Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

The MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. is breaking topside its nearly 14-month downtrend and above key resistance. The move is being fueled by improvements throughout most of Europe and the UK, along with strength in China over the past 2-3 months. We believe these positive developments are supportive of higher equity prices moving forward. We provide a technical appraisal of all major markets.The STOXX 600 Banks and Insurance Sectors are exhibiting bullish price inflections and RS indicates these areas may be emerging as leadership. In today’s report we highlight actionable stocks throughout the int’l Financial Sector.

The MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. is breaking topside its nearly 14-month downtrend and above key resistance. The move is being fueled by improvements throughout most of Europe and the UK, along with strength in China over the past 2-3 months. We believe these positive developments are supportive of higher equity prices moving forward. We provide a technical appraisal of all major markets.The STOXX 600 Banks and Insurance Sectors are exhibiting bullish price inflections and RS indicates these areas may be emerging as leadership. In today’s report we highlight actionable stocks throughout the int’l Financial Sector.

MSCI ACWI Ex-U.S. Breaking Topside Its Downtrend: Europe & The UK Look Attractive

So far the S&amp;P 500 has failed to overcome the 2,790-2,800 resistance level we first highlighted in our 6/5/18 Compass. However, while a breakdown below support remains possible, the S&amp;P 500 is currently at an area where we would expect to see some support. The wild card remains financials.  A breakdown of the sector has the potential to usher in another broad market selloff, which could cause the S&amp;P 500 to fall below 200-day moving average support and lead to more negative breadth signals for the indicators highlighted above. $26.50 on the XLF is the level we are watching.

So far the S&amp;P 500 has failed to overcome the 2,790-2,800 resistance level we first highlighted in our 6/5/18 Compass. However, while a breakdown below support remains possible, the S&amp;P 500 is currently at an area where we would expect to see some support. The wild card remains financials.  A breakdown of the sector has the potential to usher in another broad market selloff, which could cause the S&amp;P 500 to fall below 200-day moving average support and lead to more negative breadth signals for the indicators highlighted above. $26.50 on the XLF is the level we are watching.

U.S. Equities: Downgrading Manufacturing and Materials; Large-Cap Financials at Critical Support

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Manulife Financial's second-quarter 2025 earnings call provides a comprehensive view of the company's performance and strategic direction.</li><li>The quarter was marked by promising growth in several areas, alongside some challenges that need addressing.</li><li>Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company's price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.</li></ul>

Manulife Financial's second-quarter 2025 earnings call provides a comprehensive view of the company's performance and strategic direction.The quarter was marked by promising growth in several areas, alongside some challenges that need addressing.Baptista Research looks to evaluate the different factors that could influence the company's price in the near future and attempts to carry out an independent valuation of the company using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methodology.

Manulife Financial Corporation’s Asian Surge – Will 31% APE Growth Continue in 2025?

<ul><li>Manulife Financial recently released its first quarter 2025 results, showcasing both positive and challenging aspects of its performance.</li><li>The company maintained strong growth momentum from 2024, particularly in its Asia and Global Wealth and Asset Management (WAM) businesses.</li><li>Asia's Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) sales surged 50%, driven by robust demand in Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, and Singapore.</li></ul>

Manulife Financial recently released its first quarter 2025 results, showcasing both positive and challenging aspects of its performance.The company maintained strong growth momentum from 2024, particularly in its Asia and Global Wealth and Asset Management (WAM) businesses.Asia's Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) sales surged 50%, driven by robust demand in Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, and Singapore.

Manulife Financial Corporation Delivers Double-Digit CSM Growth—Can It Sustain This Earnings Surge?

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-eastern-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13993:1" rel="noopener">Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP)</a> delisting resolution failed as it was not approved by at least 75% of disinterested shareholders.</li>
<li>The resumption of trading resolutions to restore the 10% free float requirement was passed. Trading will resume once the 10% free float requirement is met. </li>
<li>Minorities have secured a pyrrhic victory as the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC (OCBC SP)</a> offer was light, but there is no obvious catalyst to re-rate the shares. Deal break price around S$21.49.</li>
</ul>


The Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP) delisting resolution failed as it was not approved by at least 75% of disinterested shareholders.
The resumption of trading resolutions to restore the 10% free float requirement was passed. Trading will resume once the 10% free float requirement is met. 
Minorities have secured a pyrrhic victory as the OCBC (OCBC SP) offer was light, but there is no obvious catalyst to re-rate the shares. Deal break price around S$21.49.


Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): Minorities Secure a Pyrrhic Victory

Canada

Manulife Financial Corporation is a Canadian multinational insurance company and financial services provider. It offers life and health insurance, wealth management, and investment solutions to individuals and groups across Canada, the U.S., and Asia. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the company was founded in 1887.

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Manulife (945 HK)

MSCI ACWI Ex-U.S. Breaking Topside Its Downtrend: Europe & The UK Look Attractive

The MSCI ACWI ex-U.S. is breaking topside its nearly 14-month downtrend and above key resistance. The move is being fueled by improvements...

Vermilion Research

U.S. Equities: Downgrading Manufacturing and Materials; Large-Cap Financials at Critical Support

So far the S&P 500 has failed to overcome the 2,790-2,800 resistance level we first highlighted in our 6/5/18 Compass. However, while a...

Vermilion Research

Manulife Financial Corporation’s Asian Surge – Will 31% APE Growth Continue in 2025?

Manulife Financial's second-quarter 2025 earnings call provides a comprehensive view of the company's performance and strategic direction. The...

Baptista Research

Manulife Financial Corporation Delivers Double-Digit CSM Growth—Can It Sustain This Earnings Surge?

Manulife Financial recently released its first quarter 2025 results, showcasing both positive and challenging aspects of its performance. The...

Baptista Research

Great Eastern Holdings (GE SP): Minorities Secure a Pyrrhic Victory

Minorities have secured a pyrrhic victory as the OCBC (OCBC SP) offer was light, but there is no obvious catalyst to re-rate the shares. My...

Arun George

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