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>Weekly data from Fed shows continued strength for banks and the underlying US economy, for data 1 October</li>
<li>Loan loss reserves (LLR) just hit a new low growth rate at 0.72% YoY which should be definitive: credit metrics in US are exceptional, and improving </li>
<li>New loan growth data hit a new high, up 4.86 YoY, sensible given we now have a bit more time passage after rate cut</li>
</ul>


Weekly data from Fed shows continued strength for banks and the underlying US economy, for data 1 October
Loan loss reserves (LLR) just hit a new low growth rate at 0.72% YoY which should be definitive: credit metrics in US are exceptional, and improving 
New loan growth data hit a new high, up 4.86 YoY, sensible given we now have a bit more time passage after rate cut


US Banks - Loan Loss Reserves Growth Hits Low at 0.72% YoY & Loan Growth Hits New High at 4.86%

<ul>
<li>Overnight CP market in the US reflects the Fed rate cut immediately. Rates on overnight non-financial CP for A2/P2 companies now 4.20% (18 Sept) from 4.45% (17 Sept)</li>
<li>Weekly B/S for US banks has been showing for some time accelerating loan volume, with debt 5-7% less expensive overnight, loan volume should continue to accelerate</li>
<li>Where loans at US banks are only 67% of deposits, a 25bps reduction on both pools (loans, deposits) can be NIM expansionary. There are many moving parts, though. </li>
</ul>


Overnight CP market in the US reflects the Fed rate cut immediately. Rates on overnight non-financial CP for A2/P2 companies now 4.20% (18 Sept) from 4.45% (17 Sept)
Weekly B/S for US banks has been showing for some time accelerating loan volume, with debt 5-7% less expensive overnight, loan volume should continue to accelerate
Where loans at US banks are only 67% of deposits, a 25bps reduction on both pools (loans, deposits) can be NIM expansionary. There are many moving parts, though. 


US Banks - Lower Rates: Higher Loan Volume, Low LDR Can Mean +NIM

<ul>
<li>SYF quarterly credit metrics is a sign of well improving consumer credit metrics</li>
<li>Credit costs are moving lower, in all quarters from June 2024 to June 2025</li>
<li>Total LLR coverage of loans remains high, NCO are shrinking: all is +ve</li>
</ul>


SYF quarterly credit metrics is a sign of well improving consumer credit metrics
Credit costs are moving lower, in all quarters from June 2024 to June 2025
Total LLR coverage of loans remains high, NCO are shrinking: all is +ve


Synchrony Financial - Progressively Lower Credit Costs, Still High LLR, Falling NCO Too

<ul>
<li>Large US banks show very strong loan acceleration weekly, not only due to small banks and their base effect</li>
<li>Credit metrics appear exceptional with almost no LLR growth at US banks, which is different to total banks system</li>
<li>Different to all banks and to smaller banks, US Large banks show still negative YoY growth in CRE loans - but with a lessor narrowing recently. </li>
</ul>


Large US banks show very strong loan acceleration weekly, not only due to small banks and their base effect
Credit metrics appear exceptional with almost no LLR growth at US banks, which is different to total banks system
Different to all banks and to smaller banks, US Large banks show still negative YoY growth in CRE loans - but with a lessor narrowing recently. 


US Banks - Weekly Balance Sheets for Large Banks, Highly Positive with Only 0.58% YoY LLR

<ul>
<li>There are some improvements in HK domestic credit growth, but not in the key property sector, which continues to see contraction, at worsening pace</li>
<li>LDR contraction in HK is another concern, for NIM, core interest income, while China credit metrics remain a concern - not only domestic HK.</li>
<li>Singapore banks also exposed to HK and to Mainland China, it is not only HK local banks which bear this risk. Chailease from Taiwan is another good example.</li>
</ul>


There are some improvements in HK domestic credit growth, but not in the key property sector, which continues to see contraction, at worsening pace
LDR contraction in HK is another concern, for NIM, core interest income, while China credit metrics remain a concern - not only domestic HK.
Singapore banks also exposed to HK and to Mainland China, it is not only HK local banks which bear this risk. Chailease from Taiwan is another good example.


HK Banks - Credit Growth Improves, but Property Worsening. LDR Continues to Move Lower.

Hong Kong

Standard Chartered plc is an international banking group operating principally in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  The Company offers its products and services in the personal, consumer, corporate, institutional and treasury areas.

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Standard Chartered (2888 HK)

US Banks - Loan Loss Reserves Growth Hits Low at 0.72% YoY & Loan Growth Hits New High at 4.86%

New release from the Fed shows loan loss reserves at US banks seeing a lower growth rate that any time in the weekly series, and loan growth is...

Daniel Tabbush

US Banks - Lower Rates: Higher Loan Volume, Low LDR Can Mean +NIM

Volume of loans and commercial paper was already strong, now that debt is cheaper, this can accelerate. O/N CP rates already show rate cut. Low LDR...

Daniel Tabbush

Synchrony Financial - Progressively Lower Credit Costs, Still High LLR, Falling NCO Too

SYF shows a narrowing of credit costs from 2Q24 to 2Q25, and it shows high LLR/loans over this time still, with declining net charge-offs. Suggests...

Daniel Tabbush

US Banks - Weekly Balance Sheets for Large Banks, Highly Positive with Only 0.58% YoY LLR

Weekly HFD at large US banks is highly positive, showing almost no growth in LLR, and accelerating growth in loans. CRE loan growth remains negative.

Daniel Tabbush

HK Banks - Credit Growth Improves, but Property Worsening. LDR Continues to Move Lower.

New data on LDR, shows further contraction. This is partly driven by accelerating USD deposit growth at +20.5% YoY for July.

Daniel Tabbush

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