Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank 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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<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> outlook has been withering for some time, and new data on property transactions, shows that this remains weak.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> in a less volatile geopolitical financial center, has a much lower market capitalization while its earnings outlook is far stronger.</li>
<li>Two major differences between these two entities is their ROE and ROA, although the former may be more relevant. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> has an ROE that is nearly 50% higher. </li>
</ul>



HKEX (388 HK) outlook has been withering for some time, and new data on property transactions, shows that this remains weak.

SGX (SGX SP) in a less volatile geopolitical financial center, has a much lower market capitalization while its earnings outlook is far stronger.
Two major differences between these two entities is their ROE and ROA, although the former may be more relevant. SGX (SGX SP) has an ROE that is nearly 50% higher. 


HKEX - Worsening Property Transactions, Underscores Ailments for Hong Kong

<ul>
<li>Even the company itself shows in its recent presentation that a substantial portion of its revenue growth was due to rising rates on its cash deposit balances. This should wane. </li>
<li>The company's effective tax rate moved from 14% in the past few years, when it was stable to 10% in most recent period, this is not a core positive attribute. </li>
<li>Geopolitical risk, economic malaise in both Hong Kong and China, can lead to less interest in the market, trading, placements, perhaps suggesting its 6x PB is not warranted?</li>
</ul>


Even the company itself shows in its recent presentation that a substantial portion of its revenue growth was due to rising rates on its cash deposit balances. This should wane. 
The company's effective tax rate moved from 14% in the past few years, when it was stable to 10% in most recent period, this is not a core positive attribute. 
Geopolitical risk, economic malaise in both Hong Kong and China, can lead to less interest in the market, trading, placements, perhaps suggesting its 6x PB is not warranted?


Hong Kong Exchanges - Key Earnings Delta Was Rising Rates, Net Profit Inflated from Lower Taxation

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The FRTIB benchmark switch from the EAFE Index to the ACWI IMI ex-USA ex-China ex-Hong Kong Index will result in a round trip trade of around US$56bn.</li>
<li>The changes for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-inde" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">CSI 300</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csi-smallcap-500-index-shang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35347:1" rel="noopener">CSI 500</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">STAR50</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-stock-exchange-sse-50-a-share-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31073:1" rel="noopener">SSE50</a> and a bunch of other mainland China indices will be announced after market close on Friday.</li>
<li>Relatively quiet week for ETF flows with no major creations or redemptions during the week.</li>
</ul>


The FRTIB benchmark switch from the EAFE Index to the ACWI IMI ex-USA ex-China ex-Hong Kong Index will result in a round trip trade of around US$56bn.
The changes for the CSI 300, CSI 500, STAR50, SSE50 and a bunch of other mainland China indices will be announced after market close on Friday.
Relatively quiet week for ETF flows with no major creations or redemptions during the week.


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: FRTIB, Japan, CSI300, CSI500, STAR50, WuXi XDC, Asahi

<ul>
<li>The FRTIB has decided to switch its benchmark for the International Stock Index Investment Fund from the EAFE Index to the ACWI IMI ex-USA ex-China ex-Hong Kong Index.</li>
<li>With around US$68bn invested in the I Fund, this will set off churn among the constituent stocks in 2024. One-way trade is around US$28bn with DM outflows and EM inflows.</li>
<li>The benchmark shift could be done over a 4 month period with higher trading during periods where liquidity opportunities arise.</li>
</ul>


The FRTIB has decided to switch its benchmark for the International Stock Index Investment Fund from the EAFE Index to the ACWI IMI ex-USA ex-China ex-Hong Kong Index.
With around US$68bn invested in the I Fund, this will set off churn among the constituent stocks in 2024. One-way trade is around US$28bn with DM outflows and EM inflows.
The benchmark shift could be done over a 4 month period with higher trading during periods where liquidity opportunities arise.


FRTIB Switches Benchmarks: +EM/-DM; US$56bn Trade as Asia EM Benefits & HK Loses Out

<ul>
<li>On 27 May, the SFC and CSRC announced that they had agreed in principle to the inclusion of Exchange Traded Funds by mainland and Hong Kong exchanges in Stock Connect.</li>
<li>We currently see 6 ETF being eligible for inclusion in Southbound Connect and another couple that could be included at a subsequent review.</li>
<li>Increased mainland participation in the ETF market could lead to sustained premium/discount on the ETFs and this will be transmitted to index futures and affect pricing of short-term/long-term repo.</li>
</ul>


On 27 May, the SFC and CSRC announced that they had agreed in principle to the inclusion of Exchange Traded Funds by mainland and Hong Kong exchanges in Stock Connect.
We currently see 6 ETF being eligible for inclusion in Southbound Connect and another couple that could be included at a subsequent review.
Increased mainland participation in the ETF market could lead to sustained premium/discount on the ETFs and this will be transmitted to index futures and affect pricing of short-term/long-term repo.


ETFs in Stock Connect: Criteria & Potential Southbound Inclusions

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited owns and operates the stock exchange, futures exchange, and their related clearing houses in Hong Kong.  The Company provides the trading platforms for a range of cash and derivatives products and the facilities for processing trades.

HKEX (388 HK)

HKEX - Worsening Property Transactions, Underscores Ailments for Hong Kong

Results for HKEX are just out and there are not good at all, across many key line items, and with average daily trading volume with EBITDA at -20% YoY

Daniel Tabbush

Hong Kong Exchanges - Key Earnings Delta Was Rising Rates, Net Profit Inflated from Lower Taxation

Hong Kong Exchanges shows that much of its profit was due to rising rates on it cash deposits, and this can reverse. Lower taxation inflates...

Daniel Tabbush

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: FRTIB, Japan, CSI300, CSI500, STAR50, WuXi XDC, Asahi

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas

FRTIB Switches Benchmarks: +EM/-DM; US$56bn Trade as Asia EM Benefits & HK Loses Out

The FRTIB has decided to switch investment benchmarks leading to inflows for Emerging Markets and Small Caps at the expense of Developed Markets...

Brian Freitas

ETFs in Stock Connect: Criteria & Potential Southbound Inclusions

SFC & CSRC have agreed in principle to the inclusion of HKEX listed ETFs in Southbound Connect. We see 6 ETFs as eligible for inclusion. There will...

Brian Freitas