Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We welcome the regulators' formalization of financial asset classifications. This will gradually remove regulatory arbitrage and pave the way for further bank reintermediation.</li>
<li>The new rules will likely have limited impacts on bond holdings that have active secondary markets, but illiquid debt investment plans will come under more intense regulatory and auditor scrutiny.</li>
<li>We see an impact of 10-15bp on the listed banks' reported NPL ratios. That said, a handful of banks may be at risk of capital shortages if the environment worsens. </li>
</ul>


We welcome the regulators' formalization of financial asset classifications. This will gradually remove regulatory arbitrage and pave the way for further bank reintermediation.
The new rules will likely have limited impacts on bond holdings that have active secondary markets, but illiquid debt investment plans will come under more intense regulatory and auditor scrutiny.
We see an impact of 10-15bp on the listed banks' reported NPL ratios. That said, a handful of banks may be at risk of capital shortages if the environment worsens. 


Chinese Banks: New Asset Classification Rules | You Can Run but You Can't Hide

<ul>
<li>The Jan. PMI readings corroborate what investors had already known over the break. But it is noteworthy that SMEs appear much less upbeat than large corporations.  </li>
<li>SMEs account for 60% of GDP and an even higher proportion of job creation. Policy support has been keeping many of them afloat throughout the pandemic. </li>
<li>As the deadline on the PBOC's SME support program is fast approaching, small regional banks may bear the brunt of the impact on the financial system.</li>
</ul>


The Jan. PMI readings corroborate what investors had already known over the break. But it is noteworthy that SMEs appear much less upbeat than large corporations.  
SMEs account for 60% of GDP and an even higher proportion of job creation. Policy support has been keeping many of them afloat throughout the pandemic. 
As the deadline on the PBOC's SME support program is fast approaching, small regional banks may bear the brunt of the impact on the financial system.


China's Micro Loan Market: Key Takeaways from the Jan PMI

<ul>
<li>We expect to see a strong start to the week for China financials names, with sentiments buoyed by upbeat consumer spending data over the new year holiday.</li>
<li>Early signs point to relatively loose conditions in the interbank market as trading resumes across the board on Monday. The central bank's easing bias will likely continue.</li>
<li>We see more momentum for the sector ahead of Q4 earnings (brokers &gt; insurers &gt; banks). Stock selection will become more important thereafter.</li>
</ul>


We expect to see a strong start to the week for China financials names, with sentiments buoyed by upbeat consumer spending data over the new year holiday.
Early signs point to relatively loose conditions in the interbank market as trading resumes across the board on Monday. The central bank's easing bias will likely continue.
We see more momentum for the sector ahead of Q4 earnings (brokers &gt; insurers &gt; banks). Stock selection will become more important thereafter.


China Financials Weekly: Jan 30 | A Bubbly Opening

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

Shenton Research

Shenton Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>We screen the Hong Kong-listed mainland stocks ahead of the HSCEI August 2026 review.</li>
<li>The screen produces one ADD and one DELETE, and the DELETE fires only if the ADD lands.</li>
<li>We note that the committee skipped the same ADD candidate last review but re-iterate our call.</li>
</ul>


We screen the Hong Kong-listed mainland stocks ahead of the HSCEI August 2026 review.
The screen produces one ADD and one DELETE, and the DELETE fires only if the ADD lands.
We note that the committee skipped the same ADD candidate last review but re-iterate our call.


HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>With US interest rate trending up, many of the Hong Kong blue chips are exposed to higher interest expenses from their outstanding debt. We look into who are less vulnerable.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/galaxy-entertainment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:806:1" rel="noopener">Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/budweiser-brewing-co-apac-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28077:1" rel="noopener">Budweiser Brewing Company APAC (1876 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinyi-solar-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:318:1" rel="noopener">Xinyi Solar (968 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/power-assets-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:788:1" rel="noopener">Power Assets (6 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mtr-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13289:1" rel="noopener">MTR Corp (66 HK)</a> are found to be more immunized.</li>
<li>Most have large cash balance, low leverage and more fixed rate debt. GEG, Bud APAC and Xinyi Solar may even benefit from higher interest income given net cash position.  </li>
</ul>


With US interest rate trending up, many of the Hong Kong blue chips are exposed to higher interest expenses from their outstanding debt. We look into who are less vulnerable.

Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK), Budweiser Brewing Company APAC (1876 HK), Xinyi Solar (968 HK), Power Assets (6 HK) and MTR Corp (66 HK) are found to be more immunized.
Most have large cash balance, low leverage and more fixed rate debt. GEG, Bud APAC and Xinyi Solar may even benefit from higher interest income given net cash position.  


Rising US Interest Rate: A Look at Which HK Blue Chips Are Less Vulnerable

China

China CITIC Bank is a major commercial bank offering a comprehensive range of financial products and services, including corporate and personal loans, deposit services, wealth management, private banking, credit cards, investment banking, and international services. The bank also engages in capital markets, inter-bank operations, derivatives, and forex trading. It was founded in April 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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China CITIC Bank (998 HK)

Chinese Banks: New Asset Classification Rules | You Can Run but You Can't Hide

New asset classification rules have officially been announced. We see this as a long-term positive for the sector as regulators continue to bring...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China's Micro Loan Market: Key Takeaways from the Jan PMI

For the most part, the Jan PMI gauges were in line with investor expectations, although the more pessimistic SME sector may be a cause for concern...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

China Financials Weekly: Jan 30 | A Bubbly Opening

We expect a strong start to the week for the China financials space, after a new year holiday that confirms investors' hopes for a speedy recovery...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

HSCEI Sep 2026 Index Rebalance Forecast

We pair a WuXi Bio ADD with a Shenzhou DELETE at mid conviction. The committee skipped WuXi Bio last review, but this time we would not rule the...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Rising US Interest Rate: A Look at Which HK Blue Chips Are Less Vulnerable

We look at what companies in the Hang Seng Index are more immunized to the rising US interest rate environment; and found the top five are with...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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