lists on 5 February and we expect the stock to get Fast Entry to the index with the change implemented at the close of trading on 22 February.The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) will announce the results of the March 2021 review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March. We expect 1 inclusion and 3 exclusions at the review.At the current time, we expect 3 changes at the June 2021 review. There are a few stocks that are close adds and deletes and the actual number of changes could be higher.There are a few large IPOs that could take place this year that could get those stocks Fast Entry/ regular entry into the index. The main ones are DiDi Chuxing (1284375D CH), JD Logistics, ByteDance (1460967D CH)'s Douyin and a possible revival of the shelved Ant Group (6688 HK) IPO.Then there is the possibility of some large 'homecoming' listings getting included in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) over the next few reviews. Baidu (BIDU US) is rumored to have picked banks and is said to plan a listing in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, with Pinduoduo (PDD US) and Bilibili Inc (BILI US) as other names on the list.In this Insight, we lay out the potential roadmap of upcoming changes to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX) along with the impact on the stocks.

HSCEI Index Rebalances - The Year of the Ox and of More Change

Overseas Chinese Equities, Aequitas Research

Ming Lu

Overseas Chinese Equities

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

<ul class="">
<li>The chief of the People’s Bank of China made a positive comment on Ant Group.</li>
<li>India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever.</li>
<li>Tencent Music (TME US) increased its shareholdings in Universal Music Group.</li>
<li>Xiaomi (1810 HK)'s smartphone shipment increased by 32% yoy in 4Q20. </li>
</ul>


The chief of the People’s Bank of China made a positive comment on Ant Group.
India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever.
Tencent Music (TME US) increased its shareholdings in Universal Music Group.
Xiaomi (1810 HK)'s smartphone shipment increased by 32% yoy in 4Q20. 


China Internet Weekly (1Feb2021): Central Bank's Positive Comment on Ant, Xiaomi Got Mkt Share in Q4

Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>PBoC’s latest regulatory proposals point to increased anti-trust focus in non-bank payments</li>
<li>This ups the ante on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a>, in particular</li>
<li>Alibaba shares have recovered some ground since our 13th January report, yet Alibaba has barely narrowed the gap with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, in market cap-to-revenue terms</li>
<li>This latest PBoC announcement, at best, adds to delay the Ant Group IPO, and adds to bearish sentiment on Alibaba and, to a lesser degree, Tencent shares</li>
<li>We believe that the recent re-emergence of Jack Ma is not, per se, sufficient cause for Alibaba share price relief; we would recommend locking in recent gains on BABA</li>
<li>Risks to our cautious view on Alibaba and Ant Group include an agreement on mutually acceptable regulatory parameters between the PBoC and Ant Group that allows for the Ant IPO to proceed in the relatively near term</li>
</ul>


PBoC’s latest regulatory proposals point to increased anti-trust focus in non-bank payments
This ups the ante on Alibaba Group (BABA US) and Ant Group (6688 HK), in particular
Alibaba shares have recovered some ground since our 13th January report, yet Alibaba has barely narrowed the gap with Tencent Holdings (700 HK), in market cap-to-revenue terms
This latest PBoC announcement, at best, adds to delay the Ant Group IPO, and adds to bearish sentiment on Alibaba and, to a lesser degree, Tencent shares
We believe that the recent re-emergence of Jack Ma is not, per se, sufficient cause for Alibaba share price relief; we would recommend locking in recent gains on BABA
Risks to our cautious view on Alibaba and Ant Group include an agreement on mutually acceptable regulatory parameters between the PBoC and Ant Group that allows for the Ant IPO to proceed in the relatively near term


Alibaba (BABA US) & Ant Group: PBoC Proposals Threaten Tighter Regulations

China

Ant Group Co., Ltd. develops online payment platforms. The Company produces credit system and financial services platforms which provide consumers and small businesses with safe and convenient inclusive financial services globally. Ant Group provides its services worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Ant Group (6688 HK)

Alibaba 3QFY21: Not Out of The Woods Yet

This is probably the worst time period in Alibaba’s history. Therefore, a lot of pressure was on Alibaba yesterday to release strong 3QFY21...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

HSCEI Dividends - Structural Sell; Bank Dividends the Swing Factor

We see downside in the HSCEI 2021 and 2022 div futures due to changes in the index composition and potential changes in the index methodology....

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Index Rebalances - The Year of the Ox and of More Change

There will be a lot of changes to the HSCEI this year that will impact the sectoral composition and open up trading opportunities on the stocks and...

Brian Freitas

Alibaba (BABA US) & Ant Group: PBoC Proposals Threaten Tighter Regulations

Alibaba's share price, post its recent rally, is under threat again, as is the Ant IPO, from the latest regulatory proposals by PBoC; time to take...

Victor Galliano

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Alibaba 3QFY21: Not Out of The Woods Yet

This is probably the worst time period in Alibaba’s history. Therefore, a lot of pressure was on Alibaba yesterday to release strong 3QFY21...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

HSCEI Dividends - Structural Sell; Bank Dividends the Swing Factor

We see downside in the HSCEI 2021 and 2022 div futures due to changes in the index composition and potential changes in the index methodology....

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Index Rebalances - The Year of the Ox and of More Change

There will be a lot of changes to the HSCEI this year that will impact the sectoral composition and open up trading opportunities on the stocks and...

Brian Freitas

China Internet Weekly (1Feb2021): Central Bank's Positive Comment on Ant, Xiaomi Got Mkt Share in Q4

The chief of Chinese central bank positively commented Ant Group.India will ban 59 Chinese apps forever. Tencent Music increased its shareholdings...

Ming Lu

Alibaba (BABA US) & Ant Group: PBoC Proposals Threaten Tighter Regulations

Alibaba's share price, post its recent rally, is under threat again, as is the Ant IPO, from the latest regulatory proposals by PBoC; time to take...

Victor Galliano