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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There may be overly optimistic expectations for BOC HK's credit costs, which have been relatively benign for many years. </li>
<li>Worsening economic developments in Hong Kong and China suggest that BOC HK will show a dramatic deterioration in credit metrics in coming interim results. </li>
<li>Loan growth in Hong Kong is now hitting zero and funding cost growth has been extravagant, making for a poor combination to net interest income. </li>
</ul>


There may be overly optimistic expectations for BOC HK's credit costs, which have been relatively benign for many years. 
Worsening economic developments in Hong Kong and China suggest that BOC HK will show a dramatic deterioration in credit metrics in coming interim results. 
Loan growth in Hong Kong is now hitting zero and funding cost growth has been extravagant, making for a poor combination to net interest income. 


BOC HK - Credit Costs Have Flat Lined for Years, a Blow Out in 2H23 or 1H24 Can Be a Shock

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>There is little in the long-term and current figures of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)</a> that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.</li>
<li>Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. </li>
<li>The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. </li>
</ul>


There is little in the long-term and current figures of Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.
Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. 
The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. 


Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

<ul>
<li>Fund exposure to China &amp; HK Banks closes in on lowest levels on record</li>
<li>Asia Ex-Japan investors prefer Indian and Indonesian Banks, whilst Tech/Internet industry groups dominate portfolios.</li>
<li>China &amp; HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is expected.</li>
</ul>


Fund exposure to China &amp; HK Banks closes in on lowest levels on record
Asia Ex-Japan investors prefer Indian and Indonesian Banks, whilst Tech/Internet industry groups dominate portfolios.
China &amp; HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is expected.


Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Active funds head in to 2023 overweight Industrials and Staples versus underweight Financials and Communication Services</li>
<li>Energy stocks are still only owned by 51% of funds yet captured the largest increase in ownership through 2022.  </li>
<li>China Banks are a key underweight.  Only 11% of funds are positioned ahead of the iShares MSCI China ETF benchmark.  Airlines, Casinos/Gaming and Airfreight/Couriers were the winners in 2022.</li>
</ul>


Active funds head in to 2023 overweight Industrials and Staples versus underweight Financials and Communication Services
Energy stocks are still only owned by 51% of funds yet captured the largest increase in ownership through 2022.  
China Banks are a key underweight.  Only 11% of funds are positioned ahead of the iShares MSCI China ETF benchmark.  Airlines, Casinos/Gaming and Airfreight/Couriers were the winners in 2022.


Active China Funds:  Top-Down Positioning Update, 2023

BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher</li>
<li>Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications</li>
<li>Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral</li>
</ul>


Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher
Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications
Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral


BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

Hong Kong

BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services to retail and corporate customers.  Its products include retail banking, corporate banking, and treasury services.  The Company operates its branches in Hong Kong and China.

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BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) (2388 HK)

BOC HK - Credit Costs Have Flat Lined for Years, a Blow Out in 2H23 or 1H24 Can Be a Shock

BOC HK has seen credit costs flat line for some years, possibly making it appear as though this bank does not experience credit cycles. Long term...

Daniel Tabbush

Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

BOC has seen LDR expansion accompanied by narrowing NIM, raising questions on marginal lending. ROE is worsening dramatically, with credit costs...

Daniel Tabbush

China Banks: Depressed Positioning

China and HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of Asia Ex-Japan funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is...

Steven Holden

Active China Funds: Top-Down Positioning Update, 2023

Our analysis of 119 active China strategies reveals the key sector and industry positions among China equity managers for the upcoming year.

Steven Holden

BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

BOC HK is now expensing credit costs/loans at 20bps, well higher than the preceding period, but still far lower than its more than 200bps in times...

Daniel Tabbush

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