Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Following existing home last week, new home sales also posted positive YoY growth. </li>
<li>LI is getting ready for its major battle of the year with BEV launch. It is focused, but we doubt it is enough;</li>
<li>MNSO guided down its C4Q24 and we believe it will miss 2025 as well. Offline grocery is under constant assault by O2O and online e-commerce. </li>
</ul>


Following existing home last week, new home sales also posted positive YoY growth. 
LI is getting ready for its major battle of the year with BEV launch. It is focused, but we doubt it is enough;
MNSO guided down its C4Q24 and we believe it will miss 2025 as well. Offline grocery is under constant assault by O2O and online e-commerce. 


[Blue Lotus China New Consumer Weekly, 9/52] New Home Sales Also Turned Positive YoY

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>Our "Buy the Worst" strategy has outperformed the HSI by 1.7pp in the first two months. Meanwhile, the basket of best-performing constituents have underperformed 1.9pp. </li>
<li>More news on stimulating consumptions should be positive to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/budweiser-brewing-co-apac-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28077:1" rel="noopener">Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chow-tai-fook-jewellery-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:549:1" rel="noopener">Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK)</a>, and even <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-lung-properties-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:49:1" rel="noopener">Hang Lung Properties (101 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> has been weighed down by weaker profitability on higher costs. Earnings risks may negatively affect <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-hongqiao-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1909:1" rel="noopener">China Hongqiao (1378 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>


Our "Buy the Worst" strategy has outperformed the HSI by 1.7pp in the first two months. Meanwhile, the basket of best-performing constituents have underperformed 1.9pp. 
More news on stimulating consumptions should be positive to Budweiser Brewing APAC (1876 HK), Chow Tai Fook Jewellery (1929 HK), and even Hang Lung Properties (101 HK). 

Trip.com Group (9961 HK) has been weighed down by weaker profitability on higher costs. Earnings risks may negatively affect Meituan (3690 HK) and China Hongqiao (1378 HK). 


"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist, Clifton Derivatives

John Ley

Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist

Clifton Derivatives

Independent derivative and volatility research firm focusing on events/catalysts, earnings, relative value and cross asset volatility strategies.

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>Broad based weakness, less than ½ of optionable stocks were up on the week with the average size of losses larger than average size of gains.</li>
<li>Total single stock Put option volume the highest in the past 4 months pushing the Put/Call ratio to a local extreme. </li>
<li>Laggards from the rally holding on, rally leaders broadly weak.</li>
</ul>


Broad based weakness, less than ½ of optionable stocks were up on the week with the average size of losses larger than average size of gains.
Total single stock Put option volume the highest in the past 4 months pushing the Put/Call ratio to a local extreme. 
Laggards from the rally holding on, rally leaders broadly weak.


Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Feb 24 – 28): Broad Deterioration

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Gross SOUTHBOUND volumes cleared HK$800bn for the second week in a row. NET buying by SOUTHBOUND was HK$75bn which was perhaps a new record.</li>
<li>Notable again is the HUGE back-and-forth. If HK$865bn traded and SOUTHBOUND "only" bought HK$75bn, HK$395bn was round-tripped for short-term purposes.</li>
<li>Last week I flipped to short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a>. Sentiment may worsen and there's lots to sell later this week. Staying short Alibaba for now. </li>
</ul>


Gross SOUTHBOUND volumes cleared HK$800bn for the second week in a row. NET buying by SOUTHBOUND was HK$75bn which was perhaps a new record.
Notable again is the HUGE back-and-forth. If HK$865bn traded and SOUTHBOUND "only" bought HK$75bn, HK$395bn was round-tripped for short-term purposes.
Last week I flipped to short Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK). Sentiment may worsen and there's lots to sell later this week. Staying short Alibaba for now. 


HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.</li>
<li>Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.</li>
<li>Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.</li>
</ul>


Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.
Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.
Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.


March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

China

Li Auto Inc. manufactures automobiles. The Company designs, develops, and sells smart new energy electric sport utility vehicles. Li Auto conducts businesses in China.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Li Auto (2015 HK)

[Blue Lotus China New Consumer Weekly, 9/52] New Home Sales Also Turned Positive YoY

Latest week saw positive YoY growth in new home sales, LI prepares for major battle with BEV launch, MNSO guidance down for C4Q24 and likely to...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Feb 24 – 28): Broad Deterioration

The market saw broad weakness with less than half of optionable stocks up for the week. Put option volumes at 4-month high, pushing Put/Call ratio...

John Ley

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

HK SOUTHBOUND Connect flows were again huge, both short-term trading and actual net buying. Last week flipped to short Alibaba. This week stays...

Travis Lundy

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Blue Lotus China New Consumer Weekly, 9/52] New Home Sales Also Turned Positive YoY

​Latest week saw positive YoY growth in new home sales, LI prepares for major battle with BEV launch, MNSO guidance down for C4Q24 and likely to...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

"Buy the Worst" HSI Strategy: Initial Win Against HSI This Year

​"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (Feb 24 – 28): Broad Deterioration

​The market saw broad weakness with less than half of optionable stocks up for the week. Put option volumes at 4-month high, pushing Put/Call ratio...

John Ley

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

HK SOUTHBOUND Connect flows were again huge, both short-term trading and actual net buying. Last week flipped to short Alibaba. This week stays...

Travis Lundy

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

​March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

Latest week saw positive YoY growth in new home sales, LI prepares for major battle with BEV launch, MNSO guidance down for C4Q24 and likely to...

"Buy the worst" strategy outperforms HSI by 1.7pp, while best-performing stocks lag by 1.9pp. Stimulating consumption news could benefit...

The market saw broad weakness with less than half of optionable stocks up for the week. Put option volumes at 4-month high, pushing Put/Call ratio...

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.