Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Active China A-Share funds scale back Financials exposure to record lows.</li>
<li>A-Share Financials are the largest sector underweight by some distance, held below benchmark by -8.6% on average</li>
<li>Outside of 6 well held stocks, active A-Share managers are staying well clear of a long tail of companies that are well represented in the MSCI China A-Share benchmark.</li>
</ul>


Active China A-Share funds scale back Financials exposure to record lows.
A-Share Financials are the largest sector underweight by some distance, held below benchmark by -8.6% on average
Outside of 6 well held stocks, active A-Share managers are staying well clear of a long tail of companies that are well represented in the MSCI China A-Share benchmark.


Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

<ul>
<li>Chinese banks remain broadly out of favour due to growth and property sector concerns; we see some value opportunities</li>
<li>We like PingAn Bank, in particular, for its attractive valuations, compelling PEG ratio and potential for higher returns; we also remain positive on CCB</li>
<li>We remain negative on China Minsheng due to its low ROE, poor delinquency and NPL coverage</li>
</ul>


Chinese banks remain broadly out of favour due to growth and property sector concerns; we see some value opportunities
We like PingAn Bank, in particular, for its attractive valuations, compelling PEG ratio and potential for higher returns; we also remain positive on CCB
We remain negative on China Minsheng due to its low ROE, poor delinquency and NPL coverage


China Banks Screener; PingAn Bank Is Our Top Pick, Followed by CCB

<ul>
<li>Financials sector allocations continue to move higher.  Average holding weights stand at 18.78%, the highest level since early 2020 and well up from the lows of 15.06% in Sep 2020</li>
<li>Indonesia, Singapore, India and Thailand were responsible for the moves higher, with China &amp; HK not participating in the upturn. </li>
<li>AIA Group Ltd is the most widely held stock.  China Merchants Bank and Bank Central Asia the key overweights. China Construction Bank and ICBC are largely avoided by Asian investors.</li>
</ul>


Financials sector allocations continue to move higher.  Average holding weights stand at 18.78%, the highest level since early 2020 and well up from the lows of 15.06% in Sep 2020
Indonesia, Singapore, India and Thailand were responsible for the moves higher, with China &amp; HK not participating in the upturn. 
AIA Group Ltd is the most widely held stock.  China Merchants Bank and Bank Central Asia the key overweights. China Construction Bank and ICBC are largely avoided by Asian investors.


Asia Ex-Japan:  Financials Recovery Leaves China Behind

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

*Document 15: Recently the China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) issued guidance to both banks and insurers on implicit debt of local government financing vehicles (LGFV) via Document 15 – tightening the screws even further;  and*No Let Up In Sight: Coupled with the structural reforms of an increase in risk-based capital minimums for certain state banks, the partial bank Wealth Management Product (WMP) resolution, and the recent reserve requirement ratio (RRR) reduction, these tightening measures should act to contain some of the out of control financial risk within the mainland Chinese financial system.

*Document 15: Recently the China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) issued guidance to both banks and insurers on implicit debt of local government financing vehicles (LGFV) via Document 15 – tightening the screws even further;  and*No Let Up In Sight: Coupled with the structural reforms of an increase in risk-based capital minimums for certain state banks, the partial bank Wealth Management Product (WMP) resolution, and the recent reserve requirement ratio (RRR) reduction, these tightening measures should act to contain some of the out of control financial risk within the mainland Chinese financial system.

Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Macroeconomics

Monthly Newsletter | May 2021
Monetary data in May suggest that the environment has turned a notch tighter in China. Loan and deposit growth surprised on the downside and signals the beginning of yet another challenging period for the Chinese banks in the months ahead.
Both the asset and liability sides of the banks' balance sheets hit a wall in April. Loan growth missed consensus by a notable margin, driven by a softer mortgage market and slower corporate credit expansion. The net decline in new deposits was more worrying and the risk of disintermediation is on the rise, particularly for the smaller banks.
Deleveraging real estate exposures remains a top priority for the regulators. New mortgage rates have edged up, continuing a trend since 1Q21. Margins have widened slightly for new corporate loans as well. This supports our view that net interest margins have bottomed out and is mildly positive for the H-share G-SIBs.  
We expect the central bank to maintain a neutral policy for the remainder of 2021. The policy rates and loan prime rate will likely hold steady. That said, smaller banks that rely extensively on the interbank market may find it increasingly difficult to source cheap funding. Interbank bank defaults among the unlisted banks are not a remote possibility.
We will remain underweight the H-share banks against MSCI China <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/msci-china-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22895:1" rel="noopener">(MXCN INDEX)</a> until 2Q21 earnings. Meanwhile, we will watch closely whether a sales rebound story will materialize for the life insurers, as bank deposit outflows may find their way into savings polices in the coming quarters.

<div>
Related Insights
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/icbc-the-prefs-are-junk-and-should-trade-like-it" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51598" rel="noopener">ICBC: The Prefs Are Junk and Should Trade Like It</a> </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/icbc-the-bond-identity-a-zero-growth-dividend-discount-story" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:51463" rel="noopener">ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story</a> </li>
</ul>
</div>

Monthly Newsletter | May 2021
Monetary data in May suggest that the environment has turned a notch tighter in China. Loan and deposit growth surprised on the downside and signals the beginning of yet another challenging period for the Chinese banks in the months ahead.
Both the asset and liability sides of the banks' balance sheets hit a wall in April. Loan growth missed consensus by a notable margin, driven by a softer mortgage market and slower corporate credit expansion. The net decline in new deposits was more worrying and the risk of disintermediation is on the rise, particularly for the smaller banks.
Deleveraging real estate exposures remains a top priority for the regulators. New mortgage rates have edged up, continuing a trend since 1Q21. Margins have widened slightly for new corporate loans as well. This supports our view that net interest margins have bottomed out and is mildly positive for the H-share G-SIBs.  
We expect the central bank to maintain a neutral policy for the remainder of 2021. The policy rates and loan prime rate will likely hold steady. That said, smaller banks that rely extensively on the interbank market may find it increasingly difficult to source cheap funding. Interbank bank defaults among the unlisted banks are not a remote possibility.
We will remain underweight the H-share banks against MSCI China (MXCN INDEX) until 2Q21 earnings. Meanwhile, we will watch closely whether a sales rebound story will materialize for the life insurers, as bank deposit outflows may find their way into savings polices in the coming quarters.


Related Insights




ICBC: The Prefs Are Junk and Should Trade Like It 

ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story 



Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May

China

Ping An Bank Co Ltd provides a full range of commercial banking services including RMB and foreign currency deposit, loan, international and domestic settlement, discount, currency trading, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and other related services.

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Ping An Bank Co Ltd A (000001 CH)

China Banks Screener; PingAn Bank Is Our Top Pick, Followed by CCB

We like PingAn Bank for its attractive valuations, compelling PEG ratio and potential for higher returns, we also remain positive on CCB; avoid...

Victor Galliano

Asia Ex-Japan: Financials Recovery Leaves China Behind

Financials exposure moves higher. Active weights hit their highest level since early 2020. Indonesia, Singapore and India Financials were the...

Steven Holden

China Banks – Screws Tighten On LGFVs

CHINA BANKS: Recently the CBIRC issued guidance on implicit LGFV debt via Document 15 – further tightening the screws on mainland China's financial...

Thomas J. Monaco

Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May

Monetary data in May point to a tighter environment for both lending and funding. Mortgage rates have edged up, but the deposit drain is worrying....

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

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China A-Share Financials: Out Of Love

China A-Share managers scale back Financials exposure to record lows. Outside of the top 6 stocks, active managers show little appetite for the...

Steven Holden

China Banks Screener; PingAn Bank Is Our Top Pick, Followed by CCB

We like PingAn Bank for its attractive valuations, compelling PEG ratio and potential for higher returns, we also remain positive on CCB; avoid...

Victor Galliano

Asia Ex-Japan: Financials Recovery Leaves China Behind

Financials exposure moves higher. Active weights hit their highest level since early 2020. Indonesia, Singapore and India Financials were the...

Steven Holden

China Banks – Screws Tighten On LGFVs

CHINA BANKS: Recently the CBIRC issued guidance on implicit LGFV debt via Document 15 – further tightening the screws on mainland China's financial...

Thomas J. Monaco

Glut and Famine: China's Monetary Conditions a Notch Tighter in May

Monetary data in May point to a tighter environment for both lending and funding. Mortgage rates have edged up, but the deposit drain is worrying....

Stanley Tsai, CFA