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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

US Financial stocks are a key holding for Global active managers.  Average weights stand at 6.38% among the 383 Global funds in our analysis, the 3rd largest global country/sector allocation.After a heavy sell of during the first few months of COVID-19, allocations bottomed out in August 2020 and turned sharply to the upside.  US Financials captured some of the largest ownership increases among global country/sector peers, moving from underweight to overweight in the process.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/morgan-stanley" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1122:1" rel="noopener">Morgan Stanley (MS US)</a> has broken out to new highs in active fund ownership, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jpmorgan-chase-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:277:1" rel="noopener">JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US)</a> is the most widely held Financial stock, whilst <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citigroup-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:279:1" rel="noopener">Citigroup Inc (C US)</a> exposure remains subdued.There are few signs of confidence levels abating or that managers are overly exposed to the sector, either on an absolute basis or relative to benchmark.  Therefore, we see it as low risk that managers will look to scale back exposure at this juncture.

US Financial stocks are a key holding for Global active managers.  Average weights stand at 6.38% among the 383 Global funds in our analysis, the 3rd largest global country/sector allocation.After a heavy sell of during the first few months of COVID-19, allocations bottomed out in August 2020 and turned sharply to the upside.  US Financials captured some of the largest ownership increases among global country/sector peers, moving from underweight to overweight in the process.Morgan Stanley (MS US) has broken out to new highs in active fund ownership, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US) is the most widely held Financial stock, whilst Citigroup Inc (C US) exposure remains subdued.There are few signs of confidence levels abating or that managers are overly exposed to the sector, either on an absolute basis or relative to benchmark.  Therefore, we see it as low risk that managers will look to scale back exposure at this juncture.

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.

It should be no surprise that US banks’ credit costs have turned to reversals. This is the case for the largest banks reporting, even if not for all the community or regional banks. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain exceptionally high compared with recent years. This suggests that credit costs can remain low during FY21.

It should be no surprise that US banks’ credit costs have turned to reversals. This is the case for the largest banks reporting, even if not for all the community or regional banks. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain exceptionally high compared with recent years. This suggests that credit costs can remain low during FY21. 

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

*FRB Allowing Buyback Resumption: The new Federal Reserve Board (FRB) rule suggests that the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) bank total capital distribution (buybacks plus dividends) will be capped at 100% of average quarterly net income generated over the previous four quarters. In other words, capital distribution allowed during 1Q21; and *CECL To Fuel Buybacks In 2Q21:  At the June 2021 CCAR results, we would anticipate the FRB to remove the current ceiling on capital distributions under CECL, which should prove to be an additional positive for US bank shares. Many of the large US banks appear to be over capitalized with substantial levels of excess capital, which should translate to outsized capital distributions.

*FRB Allowing Buyback Resumption: The new Federal Reserve Board (FRB) rule suggests that the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) bank total capital distribution (buybacks plus dividends) will be capped at 100% of average quarterly net income generated over the previous four quarters. In other words, capital distribution allowed during 1Q21; and *CECL To Fuel Buybacks In 2Q21:  At the June 2021 CCAR results, we would anticipate the FRB to remove the current ceiling on capital distributions under CECL, which should prove to be an additional positive for US bank shares. Many of the large US banks appear to be over capitalized with substantial levels of excess capital, which should translate to outsized capital distributions.

We are far from the dire days in February, March and April 2020. During that time it was all about size and pace of new central bank support packages and government fiscal stimulus. We should not lose sight of the fact that these monies continue to make banks incredibly liquid. The ability to lend into the current recovery is unprecedented.

We are far from the dire days in February, March and April 2020. During that time it was all about size and pace of new central bank support packages and government fiscal stimulus. We should not lose sight of the fact that these monies continue to make banks incredibly liquid. The ability to lend into the current recovery is unprecedented. 

US Banks – Lending Ability Unprecedented

We have now seen US bank giants, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jpmorgan-chase-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:277:1" rel="noopener">JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citigroup-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:279:1" rel="noopener">Citigroup Inc (C US) </a>report their quarterly results. Both reveal a significant decline in credit costs. These banks are far more important to the world than the small Indonesian bank that revealed something similar, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-mestika-dharma-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9566:1" rel="noopener">Bank Mestika Dharma (BBMD IJ)</a>. The data from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a> too suggests that credit metrics are improving. We expect others in the US and elsewhere to follow suit, and especially where credit costs were exaggerated during early in the year. The credit cost delta will be key for banks now.

We have now seen US bank giants, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US) and Citigroup Inc (C US) report their quarterly results. Both reveal a significant decline in credit costs. These banks are far more important to the world than the small Indonesian bank that revealed something similar, Bank Mestika Dharma (BBMD IJ). The data from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU) too suggests that credit metrics are improving. We expect others in the US and elsewhere to follow suit, and especially where credit costs were exaggerated during early in the year. The credit cost delta will be key for banks now.

United States

Citigroup Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company that provides a broad range of financial services to consumer and corporate customers. The Company services include investment banking, retail brokerage, corporate banking, and cash management products and services. Citigroup serves customers globally.

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Citigroup Inc (C US)

US Financials: Back in Vogue

After a heavy sell of during the first few months of COVID-19, US Financials exposure bottomed out in August 2020 and turned sharply to the...

Steven Holden

US Banks – Crumbling Credit Costs

It should be no surprise that credit costs are in reversal for some. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain...

Daniel Tabbush

US Banks – Capital Unchained

US BANKS: The new FRB rule suggests that the CCAR) bank total capital distribution will be capped at 100% over the previous four quarters beginning...

Thomas J. Monaco

US Banks – Lending Ability Unprecedented

We must expect some banks to see major loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) expansion. Banks with exceptionally low LDR’s now and compared with their own...

Daniel Tabbush

Banks – Collapsing Credit Costs

After JP Morgan and Citigroup have confirmed our hypothesis of lower credit costs driving positive results at banks, expect this trend to continue...

Daniel Tabbush

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