Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>What matters with HSBC results is really not the bottom line, the management view or the constant currency comparatives, but rather the view on specific regions. </li>
<li>Still there is concern HSBC has not yet realized losses on BoCom, it is not marked to market; there will be an impairment of USD1.2-1.6bn from dilution</li>
<li>HK shows credit costs rising from USD233m to USD320m YoY in 1Q25 and UK shows credit costs rising from USD55m to USD169m YoY, both are key to HSBC</li>
</ul>


What matters with HSBC results is really not the bottom line, the management view or the constant currency comparatives, but rather the view on specific regions. 
Still there is concern HSBC has not yet realized losses on BoCom, it is not marked to market; there will be an impairment of USD1.2-1.6bn from dilution
HK shows credit costs rising from USD233m to USD320m YoY in 1Q25 and UK shows credit costs rising from USD55m to USD169m YoY, both are key to HSBC


HSBC - BoCom Losses Not Yet Realized, Credit Metrics in HK and UK Are Worsening

<ul>
<li>MAS releases quarterly granular data on Singapore banks' credit card charge-offs and the figures are rising sharply</li>
<li>It is not easily visible in banks' own interim results, so that we must use the MAS data as a window on card credit metrics</li>
<li>Credit card charge off rates are now (4Q24) 5.4% vs 4.2% YoY while the total charge-offs are now SGD110.0m in 4Q24 vs SGDm74.7m in 4Q23</li>
</ul>


MAS releases quarterly granular data on Singapore banks' credit card charge-offs and the figures are rising sharply
It is not easily visible in banks' own interim results, so that we must use the MAS data as a window on card credit metrics
Credit card charge off rates are now (4Q24) 5.4% vs 4.2% YoY while the total charge-offs are now SGD110.0m in 4Q24 vs SGDm74.7m in 4Q23


Singapore Banks - Charge off Rates on Cards Are Rising Substantially Through 4Q24

<ul>
<li>Newest monthly release from MAS gives insight into 1Q25 for Singapore's banks and it is not particularly positive </li>
<li>The aggregate loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) continues to move lower, a year ago it was 69.3% and now it's at 67.3%</li>
<li>Singapore's banks added deposits of SGD125bn in the past 12 months through February compared with SGD48bn of loans</li>
</ul>


Newest monthly release from MAS gives insight into 1Q25 for Singapore's banks and it is not particularly positive 
The aggregate loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) continues to move lower, a year ago it was 69.3% and now it's at 67.3%
Singapore's banks added deposits of SGD125bn in the past 12 months through February compared with SGD48bn of loans


Singapore Banks - Credit Growth Overshadowed by Deposit Growth, New Monthly HFD

<ul>
<li>There was a release from the State Council in China in late September about increasing Tier 1 capital of 6 of China's banks through a government capital injection</li>
<li>This week there was a Bloomberg story on this, but only them, talking about something similar and indicating at least RMB400bn of new capital for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/agricultural-bank-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1120:1" rel="noopener"></a>ABC and BoCom.</li>
<li>Interpolating from the numbers, there can be a 10% increase in total equity which may also be equivalent or nearly equivalent or slightly higher than total stated NPLs </li>
</ul>


There was a release from the State Council in China in late September about increasing Tier 1 capital of 6 of China's banks through a government capital injection
This week there was a Bloomberg story on this, but only them, talking about something similar and indicating at least RMB400bn of new capital for ABC and BoCom.
Interpolating from the numbers, there can be a 10% increase in total equity which may also be equivalent or nearly equivalent or slightly higher than total stated NPLs 


China Banks - If Largest 5 Banks Are Recapitalized with RMB1,415bn It Can Be Highly Positive

<ul>
<li>The idea of investing in banks is to put your capital to work by lending to corporates or consumer in any given economy or several at once</li>
<li>Singapore's banks are telling us with their more than SGD11bn of dividends announced, that they are not able to deploy their capital</li>
<li>We must expect that lending growth will remain subdued in the Singapore home market, in Malaysia, and in Greater China</li>
</ul>


The idea of investing in banks is to put your capital to work by lending to corporates or consumer in any given economy or several at once
Singapore's banks are telling us with their more than SGD11bn of dividends announced, that they are not able to deploy their capital
We must expect that lending growth will remain subdued in the Singapore home market, in Malaysia, and in Greater China


Singapore Banks - Giving Back Many Billions of Capital, Suggests Outlook for Lending, Not Great

United Kingdom

Standard Chartered is a British multinational banking and financial services company that offers corporate, institutional, wealth, and retail banking services. It provides global markets trading, lending and financial solutions, transaction services, and wealth solutions. The company is headquartered in London, England, and was founded in 1853.

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Standard Chartered (2888 HK)

HSBC - BoCom Losses Not Yet Realized, Credit Metrics in HK and UK Are Worsening

HSBC's 1Q25 results data release show that it will book a $1.2-1.6bn impairment on BoComm once govt capital injection is done, and that credit...

Daniel Tabbush

Singapore Banks - Charge off Rates on Cards Are Rising Substantially Through 4Q24

MAS data shows consistently rising charge-offs and charge-off rates for credit cards in Singapore. Some may be normalization, but not likely all of...

Daniel Tabbush

Singapore Banks - Credit Growth Overshadowed by Deposit Growth, New Monthly HFD

Singapore's banks new monthly data shows worsening LDR as deposit growth continues to outpace loan growth. There is risk to net interest income...

Daniel Tabbush

China Banks - If Largest 5 Banks Are Recapitalized with RMB1,415bn It Can Be Highly Positive

BBG article about China recapitalizing its largest 5 banks, may be real news, coming after an official release in September. Recapping banks can be...

Daniel Tabbush

Singapore Banks - Giving Back Many Billions of Capital, Suggests Outlook for Lending, Not Great

Singapore's banks are all giving back lots of capital to shareholders. This may appear to be good for yield, but it suggests to us that lending...

Daniel Tabbush

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