President

Thomas Coughlin

Coughlin Associates

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Solid state storage is now primary storage in many applications, driven by the wide-spread use of NAND flash.  NVMe is now the dominant SSD interface, enabling new network and storage architectures.  MRAM and 3D XPoint memory are appearing in many storage/memory products and the slow-down in NOR, SRAM and DRAM scaling are opening opportunities for RRAM and FRAM memories as well.  All these memory technologies are enabling established and startup companies.</p>

Solid state storage is now primary storage in many applications, driven by the wide-spread use of NAND flash.  NVMe is now the dominant SSD interface, enabling new network and storage architectures.  MRAM and 3D XPoint memory are appearing in many storage/memory products and the slow-down in NOR, SRAM and DRAM scaling are opening opportunities for RRAM and FRAM memories as well.  All these memory technologies are enabling established and startup companies.

Solid State Storage and Memory in 2021:  New Opportunities for Leaders and Startups

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

MSCI Emerging Markets Index / Technical Analysis

<p>We are no longer recommending an overweight to China (<strong>MSCI China</strong>) due to recent RS deterioration. Our favorite countries remain Taiwan (<strong>TAIEX</strong>) and India (<strong>SENSEX</strong>), while Brazil (<strong>Bovespa</strong>) and South Korea (<strong>KOSPI</strong>) display improving price and RS trends -- add exposure. MSCI EM <strong>Technology </strong>and <strong>Materials </strong>are our top two Sector overweights. Additionally, the EM <strong>Health Care</strong> Sector shows bullish price and RS inflections, making it a timely Sector to add exposure to at current levels.</p>

We are no longer recommending an overweight to China (MSCI China) due to recent RS deterioration. Our favorite countries remain Taiwan (TAIEX) and India (SENSEX), while Brazil (Bovespa) and South Korea (KOSPI) display improving price and RS trends -- add exposure. MSCI EM Technology and Materials are our top two Sector overweights. Additionally, the EM Health Care Sector shows bullish price and RS inflections, making it a timely Sector to add exposure to at current levels.

Overweight EM Vs. EAFE; Dollar Weakness Continues

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/country-garden-services-holdings-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27343:1" rel="noopener">Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (HK) (9618 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-smic" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14231:1" rel="noopener">Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate, and decreased on Financials and Information Technology names.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/honda-motor-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:154:1" rel="noopener">Honda Motor (7267 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12933:1" rel="noopener">Kao Corp (4452 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/central-japan-railway-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13520:1" rel="noopener">Central Japan Railway Co (9022 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bridgestone-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8914:1" rel="noopener">Bridgestone Corp (5108 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/takeda-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11747:1" rel="noopener">Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11028:1" rel="noopener">Toto Ltd (5332 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Industrials, and decreased on Health Care names.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, there were large short positions put on in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chung-hsin-electric-machinery-mfg-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3380:1" rel="noopener">Chung Hsin Electric &amp; Machinery Mfg (1513 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walsin-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11084:1" rel="noopener">Walsin Technology (2492 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/epistar-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6849:1" rel="noopener">Epistar Corp (2448 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a>.   </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Country Garden Services Holdings (6098 HK), JD.com (HK) (9618 HK), China Mobile (941 HK) and NetEase (9999 HK) while there was short covering on Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK). Shorts increased on Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate, and decreased on Financials and Information Technology names.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Honda Motor (7267 JP), Kao Corp (4452 JP), Central Japan Railway Co (9022 JP) and Bridgestone Corp (5108 JP) while shorts decreased on M3 Inc (2413 JP), Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP), Toto Ltd (5332 JP) and Casio Computer (6952 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Information Technology, Consumer Staples and Industrials, and decreased on Health Care names.In Korea, there were large short positions put on in LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS).Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Largan Precision (3008 TT), Unimicron Technology (3037 TT), Chung Hsin Electric &amp; Machinery Mfg (1513 TT) and Innolux Corp (3481 TT) while shorts were covered on TSMC (2330 TT), Walsin Technology (2492 TT), Epistar Corp (2448 TT) and Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT).   

Asia Short Interest: JD, NetEase, Xiaomi, SMIC, M3, Toto, LG Chem, Celltrion, Largan, TSMC

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist, Ingenuity

William Keating

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist

Ingenuity

Our focus is exclusively on in-depth research & consulting in the broader semiconductor industry. We focus on the key players, namely Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, NVIDIA, AMD, TSMC & Global Foundries - as well as some of the lesser known, but nonetheless critical, companies such as ASML (for EUV), Mellanox, Cavium, Xilinx etc. We specialise in their products, roadmaps, process technologies, competitive advantages & threats etc. We also help our clients understand the implications of new and emerging technologies, e.g. 3D X-Point, 3D NAND, Carbon Nanotubes, Autonomous Driving, Graphene, Silicon Photonics, Wafer-Level Optics, Artificial Intelligence, FPGA, GPU, ASIC etc. 

Semiconductor Analysis & Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel'</a>s share price is currently down some 26% from its 52 week high, almost exactly where it was three years ago. Meanwhile, competitors <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/advanced-micro-devices-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19009:1" rel="noopener">Advanced Micro Devices</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA'</a>s share prices have more than doubled over the same time period. Paradoxically, demand for Intel's products has never been stronger and the company will likely deliver 5% YoY revenue growth compared to the 2% forecasted back in January. How did Intel find itself in this situation and where is the company heading from here? Here's our thoughts on the matter...</p>

Intel's share price is currently down some 26% from its 52 week high, almost exactly where it was three years ago. Meanwhile, competitors Advanced Micro Devices and NVIDIA's share prices have more than doubled over the same time period. Paradoxically, demand for Intel's products has never been stronger and the company will likely deliver 5% YoY revenue growth compared to the 2% forecasted back in January. How did Intel find itself in this situation and where is the company heading from here? Here's our thoughts on the matter...

Intel. How Did We Get Here And Where Are We Going?

<p>Intel’s latest 144-layer 3D NAND and 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> generation Optane SSDs will enable high performance storage for applications ranging from PCs to data center storage.  The Optane SSDs, combined with the company’s Optane DIMMS are enabling high data throughput for Intel’s current and future generation Xeon processors and providing value to their server processor line, even with the heavy subsidies to sell Optane for less than DRAM.  As Optane volumes increase however the cost of Optane will decrease, reducing Intel’s Optane losses.  Intel’s continued NAND flash products continue to enhance the value of its NAND memory and storage business, maintaining this value before the sale of this business to SK hynix closes.</p>

Intel’s latest 144-layer 3D NAND and 2nd and 3rd generation Optane SSDs will enable high performance storage for applications ranging from PCs to data center storage.  The Optane SSDs, combined with the company’s Optane DIMMS are enabling high data throughput for Intel’s current and future generation Xeon processors and providing value to their server processor line, even with the heavy subsidies to sell Optane for less than DRAM.  As Optane volumes increase however the cost of Optane will decrease, reducing Intel’s Optane losses.  Intel’s continued NAND flash products continue to enhance the value of its NAND memory and storage business, maintaining this value before the sale of this business to SK hynix closes.

Intel’s New Optane and NAND SSDs Enhance Value Ahead of SK Hynix NAND Acquisition

South Korea

SK Hynix Inc. provides products and services for the electronic components industry. The Company manufactures semiconductors, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, and static random access memory (SRAM) chips.

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SK Hynix (000660 KS)

Solid State Storage and Memory in 2021: New Opportunities for Leaders and Startups

Solid State Storage/Memory enables new applications in 2021, fueling storage systems and embedded device established and startup companies.

Thomas Coughlin

Overweight EM Vs. EAFE; Dollar Weakness Continues

Our favorite countries remain Taiwan (TAIEX) and India (SENSEX), while Brazil (Bovespa) and South Korea (KOSPI) display improving price and RS...

Vermilion Research

Asia Short Interest: JD, NetEase, Xiaomi, SMIC, M3, Toto, LG Chem, Celltrion, Largan, TSMC

The weekly short interest report looks at large moves across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan names to gauge investor interest in the stock.

Brian Freitas

Intel. How Did We Get Here And Where Are We Going?

Despite unprecedented demand for their products and record revenues, Intel's share price is bouncing off its March pandemic lows, close to where it...

William Keating

Intel’s New Optane and NAND SSDs Enhance Value Ahead of SK Hynix NAND Acquisition

Intel’s latest 144-layer 3D NAND and 2nd and 3rd generation Optane SSDs will enable high performance storage for applications ranging from PCs to...

Thomas Coughlin

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