Head of Research, Krungthai XSpring

Waraporn Wiboonkanarak

Head of Research

A full service Thai brokerage

Krungthai XSpring

Krungthai XSpring is a full service broker. The company provides a wide range of investment services such as Securities Brokerage, Derivative Agent Business, Securities Borrowing and Lending, Securities Trading, Underwriting, Financial Advisory, Wealth Advisory, Private Fund Management and International Markets Securities Trading. 

In terms of credibility, Fitch Ratings has assigned Krunghtai XSpring a long-term rating of AA- and a national short-term rating of F1+ with stable outlook.

Equity Bottom-Up

CPN Retail Growth Leasehold REIT / Equity Bottom-Up

CPN Retail Growth Leasehold REIT (CPNREIT TB)

<ul><li>Technically, the SET Index is expected to weaken, with the support at 1,250/1,235 points and resistance at 1,270/1,275 points.</li><li>In the medium term, the index remains in a downtrend under a rounding top pattern, with a range of 1,200-1,506 points.</li><li>Investment strategy: Wait for a technical reversal signal before trading buy.</li></ul>

Technically, the SET Index is expected to weaken, with the support at 1,250/1,235 points and resistance at 1,270/1,275 points.In the medium term, the index remains in a downtrend under a rounding top pattern, with a range of 1,200-1,506 points.Investment strategy: Wait for a technical reversal signal before trading buy.

US Employment May Be Weaker Than Expected

<ul><li>Technically, the SET Index is expected to be volatile, with the resistance at 1,332/1,338 points and the support at 1,319/1,315 points (25-day EMA).</li><li>Amid the negative sentiment generated by the latest comments from Fed Chairman Powell, the US economy is expected to add only 175k jobs in July 2024, considerably below the 206k added in June.</li><li>The business confidence indicator in Thailand is expected to be slightly lower at 48.4 in July 2024, compared to 48.7 in June.</li></ul>

Technically, the SET Index is expected to be volatile, with the resistance at 1,332/1,338 points and the support at 1,319/1,315 points (25-day EMA).Amid the negative sentiment generated by the latest comments from Fed Chairman Powell, the US economy is expected to add only 175k jobs in July 2024, considerably below the 206k added in June.The business confidence indicator in Thailand is expected to be slightly lower at 48.4 in July 2024, compared to 48.7 in June.

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.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cme-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12353:1" rel="noopener">Cme Group Inc (CME US)</a> has approached <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cboe-global-markets-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20189:1" rel="noopener">Cboe Global Markets (CBOE US)</a> with a view to making an all paper acquisition, according to the FT</li>
<li>If confirmed, a CME-CBOE tie up would, in our view, indicate that CME management’s rationale would be to “bulk up” on data revenues; also, the tie-up would benefit from the enlarged scale of two derivative exchanges, with broadly complimentary product offerings</li>
<li>Furthermore, we would expect longer term synergy benefits from reduced opex and capex</li>
<li>The reported CBOE acquisition price tag of USD16bn is a 20% premium to its current market value, which implies a take-out 2022E consensus PE multiple of 26x, which is at a slight discount to CME itself (26.9x)</li>
<li>We believe that the spotlight is now on CBOE, and its very attractive business mix with its premium EBITDA margin; we believe that the merger would be positive CBOE shareholders, and broadly neutral for CME shareholders</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on CBOE based on a potential CME-CBOE merger include regulatory and anti-trust opposition to the merger, on the basis of monopolistic concerns; another key risk in the event of a merger, would be the failure to extract the expected cost savings and synergies outlined by management</li>
</ul>



Cme Group Inc (CME US) has approached Cboe Global Markets (CBOE US) with a view to making an all paper acquisition, according to the FT
If confirmed, a CME-CBOE tie up would, in our view, indicate that CME management’s rationale would be to “bulk up” on data revenues; also, the tie-up would benefit from the enlarged scale of two derivative exchanges, with broadly complimentary product offerings
Furthermore, we would expect longer term synergy benefits from reduced opex and capex
The reported CBOE acquisition price tag of USD16bn is a 20% premium to its current market value, which implies a take-out 2022E consensus PE multiple of 26x, which is at a slight discount to CME itself (26.9x)
We believe that the spotlight is now on CBOE, and its very attractive business mix with its premium EBITDA margin; we believe that the merger would be positive CBOE shareholders, and broadly neutral for CME shareholders
Risks to our positive view on CBOE based on a potential CME-CBOE merger include regulatory and anti-trust opposition to the merger, on the basis of monopolistic concerns; another key risk in the event of a merger, would be the failure to extract the expected cost savings and synergies outlined by management


China and US Equity Analyst

Roger Xie

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing / Equity Bottom-Up

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (388 HK)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> share price and Hong Kong market in general have tumbled significantly after Hong Kong government revealed the proposal to increase stamp duty on stock to 13bps from 10bps for both buy and sell transaction. The change needs to be approved by the HK Legislative Council and enacted as a law for it to be effective. We believe the real impact of stamp duty is at least 6 month away. And the increase of stock stamp duty could effectively alleviate the budget pressure at Hong Kong government due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. </li>
<li>HKEx serves as the only offshore gateway to China capital market. HKEx has consistently enjoyed the superior margin and profitability, given that it can charge higher trading fee rates than other bourses. Chinese companies and investors prefer HKEx as the offshore trading venue. We don't expect this dynamic will change. In our view, HKEx for Chinese ADR listing and expanding business into lucrative derivative trading would be the game changer.  Although the higher stamp duty could moderately increase trading cost, the impact on trading volume will be small. We believe the market has over-reacted in the sell-off. On the contrary, the multi-year strategic transformation of HKEx would be much larger earning driver for upside. We recommend investors to buy HKEx during the pull-back.
</li>
<li>HKEx also reported 4Q20 net income of HK$2,925mn, up 48% year-over-year. FY20 net income of HK$11,505mn is up 23% year-over-year. Both results are above investors' expectation. The beat was largely driven by investment income, partly offset by higher depreciation. HKEX (388 HK) January ADT (Average Daily Turnover) remains very strong, delivering amazing 136% year-over-year growth in the month. We forecast Securities ADT of HK$240bn in FY 21 (Hong Kong and Stock Connect Northbound) and reiterate HKEx TP HKD 550. 
</li>
</ul>



HKEX (388 HK) share price and Hong Kong market in general have tumbled significantly after Hong Kong government revealed the proposal to increase stamp duty on stock to 13bps from 10bps for both buy and sell transaction. The change needs to be approved by the HK Legislative Council and enacted as a law for it to be effective. We believe the real impact of stamp duty is at least 6 month away. And the increase of stock stamp duty could effectively alleviate the budget pressure at Hong Kong government due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. 
HKEx serves as the only offshore gateway to China capital market. HKEx has consistently enjoyed the superior margin and profitability, given that it can charge higher trading fee rates than other bourses. Chinese companies and investors prefer HKEx as the offshore trading venue. We don't expect this dynamic will change. In our view, HKEx for Chinese ADR listing and expanding business into lucrative derivative trading would be the game changer.  Although the higher stamp duty could moderately increase trading cost, the impact on trading volume will be small. We believe the market has over-reacted in the sell-off. On the contrary, the multi-year strategic transformation of HKEx would be much larger earning driver for upside. We recommend investors to buy HKEx during the pull-back.

HKEx also reported 4Q20 net income of HK$2,925mn, up 48% year-over-year. FY20 net income of HK$11,505mn is up 23% year-over-year. Both results are above investors' expectation. The beat was largely driven by investment income, partly offset by higher depreciation. HKEX (388 HK) January ADT (Average Daily Turnover) remains very strong, delivering amazing 136% year-over-year growth in the month. We forecast Securities ADT of HK$240bn in FY 21 (Hong Kong and Stock Connect Northbound) and reiterate HKEx TP HKD 550. 



HKEx(388.HK): Transformational Strategy Should Offset the Higher Stamp Duty Fear

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

*New CEO: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] announced that it has appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as its next CEO - effective May 24, 2021.This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has virtually no exchange experience and is seemingly not a Mandarin speaker; and*Focus, Focus, Focus:  Let’s just hope and pray that the new CEO doesn’t come from a  swashbuckling deal team.  To be clear, we believe that HKEx has enormous potential provided that it can avoid franchise transforming deals every half decade.

*New CEO: Hong Kong Exchanges &amp; Clearing (388.HK) [HKEX] announced that it has appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as its next CEO - effective May 24, 2021.This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has virtually no exchange experience and is seemingly not a Mandarin speaker; and*Focus, Focus, Focus:  Let’s just hope and pray that the new CEO doesn’t come from a  swashbuckling deal team.  To be clear, we believe that HKEx has enormous potential provided that it can avoid franchise transforming deals every half decade. 

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – No Experience Necessary

United States

CBOE Global Markets, Inc. operates a marketplace for the trading of standardized, listed options on equity securities. The Company is recognized for its role in the trading of options on individual equities, market indexes and exchange-traded funds, their suite of products, their markets and their hybrid trading model.

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CBOE Global Markets (CBOE US)

US Employment May Be Weaker Than Expected

Technically, the SET Index is expected to weaken, with the support at 1,250/1,235 points and resistance at 1,270/1,275 points. In the medium term,...

Krungthai XSpring

US Employment Data & Earnings Results

Technically, the SET Index is expected to be volatile, with the resistance at 1,332/1,338 points and the support at 1,319/1,315 points (25-day...

Krungthai XSpring

CME & CBOE: Merger Musings

A potential merger of CME-CBOE would, based on the FT article terms, be positive for CBOE shareholders in the main; the attractions are...

Victor Galliano

HKEx(388.HK): Transformational Strategy Should Offset the Higher Stamp Duty Fear

HKEx serves as the only offshore gateway to China capital market. We believe the market has over-reacted on higher stamp duty news in the sell...

Roger Xie

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing – No Experience Necessary

HONG KONG EXCHANGES & CLEARING: HKEX appointed Mr. Nicolas Aguzin as CEO. This is an interesting hire, as Mr. Aguzin has no exchange experience. We...

Thomas J. Monaco

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