HarmoniQ Insights

William Mann

Independent Insight Provider

At HarmoniQ Insights, we empower investors to enhance their investment strategies by integrating cutting-edge quantitative research processes and technologies. Our solutions provide access to leading quantitative data providers and services, tailored to align with each client’s unique goals. By bridging the gap between traditional investment approaches and advanced data-driven methods, we help clients gain a competitive edge through innovation in both process and technology.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>
Strong YTD performance with volatility: Systematic quantitative equity strategies have strong but volatile performance in 2024, with momentum and reversal factors driving returns, particularly in U.S. technology (AI sectors).</li>
<li>
Key macroeconomic drivers: Interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, geopolitical tensions (especially involving China), and the upcoming U.S. Presidential election will be major catalysts influencing equity markets through year-end.</li>
<li>
Sector-Specific opportunities: AI-driven tech and consumer discretionary stocks benefit from rate cuts, but overvaluation risks persist. Value and quality sectors in Europe and defensive strategies (e.g. reversal) hedge market corrections.</li>
</ul>



Strong YTD performance with volatility: Systematic quantitative equity strategies have strong but volatile performance in 2024, with momentum and reversal factors driving returns, particularly in U.S. technology (AI sectors).

Key macroeconomic drivers: Interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, geopolitical tensions (especially involving China), and the upcoming U.S. Presidential election will be major catalysts influencing equity markets through year-end.

Sector-Specific opportunities: AI-driven tech and consumer discretionary stocks benefit from rate cuts, but overvaluation risks persist. Value and quality sectors in Europe and defensive strategies (e.g. reversal) hedge market corrections.


Systematic Quantitative Equity Strategies Outlook: 9/15/24 – Year-End

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

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) / Event-Driven

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) (2330 TT)

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)

<ul>
<li>We first wrote about the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-223f5da3-7054-4e4f-bc55-b7f0852c2581" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31998:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US)</a> ETF 3 years ago when AUM was less than US$500m. AUM now stands at US$11bn.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-223f5da3-7054-4e4f-bc55-b7f0852c2581" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31998:1" rel="noopener">IShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US)</a> has outperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:438:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets (EEM US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-217fc48e-4faa-4bc3-b730-443d6e06728b" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32500:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets Asia (EEMA US)</a> with lower volatility and a lower drawdown.</li>
<li>With the Chinese economy misfiring and markets under pressure, we could see a further shift in positioning away from China and that means inflows to other Emerging Markets.</li>
</ul>


We first wrote about the iShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US) ETF 3 years ago when AUM was less than US$500m. AUM now stands at US$11bn.

IShares Emerging Markets ex-China (EMXC US) has outperformed iShares Emerging Markets (EEM US) and iShares Emerging Markets Asia (EEMA US) with lower volatility and a lower drawdown.
With the Chinese economy misfiring and markets under pressure, we could see a further shift in positioning away from China and that means inflows to other Emerging Markets.


Emerging Markets Ex-China: Looking Back... And Forward

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>2023 marked our eighth year covering Equity Capital Markets in Asia Pacific. In 2023, IPOs didn’t pick up much from the low base of 2022  while placements showed upward momentum.</li>
<li>We ended 2023 with an accuracy rate of 73.7% across 57 IPOs that we covered and 79.3% across 115 placements.</li>
<li>For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.</li>
</ul>


2023 marked our eighth year covering Equity Capital Markets in Asia Pacific. In 2023, IPOs didn’t pick up much from the low base of 2022  while placements showed upward momentum.
We ended 2023 with an accuracy rate of 73.7% across 57 IPOs that we covered and 79.3% across 115 placements.
For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.


Aequitas 2023 IPOs and Placements Performance Review - IPOs Forming a Low Base, Placements Pick Up

Brilliance China Automotive / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brilliance-china-automotive" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:469:1" rel="noopener">Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK)</a> was deleted from local and global indices following its prolonged trading suspension from April 2021 to September 2022.</li>
<li>Following the resumption of trading, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/brilliance-china-automotive" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:469:1" rel="noopener">Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK)</a> was added to the HSCI in March and subsequently to Southbound Stock Connect.</li>
<li>The stock should be bought by global passive trackers over the next few months and there should be substantial passive inflows.</li>
</ul>



Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK) was deleted from local and global indices following its prolonged trading suspension from April 2021 to September 2022.
Following the resumption of trading, Brilliance China Automotive (1114 HK) was added to the HSCI in March and subsequently to Southbound Stock Connect.
The stock should be bought by global passive trackers over the next few months and there should be substantial passive inflows.


Brilliance China (1114 HK): Driving Back Into Passive Portfolios

Global Equities, Multi-Asset PM, Dantes Outlook

Damanick Dantes, CMT

Global Equities, Multi-Asset PM

Dantes Outlook

We invest over a full market cycle, using multi-asset portfolios tailored to each global client, from individuals to family offices.

Built to Endure

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>
India reversed its entire relative gain against EM. The near 50% relative drawdown is the deepest and longest since 2012, so we're positioning for improvement.</li>
<li>
Bottom-Decile losses in India have historically preceded strong rebounds. Although relative washouts offer no comparable evidence. We can scale up on an absoute basis.</li>
<li>
Opportunity in the middle of the index. We built a tiered watch list from the middle cohort, scaling toward equal weight as confirmation arrives.</li>
</ul>



India reversed its entire relative gain against EM. The near 50% relative drawdown is the deepest and longest since 2012, so we're positioning for improvement.

Bottom-Decile losses in India have historically preceded strong rebounds. Although relative washouts offer no comparable evidence. We can scale up on an absoute basis.

Opportunity in the middle of the index. We built a tiered watch list from the middle cohort, scaling toward equal weight as confirmation arrives.


India Equities: Stocks to Watch After Deep Underperformance

United States

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI TR Emerging Markets Index. The ETF holds emerging market stocks that can predominantly be classified as large and mid-cap. It weights the holdings using a market capitalization methodology and rebalances quarterly.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM US)

Systematic Quantitative Equity Strategies Outlook: 9/15/24 – Year-End

Design a tactical, long-tilted portfolio to express systematic investing outlook with long-short Smart-Beta, Sector and Region-Specific ETFs.

William Mann

Emerging Markets Ex-China: Looking Back... And Forward

EMXC's AUM has increased from US$420m in March2021 to US$11bn now. That has led to selling of China stocks and buying of other EM stocks. The U.S....

Brian Freitas

Aequitas 2023 IPOs and Placements Performance Review - IPOs Forming a Low Base, Placements Pick Up

2023 was our eight year of covering Asia ECM. We ended 2023 with an accuracy rate of 73.7% across 57 IPOs that we covered and 79.3% across 115...

Sumeet Singh

Brilliance China (1114 HK): Driving Back Into Passive Portfolios

The stock is up 27% over the last 3 months and could be added to passive portfolios at the end of the month. There will be positioning on the stock...

Brian Freitas

India Equities: Stocks to Watch After Deep Underperformance

India looks attractive after a historic washout. We prefer to position among leaders in the middle of the index, scaling up as breadth improves....

Damanick Dantes, CMT