Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. 
Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.
Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.
However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.
With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI. We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
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<td style="width: 726.047px;">Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook</td>
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<tr>
<td style="width: 726.047px;">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/213/768/original/image_768460236451623962508577.png?1623962508" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="213768"></figure>

Source: Our analysis
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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In the spirit of the long-awaited UEFA Euro 2020, we present our inaugural "China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook", which summarizes our views on the names that are best positioned to navigate an environment of progressively slower credit growth, tighter liquidity and rising defaults. 
Our screen consists of 100+ stocks in the A/H share universe, as well as a select number of international / non-traditional names that have significant exposures to China's financial system. We have a preference for larger-cap and liquid names, which are then filtered by our opinions on their fundamentals, value, momentum and recent trading volumes. We also try to make our selections versatile and less vulnerable to single-factor movements.
Each player's position on the pitch and the team formation itself convey incremental information about our thoughts on the sector's performance over a three to six-month horizon. To the extent possible, we intend to update our ideas on a periodic basis. This provides a feedback loop with our other ongoing research on the industry.
However, our team selections are not investment recommendations. Instead, they are meant to give structure to our analysis. The playbook allows us to articulate our views on the sector in a timely, concise manner. Our objective is to ensure we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater as sentiments on the sector remain bleak.
With that out of the way, the following is our starting XI. We will dive deeper into our rationale for our selections in the remainder of this insight (Exhibit 1).



Exhibit 1: China Financials | Silver Linings Playbook





Source: Our analysis




Related Insights
China Macro: Consumers Remain on the Sidelines, as Their Home Equity Grows 
Glut and Famine: We Might See Snow in China This Summer 
China Macro: PPI Peaks, while CPI Eases Tightening Fears 
China Macro: Exports Disappoint, but It's Still Early in the Game 
Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May 
ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story 
BOC Aviation (2588 HK): The Stars Don't Look Bigger, but They Do Look Brighter

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

China and US Equity Analyst

Roger Xie

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong de facto central bank, HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority), issued a strategic paper exploring the feasibility of issuing a retail-focused CBDC (central bank digital currency), an e-HKD, within 12 months. One of the major use cases of e-HKD is to link with e-CNY and facilitate cross-border payment or transfer. This has underscored China's ambition to take further step rolling out its most advanced digital currency among major economies.</li>
<li>Based on the latest quarterly statistics on mobile app usage, digital currency app has become a dominant factor in user engagement. Stock trading and crypto trading apps show much higher daily user visits and viewing time, compared with other financial management apps. The proliferation of CBDC (central bank digital currency), such as e-HKD and e-CNY, will likely accelerate user growth and engagement. The major crypto exchange <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coinbase-global-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32227:1" rel="noopener">Coinbase (COIN US)</a> has shown its registered users jumping 65% year-over-year in 21Q1 during the wider acceptancy of bitcoin. </li>
<li>We expect the majority of Hong Kong-based retail banks will likely roll out their own mobile apps with capability to transact on e-HKD and e-CNY in near term. The successful integration of this feature might likely impact user engagement, which might become a key KPI for banks' mobile app in our view. MAU/DAU (Month/Daily Active User) might become the differentiators for Hong Kong based retail banks such as  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (5 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Bank (11 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia (23 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/boc-hong-kong-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:343:1" rel="noopener">BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) (2388 HK)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dah-sing-financial-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:589:1" rel="noopener">Dah Sing Financial (440 HK). </a>
</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong de facto central bank, HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority), issued a strategic paper exploring the feasibility of issuing a retail-focused CBDC (central bank digital currency), an e-HKD, within 12 months. One of the major use cases of e-HKD is to link with e-CNY and facilitate cross-border payment or transfer. This has underscored China's ambition to take further step rolling out its most advanced digital currency among major economies.
Based on the latest quarterly statistics on mobile app usage, digital currency app has become a dominant factor in user engagement. Stock trading and crypto trading apps show much higher daily user visits and viewing time, compared with other financial management apps. The proliferation of CBDC (central bank digital currency), such as e-HKD and e-CNY, will likely accelerate user growth and engagement. The major crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN US) has shown its registered users jumping 65% year-over-year in 21Q1 during the wider acceptancy of bitcoin. 
We expect the majority of Hong Kong-based retail banks will likely roll out their own mobile apps with capability to transact on e-HKD and e-CNY in near term. The successful integration of this feature might likely impact user engagement, which might become a key KPI for banks' mobile app in our view. MAU/DAU (Month/Daily Active User) might become the differentiators for Hong Kong based retail banks such as  HSBC Holdings (5 HK) , Hang Seng Bank (11 HK) , Bank of East Asia (23 HK) , BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) (2388 HK) , Dah Sing Financial (440 HK). 



Hong Kong to Embrace Digital Currency E-HKD, Boosting Fintech Investment and Connectivity With E-CNY

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.

Several large global banks saw bad loans rise a reasonable amount during last and then fall during the first quarter this year. The experience at HSBC is worse, and directionally at odds at present. It does not feel like the quintessential recovery bank in FY21, and where DBS glows in comparison.

Several large global banks saw bad loans rise a reasonable amount during last and then fall during the first quarter this year. The experience at HSBC is worse, and directionally at odds at present. It does not feel like the quintessential recovery bank in FY21, and where DBS glows in comparison. 

HSBC – Underwhelms Against DBS, Global Peers

While most banks globally are seeing sharply lower credit costs in the March 2021 quarter, this is not the case in India. There are discreet risks in India related to the impact of poor air quality and the syndemic, but also with respect to pre-existing financial weakness and limited central bank relief.

While most banks globally are seeing sharply lower credit costs in the March 2021 quarter, this is not the case in India. There are discreet risks in India related to the impact of poor air quality and the syndemic, but also with respect to pre-existing financial weakness and limited central bank relief. 

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

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on April 2, 2021 released finalized new capital standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that the need for banking  crisis liquidation plans; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value.

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on April 2, 2021 released finalized new capital standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that the need for banking  crisis liquidation plans; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value. 

China Banks – Big Capital Raises Coming

United Kingdom

HSBC Holdings Plc is a British universal bank and financial services group operating worldwide. It offers a wide range of services including retail and personal banking, wealth management, commercial banking, global banking, and markets and securities services. The company was founded in British Hong Kong in 1865 and is headquartered in London, England.

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HSBC (HSBA LN)

China Financials: Silver Linings Playbook

Our Silver Linings Playbook outlines our views on the China financials names that are most likely to remain resilient in the face of macro...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Hong Kong to Embrace Digital Currency E-HKD, Boosting Fintech Investment and Connectivity With E-CNY

Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued a strategic paper exploring the feasibility of issuing e-HKD within 12 months. Banking app MAU/DAU might become...

Roger Xie

HSBC – Underwhelms Against DBS, Global Peers

Several large global banks saw bad loans rise a reasonable amount during last and then fall during the first quarter this year. The experience at...

Daniel Tabbush

India – Not Time

There are discreet risks in India related to the impact of poor air quality and the syndemic, but also with respect to pre-existing financial...

Daniel Tabbush

China Banks – Big Capital Raises Coming

CHINA BANKS: The PBOC and CBIRC released finalized new capital standards for the country’s D-SIBs. Equity raises require P/BV over 1.0x and many of...

Thomas J. Monaco

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