Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>A better week for HK stocks as A-shares rebound on National Team buying, a PBOC RRR cut, and potentially other measures to boost the market. Foreigners stopped selling; that helped.</li>
<li>Southbound saw decent net buying on ETFs late in the week, but otherwise the week was pretty flat in single-stock land - net buying of SOEs, selling of tech.</li>
<li>Net SOUTHBOUND buying was HK$4.5bn on the week, mostly through Shanghai (interestingly, 90+% of the decent NORTHBOUND buy was also through Shanghai). </li>
</ul>


A better week for HK stocks as A-shares rebound on National Team buying, a PBOC RRR cut, and potentially other measures to boost the market. Foreigners stopped selling; that helped.
Southbound saw decent net buying on ETFs late in the week, but otherwise the week was pretty flat in single-stock land - net buying of SOEs, selling of tech.
Net SOUTHBOUND buying was HK$4.5bn on the week, mostly through Shanghai (interestingly, 90+% of the decent NORTHBOUND buy was also through Shanghai). 


HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 26 Jan 2024); ETFs and High Div SOEs Again BIG Buys, Tech Sold

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

Cross Asset Strategy

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.  Highlights:<ul>
<li>Asia the dominant region but also net underweight.  Managers move to underweight EMEA and strengthen overweight in the Americas.</li>
<li>China the dominant weight but allocations move lower.  Mexico and Russia the key overweights, China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan the largest underweights.</li>
<li>Allocations in China Consumer Discretionary continue to head lower from their peak in October 2020 of 13.9%.  The underweight of -2.33% is towards the lowest on record and is driven by lighter than benchmark holdings in <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nio-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27399:1" rel="noopener">NIO Inc (NIO US)</a>.</li>
<li>The rise in Russian Consumer Discretionary ownership driven by Fix Price Group, with 16.1% of funds buying in to the stock after it's IPO back in March.  A quarter of funds now have exposure to the sector, the largest in its history.</li>
<li>Turkish Financials exposure continues to dwindle, with only 16.1% of funds invested.  The most widely held stocks in the sector are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haci-omer-sabanci-holding-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27708:1" rel="noopener">Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS (SAHOL TI)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/akbank-tas" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25033:1" rel="noopener">Akbank TAS (AKBNK TI)</a>, but both are held by just 6% of the funds in our analysis.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/turkiye-garanti-bankasi-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25026:1" rel="noopener">Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI)</a> is now held by 4% of funds after 4% closed positions in the last 6-months. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-techn-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24404:1" rel="noopener">CATL (A) (300750 CH).</a> Ownership continues to rise among EM managers, with today's investment levels the highest on record across all metrics.  Recent buyers in to the name include JP Morgan, TT International and American Century.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>.  Ownership remains on an upward trajectory with no signs of that slowing down.  Over the last 6-months, a further 6.8% of funds added exposure, including Fidelity EM Opportunity, Aberdeen Emerging Markets and Ashmore EM Active Equity.  GQG Partners was the only closure after cashing in on a position held since early 2020.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>. Outflows have been severe, with 26.9% of funds invested 6-months ago, now down to just 16.9%.  Among those closing positions were Ashmore Emerging Markets Active, Pictet EM Sustainable and Dunham Emerging Markets.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US).  </a>Once among the larger holdings in EM active portfolios, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> has moved out of favour with EM fund managers.  In a slide that started in late 2019, the percentage of funds with investment in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> fell a further 6.4% over the last 6-months.  Closures were led by Liontrust, Matthews and HSBC.</li>
</ul>

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.  Highlights:
Asia the dominant region but also net underweight.  Managers move to underweight EMEA and strengthen overweight in the Americas.
China the dominant weight but allocations move lower.  Mexico and Russia the key overweights, China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan the largest underweights.
Allocations in China Consumer Discretionary continue to head lower from their peak in October 2020 of 13.9%.  The underweight of -2.33% is towards the lowest on record and is driven by lighter than benchmark holdings in Alibaba Group (BABA US), Meituan (3690 HK) and NIO Inc (NIO US).
The rise in Russian Consumer Discretionary ownership driven by Fix Price Group, with 16.1% of funds buying in to the stock after it's IPO back in March.  A quarter of funds now have exposure to the sector, the largest in its history.
Turkish Financials exposure continues to dwindle, with only 16.1% of funds invested.  The most widely held stocks in the sector are Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS (SAHOL TI) and Akbank TAS (AKBNK TI), but both are held by just 6% of the funds in our analysis.  Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI) is now held by 4% of funds after 4% closed positions in the last 6-months. 

CATL (A) (300750 CH). Ownership continues to rise among EM managers, with today's investment levels the highest on record across all metrics.  Recent buyers in to the name include JP Morgan, TT International and American Century.
Sea Ltd (SE US).  Ownership remains on an upward trajectory with no signs of that slowing down.  Over the last 6-months, a further 6.8% of funds added exposure, including Fidelity EM Opportunity, Aberdeen Emerging Markets and Ashmore EM Active Equity.  GQG Partners was the only closure after cashing in on a position held since early 2020.

Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK). Outflows have been severe, with 26.9% of funds invested 6-months ago, now down to just 16.9%.  Among those closing positions were Ashmore Emerging Markets Active, Pictet EM Sustainable and Dunham Emerging Markets.

Credicorp Ltd (BAP US).  Once among the larger holdings in EM active portfolios, Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) has moved out of favour with EM fund managers.  In a slide that started in late 2019, the percentage of funds with investment in Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) fell a further 6.4% over the last 6-months.  Closures were led by Liontrust, Matthews and HSBC.


EM Fund Positioning:  All You Need to Know

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> has underperformed the gas utilities sector average by a massive 26pp over the last three months. While the dilution from its Apr placement and its Shiyan, Hubei gas project explosion in Jun are reasons, we think that the depressed valuations should have reflected most of the negative concerns. At 12x PER and 1.9x P/B, it is cheaper than peers like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-gas-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20525:1" rel="noopener">CR Gas (1193 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a>. We see room to narrow such underperformance.Despite the Shiyan explosion incident, China Gas has managed to sign a strategic cooperation agreement in Aug with Xiangyang, which is the third-largest city in Hubei. We think this suggested that the incident does not have significant impact on its ability to secure projects in the province. Its new businesses include LPG Smart MicroGrid and distributed urban heating are both progressing well, and such initiatives to be potential added drivers. Lastly, its expansion into hydrogen energy on cooperation with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> may be a wild card in the long term.

China Gas Holdings (384 HK) has underperformed the gas utilities sector average by a massive 26pp over the last three months. While the dilution from its Apr placement and its Shiyan, Hubei gas project explosion in Jun are reasons, we think that the depressed valuations should have reflected most of the negative concerns. At 12x PER and 1.9x P/B, it is cheaper than peers like CR Gas (1193 HK) and ENN Energy (2688 HK). We see room to narrow such underperformance.Despite the Shiyan explosion incident, China Gas has managed to sign a strategic cooperation agreement in Aug with Xiangyang, which is the third-largest city in Hubei. We think this suggested that the incident does not have significant impact on its ability to secure projects in the province. Its new businesses include LPG Smart MicroGrid and distributed urban heating are both progressing well, and such initiatives to be potential added drivers. Lastly, its expansion into hydrogen energy on cooperation with CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) may be a wild card in the long term.

China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Looks like the Negatives Have Been Well Factored In

Global Emerging Market Equities, Propitious Research

Wium Malan, CFA

Global Emerging Market Equities

Independent, Fundamental Quantitative Research

Propitious Research

Fully independent, fundamental and quantitative equity research, focused on companies in the Telecommunication, Media, Technology, Internet and Healthcare sectors in the Global Emerging Markets. Idea generation focused on Quality stocks, trading below their intrinsic Value, with sound Corporate Governance.

Quantitative Analysis

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for &gt;12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include South Korean auto names, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kia-motors-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:156:1" rel="noopener">Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a> as well as Brazilian state-owned energy giant, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petroleo-brasileiro-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24459:1" rel="noopener">Petroleo Brasileiro Sa (PETR3 BZ)</a>.<table class="table table-striped">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">rank</td>
<td style="width: 169pt;">Name</td>
<td style="width: 119pt;">Sector</td>
<td style="width: 95pt;">Location</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 48pt;">prev.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a></td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a></td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Taiwan</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a></td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kia-motors-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:156:1" rel="noopener">Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS)</a></td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td><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></td>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ptt-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:197:1" rel="noopener">PTT PCL (PTT TB)</a></td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>Thailand</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a></td>
<td>Information Technology</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a></td>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Korea (South)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a></td>
<td>Communication</td>
<td>China</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/petroleo-brasileiro-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24459:1" rel="noopener">Petroleo Brasileiro Sa (PETR3 BZ)</a></td>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">59</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="5" style="text-align: left;">Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

This insight provides the output, and an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, which takes a three-pronged approach to find the best medium-term long ideas within the top100 largest stocks in the MSCI GEM Index. The model is based on 1) a typical quantitative multifactor screening model, enhanced by two Artificial Intelligence Technology-based approaches using 2) a Deep Neural Network model, and 3) a Recurrent Neural Network model. This model, which has been developed and tweaked over the past 24 months (and implemented in its current state for &gt;12 months), has a solid real-world performance track record, which I set out in the detail below. Notable new entrants to the top decile this month include South Korean auto names, Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS) as well as Brazilian state-owned energy giant, Petroleo Brasileiro Sa (PETR3 BZ).









rank
Name
Sector
Location
prev.


1
CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)
Energy
China
1


2
Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)
Information Technology
Taiwan
5


3
SK Hynix (000660 KS)
Information Technology
Korea (South)
23


4
Kia Motors Corp (000270 KS)
Consumer Discretionary
Korea (South)
60


5
Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)
Financials
China
25


6
PTT PCL (PTT TB)
Energy
Thailand
4


7
Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)
Information Technology
Korea (South)
9


8
Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)
Consumer Discretionary
Korea (South)
80


9
China Mobile (941 HK)
Communication
China
29


10
Petroleo Brasileiro Sa (PETR3 BZ)
Energy
Brazil
59

Source: FactSet financial data and analytics, my estimates and calculations, Tensorflow, Keras, Google Colaboratory, pandas

As usual, please feel free to reach out for the full output table, any questions, clarifications needed or suggestions.

Share price of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> has dropped by 12.3% in the last three days after the 7.5% new share placement to raise HK$11.6bn. While there will be EPS dilution over the next two years, we still see EPS growth at a decent level with ROE staying high at 22.8% for FY22F. In fact, the frequent corporate moves recently including exploring hydrogen energy, developing LNG terminal and co-operating with major central SOEs are encouraging developments.Its cooperation with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cnooc-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:175:1" rel="noopener">CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)</a> on hydrogen production and hydrogen refueling station will potentially open a growth driver to capture the numerous opportunities in this rapidly growing market segment. Meanwhile, the construction of LNG terminal will provide it a tighter grip on LNG cost and procurement. We see such strategic and operational developments positive to the long-term well-being of China Gas.

Share price of China Gas Holdings (384 HK) has dropped by 12.3% in the last three days after the 7.5% new share placement to raise HK$11.6bn. While there will be EPS dilution over the next two years, we still see EPS growth at a decent level with ROE staying high at 22.8% for FY22F. In fact, the frequent corporate moves recently including exploring hydrogen energy, developing LNG terminal and co-operating with major central SOEs are encouraging developments.Its cooperation with CNOOC Ltd (883 HK) on hydrogen production and hydrogen refueling station will potentially open a growth driver to capture the numerous opportunities in this rapidly growing market segment. Meanwhile, the construction of LNG terminal will provide it a tighter grip on LNG cost and procurement. We see such strategic and operational developments positive to the long-term well-being of China Gas.  

China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Placement, Hydrogen Energy, LNG Terminal and Unicom/Sinopec Co-Ops

China

CNOOC Limited, through its subsidiaries, explores, develops, produces, and sells crude oil and natural gas. The Company focuses in the areas such as Bohai, Western South China Sea, Eastern South China Sea and East China Sea in offshore China. Internationally, the Group has oil and gas assets in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania.

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CNOOC Ltd (883 HK)

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 26 Jan 2024); ETFs and High Div SOEs Again BIG Buys, Tech Sold

SOUTHBOUND flows were positive on the week but most of the net buying was in the big two ETFs. The trend of buying low PER high div SOEs continues....

Travis Lundy

EM Fund Positioning: All You Need to Know

In this analysis, we provide a detailed overview of investor positioning among 250 active Global Emerging Market funds with combined AUM of $500bn.

Steven Holden

China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Looks like the Negatives Have Been Well Factored In

China Gas' depressed share price should have reflected the negatives related to share placement and Shiyan explosion. Its new business momentum...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Screening for GEMs: June 2021

This insight provides an overview of our, machine learning-driven, proprietary GEM screening model, based on a Multifactor model, a Deep Neural...

Wium Malan, CFA

China Gas Holdings (384 HK): Placement, Hydrogen Energy, LNG Terminal and Unicom/Sinopec Co-Ops

We are not too negative on the new share placement by China Gas. We think the recent strategic and operational initiatives position it well in the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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