Equity Analyst, Event-driven, Quiddity Advisors

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Equity Analyst, Event-driven

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The results for the March 2024 index rebal event for ASX indices were announced after the close on Friday 1st March 2024.</li>
<li>There is one change for ASX 20, two changes for ASX 100, and four changes for ASX 200.</li>
<li>There are 14 ADDs and 10 DELs for ASX 300 and while most of these are small-size flow names some of them have more than 15x ADV to trade.</li>
</ul>


The results for the March 2024 index rebal event for ASX indices were announced after the close on Friday 1st March 2024.
There is one change for ASX 20, two changes for ASX 100, and four changes for ASX 200.
There are 14 ADDs and 10 DELs for ASX 300 and while most of these are small-size flow names some of them have more than 15x ADV to trade.


Quiddity ASX Mar 24 Index Rebal: Many High-Impact Names

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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newcrest-mining-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:691:1" rel="noopener">Newcrest Mining (NCM AU)</a> shares stop trading after the close on 26 October and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newmont-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14503:1" rel="noopener">Newmont Mining (NEM US)</a> CDIs will start trading from the open on 27 October.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newmont-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14503:1" rel="noopener">Newmont Mining (NEM US)</a> CDIs should replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newcrest-mining-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:691:1" rel="noopener">Newcrest Mining (NCM AU)</a> in the S&amp;P/ASX indices from 27 October. But there could be index changes at the subsequent rebalances.</li>
<li>Based on the case of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/block-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35684:1" rel="noopener">Block (SQ2 AU)</a>, we could see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/newmont-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14503:1" rel="noopener">Newmont Mining (NEM US)</a> CDIs deleted from the ASX20 Index in December and from the ASX50 Index in March/June.</li>
</ul>



Newcrest Mining (NCM AU) shares stop trading after the close on 26 October and Newmont Mining (NEM US) CDIs will start trading from the open on 27 October.

Newmont Mining (NEM US) CDIs should replace Newcrest Mining (NCM AU) in the S&amp;P/ASX indices from 27 October. But there could be index changes at the subsequent rebalances.
Based on the case of Block (SQ2 AU), we could see Newmont Mining (NEM US) CDIs deleted from the ASX20 Index in December and from the ASX50 Index in March/June.


Newcrest/Newmont & Potential S&P/ASX Changes

Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>QBE Insurance is seeing a deteriorating combined operating ratio, in part due to CAT events and it unclear to us how underwriting, exposures will immediately improve</li>
<li>Net profit is nearly static, USD750m in FY21, USD770m in FY22. USD400m profit in 1H23 may note repeat in 2H23, due in part to USD700m more debt in interim.</li>
<li>North America net earned premiums are seeing far more distribution toward Commercial, where the COR is especially poor at 109% in 1H23</li>
</ul>


QBE Insurance is seeing a deteriorating combined operating ratio, in part due to CAT events and it unclear to us how underwriting, exposures will immediately improve
Net profit is nearly static, USD750m in FY21, USD770m in FY22. USD400m profit in 1H23 may note repeat in 2H23, due in part to USD700m more debt in interim.
North America net earned premiums are seeing far more distribution toward Commercial, where the COR is especially poor at 109% in 1H23


QBE Insurance - COR 109% in N America Commercial, Where Growth Is High | Debt Surges USD700m in 1H23

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>It is not only NPLs that we must worry about for banks, but also loans that can turn NPL amidst a worsening economic backdrop</li>
<li>CBA's past due loans but not impaired are up 43% in past two years and this bucket of loans is now 2.6x NPLs compared with 1.9x NPLs recently</li>
<li>Australia shows surging insolvencies across many sectors through 17 March 2024 and this can mean past due loans are more prone to migrating to turn NPL</li>
</ul>


It is not only NPLs that we must worry about for banks, but also loans that can turn NPL amidst a worsening economic backdrop
CBA's past due loans but not impaired are up 43% in past two years and this bucket of loans is now 2.6x NPLs compared with 1.9x NPLs recently
Australia shows surging insolvencies across many sectors through 17 March 2024 and this can mean past due loans are more prone to migrating to turn NPL


CBA - Sharply Higher Past Due Loans, but Not Impaired, Alongside Surge of Australia Insolvencies

<ul>
<li>There were a few rebalance announcements in the last week and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX)</a> and STAR100 Index rebalances were implemented at the close on Friday.</li>
<li>There are a lot of rebalances that will be implemented at the close on the coming Thursday and Friday.</li>
<li>Another big week of inflows for onshore China ETFs with Central Huijin likely behind the big flows to ETFs tracking the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-inde" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Inde (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a>. </li>
</ul>


There were a few rebalance announcements in the last week and the SSE STAR50 (STAR50 INDEX) and STAR100 Index rebalances were implemented at the close on Friday.
There are a lot of rebalances that will be implemented at the close on the coming Thursday and Friday.
Another big week of inflows for onshore China ETFs with Central Huijin likely behind the big flows to ETFs tracking the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Inde (SHSZ300 INDEX). 


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: NKY, ASX, CSI300, A50, STTF, LowVol30, Value Up

Australia

QBE Insurance Group Limited is an insurance company which underwrites most forms of commercial and industrial insurance policies, as well as individual policies. QBE also manages Lloyds syndicates and provides investment management services. The Company provides its services both domestically and internationally.

Qbe Insurance (QBE AU)

Quiddity ASX Mar 24 Index Rebal: Many High-Impact Names

On average, the ADDs have 11x ADV to buy and DELs have 8x ADV to sell. The ADDs could outperform the DELs over the next two weeks.

Janaghan Jeyakumar, CFA

Newcrest/Newmont & Potential S&P/ASX Changes

Newmont CDIs should replace Newcrest in the ASX indices. Using Block as a precedent, a decrease in the number of CDIs held in Oz could lead to...

Brian Freitas

QBE Insurance - COR 109% in N America Commercial, Where Growth Is High | Debt Surges USD700m in 1H23

COR is now at 109% in North America Commercial segment, where growth of premiums is especially high. Debt is now rising, this is new, up USD700m in...

Daniel Tabbush

CBA - Sharply Higher Past Due Loans, but Not Impaired, Alongside Surge of Australia Insolvencies

CBA shows sharply high past due loans that are not impaired, alongside worsening insolvencies in Australia. There are implications for its...

Daniel Tabbush

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: NKY, ASX, CSI300, A50, STTF, LowVol30, Value Up

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas