Cross-Asset Strategist & Quantitative Analyst, Pennock Idea Hub

Cam Hui

Cross-Asset Strategist & Quantitative Analyst

Pennock Idea Hub

We are creators of independent equity research. The Pennock Idea Hub team are veterans of the investment industry. Much of our team has spent their careers at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, RBC Capital Markets and Wood Gundy. We have taken every aspect of research back to the studs and returned to first principles. The Pennock Idea Hub marries the interests of the sell and buy side. 

We offer the best research for institutional investors by:

-Only publishing research from veteran analysts
-Eliminate the inherent conflicts of the traditional sell and buy side relationship
-Ensure our team is always accessible; collaboration with clients nurtures our collective success

Cross-Asset & Quantitative Research

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>We recently suggested a number of long/short pair trades, with inflation hedge vehicles forming the long portion of a number of pairs.</li>
<li>Inflation hedge factors have begun to underperform, and the subsequent performance of the pairs is revealing of the factors driving the current market environment.</li>
<li>We are inclined to give the long inflation hedge pairs the benefit of the doubt. They are being sold along in a panic liquidation where all correlations converge to 1.</li>
</ul>


We recently suggested a number of long/short pair trades, with inflation hedge vehicles forming the long portion of a number of pairs.
Inflation hedge factors have begun to underperform, and the subsequent performance of the pairs is revealing of the factors driving the current market environment.
We are inclined to give the long inflation hedge pairs the benefit of the doubt. They are being sold along in a panic liquidation where all correlations converge to 1.


Pairs Monitor: Are Correlations Converging to 1?

<ul>
<li>The U.S. equity market outlook is undergoing an unusual bifurcated condition.</li>
<li>Intermediate-Term technical indicators remain bearish but survey-based sentiment indicates crowded short conditions, which is contrarian bullish. </li>
<li>As long as our pairs trading factors remain in uptrends, we are inclined to remain cautious on the equity outlook.</li>
</ul>


The U.S. equity market outlook is undergoing an unusual bifurcated condition.
Intermediate-Term technical indicators remain bearish but survey-based sentiment indicates crowded short conditions, which is contrarian bullish. 
As long as our pairs trading factors remain in uptrends, we are inclined to remain cautious on the equity outlook.


The Canaries in the Bifurcated Market Coalmine

<ul>
<li>While we are intermediate term cautious, our working hypothesis for the near-term outlook is a choppy market, but the S&amp;P 500 is unlikely to breach its 2022 lows.  </li>
<li>It is with this chaotic environment in mind that we suggest pairs trading as a more risk-controlled way of finding better returns.</li>
<li>We will update all of the pairs periodically. Feedback and expressions of interest are appreciated so we know how much resources to devote to the regular update to this strategy.</li>
</ul>


While we are intermediate term cautious, our working hypothesis for the near-term outlook is a choppy market, but the S&amp;P 500 is unlikely to breach its 2022 lows.  
It is with this chaotic environment in mind that we suggest pairs trading as a more risk-controlled way of finding better returns.
We will update all of the pairs periodically. Feedback and expressions of interest are appreciated so we know how much resources to devote to the regular update to this strategy.


Achieving Stable Alpha in a Chaotic Bear Market

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

Equity Bottom-Up

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash results from continuing operations of AUD 30.5 bn, which attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in loss provision reversals; </li>
<li>Despite the poor result, CBA has chosen to pull on numerous earnings levers to make even these numbers; and </li>
<li>While credit has improved, reserves will need to be buttressed as we head into a period of higher interest rates.   </li>
</ul>


CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash results from continuing operations of AUD 30.5 bn, which attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in loss provision reversals; 
Despite the poor result, CBA has chosen to pull on numerous earnings levers to make even these numbers; and 
While credit has improved, reserves will need to be buttressed as we head into a period of higher interest rates.   


Commonwealth Bank of Australia – Pulling On All Earnings Levers

* New Transaction In Australia: On November 7, 2021, Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] announced a proposed acquisition of a 50% stake three shopping malls in Sydney for AUD 538 mn or HKD 3.3 bn, in a deal where it has no control of the properties;  * Limited Disclosure Raises Eyebrows: Link did not disclose the annual income on the properties, nor the projected tenant lease expiry and changes in foot traffic between pre and post COVID-19; and  *Hong Kong Pressures Are Very Apparent: This transaction so far away from Link REIT’s core competency that it speaks volumes as to where it believes its core Hong Kong retail business is heading. This doesn’t seem like smart diversification and smells more of panic leverage when one considers the thre price and location of this deal.

 * New Transaction In Australia: On November 7, 2021, Link REIT (823.HK) [Link] announced a proposed acquisition of a 50% stake three shopping malls in Sydney for AUD 538 mn or HKD 3.3 bn, in a deal where it has no control of the properties;  * Limited Disclosure Raises Eyebrows: Link did not disclose the annual income on the properties, nor the projected tenant lease expiry and changes in foot traffic between pre and post COVID-19; and  *Hong Kong Pressures Are Very Apparent: This transaction so far away from Link REIT’s core competency that it speaks volumes as to where it believes its core Hong Kong retail business is heading. This doesn’t seem like smart diversification and smells more of panic leverage when one considers the thre price and location of this deal. 

Australia

iShares MSCI Australia ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI Australia Index. The ETF holds predominantly large-cap stocks from Australian companies. The ETF weights the holdings using a market capitalization methodology and rebalances quarterly.

iShares MSCI Australia (EWA US)

Pairs Monitor: Are Correlations Converging to 1?

Give long inflation hedge pairs the benefit of the doubt. In all likelihood, they are being sold along with other equity positions in a panic...

Cam Hui

The Canaries in the Bifurcated Market Coalmine

Intermediate technical indicators remain bearish but survey-based sentiment indicates crowded short conditions. Stay cautious as long as our pairs...

Cam Hui

Achieving Stable Alpha in a Chaotic Bear Market

It is with a chaotic bearish environment in mind that we suggest pairs trading as a more risk-controlled way of finding better returns.

Cam Hui

Commonwealth Bank of Australia – Pulling On All Earnings Levers

CBA: CBA reported modestly weaker FY 1H22 cash result, attributed primarily to a 77.1% decline in provision reversals. Despite the result, CBA did...

Thomas J. Monaco

Link REIT – Another Odd Deal

LINK REIT: Link announced a proposed acquisition of a 50% stake three shopping malls in Sydney for HKD 3.3 bn, in a deal where it has no control of...

Thomas J. Monaco