The accounting research firm, GMT Research

Lisa Mangkornkarn

The accounting research firm

GMT Research

GMT Research provides independent insight into markets, sectors and companies throughout Asia. Our unique method of mining a comprehensive collection of corporate financial statements for key data allows us to evaluate the financial health of a company, sectors and the market at large. We also investigate the application of accounting standards by companies and sectors, shedding light on the quality of reported profits. Armed with this information, we help investment professionals navigate the financial landscape.

<p>Given that related party transactions are somewhat of a national sport in Asia and a key component of most accounting frauds, it is somewhat surprising that no-one’s gone through and detailed each company’s involvement in them. Well, that is until now. Yes, we locked two analysts in a room and told them to download the annual reports of every company with a market capitalisation over US$1bn in Hong Kong and Singapore, around 360 of them. They were then instructed to trawl through each annual report and calculate related party transactions as a percentage of sales and expenses. Three weeks later our analysts emerged somewhat paler and thinner. Their results are cause for concern.</p>

Given that related party transactions are somewhat of a national sport in Asia and a key component of most accounting frauds, it is somewhat surprising that no-one’s gone through and detailed each company’s involvement in them. Well, that is until now. Yes, we locked two analysts in a room and told them to download the annual reports of every company with a market capitalisation over US$1bn in Hong Kong and Singapore, around 360 of them. They were then instructed to trawl through each annual report and calculate related party transactions as a percentage of sales and expenses. Three weeks later our analysts emerged somewhat paler and thinner. Their results are cause for concern.

RELATED PARTIES: Family Games in HK and SG

Information Technology Consultant

Ishita Jain

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>In 2013, Xi Jinping launched the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The aim of the initiative was to connect major Eurasian economies through infrastructure, trade and investment. At the heart of OBOR lay the creation of a 'belt' and a 'road'. Given the scope and geographical spread of the initiative, many expected OBOR to contribute to the regional economies, spur overseas infrastructure spending by China and encourage regional cooperation. As we review OBOR's progress three years since its launch, we'll look at a few OBOR success stories and the risks that still mar the initiative. </p>

In 2013, Xi Jinping launched the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The aim of the initiative was to connect major Eurasian economies through infrastructure, trade and investment. At the heart of OBOR lay the creation of a 'belt' and a 'road'. Given the scope and geographical spread of the initiative, many expected OBOR to contribute to the regional economies, spur overseas infrastructure spending by China and encourage regional cooperation. As we review OBOR's progress three years since its launch, we'll look at a few OBOR success stories and the risks that still mar the initiative. 

Global Head of Research, Smartkarma

Mark Artherton

Global Head of Research

Ecstrat

Ecstrat is a consultancy advising on asset allocation between global equity markets, with a focus on the intersection of governments, geopolitics, governance and markets.
 
Over the past few years and more especially since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), investors have become more focused on short-term market movements and real-time returns and have consequently neglected the analysis of the underlying structural themes that underpin longer term performance.
​
More specifically we believe that the evolution of governance-based relationships between investors, controlling shareholders, labour and the state is one of the primary determinants of both relative and absolute performance between individual equity markets.
 
We will endeavour to provide investors with some of the context surrounding governance-related issues which encompass many different disciplines including history, economics and political science, as well as the financial metrics which are the most obvious manifestation of the structural characteristics of each market.
 
We will pay particular attention to the shifts and potential inflection points for governance in individual markets as these are often the best lead indicators for both economic and market performance.

Macroeconomics

<div class="content-highlight"><ul>
<li>Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle.  2015 is no exception.</li>
<li>The latest data releases support the view of a stimulus led recovery in China.  Kicking the 'reform' can down the road for a little while.</li>
<li>Unfortunately the impulse value of each stimulus is diminishing.</li>
<li>Due to the precipitous declines in commodities markets prior to this round of stimulus the commodities markets will behave differently from…</li>
</ul></div>


Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle.  2015 is no exception.
The latest data releases support the view of a stimulus led recovery in China.  Kicking the 'reform' can down the road for a little while.
Unfortunately the impulse value of each stimulus is diminishing.
Due to the precipitous declines in commodities markets prior to this round of stimulus the commodities markets will behave differently from…


<div class="content-highlight"><p><strong><em>The failure to use or the aggressive implementation of asset write downs in emerging markets and Asia will have far reaching implications for investors.</em></strong></p></div><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>We live in a world where investors are uncertain about asset values both in financial and non-financial companies.  Whilst a lot is written about the nature of bad debts at banks, little has been comprehensively written about the balance sheets of non-financial companies.</p><p>We see the following evidence in our analysis:</p><p> </p><ul><li><div class="content-highlight">The failure of some…</div></li></ul>

The failure to use or the aggressive implementation of asset write downs in emerging markets and Asia will have far reaching implications for investors. We live in a world where investors are uncertain about asset values both in financial and non-financial companies.  Whilst a lot is written about the nature of bad debts at banks, little has been comprehensively written about the balance sheets of non-financial companies.We see the following evidence in our analysis: The failure of some…

Russia

United Co RUSAL PLC is a primary aluminium producer. The Company's main products are primary aluminium (including alloys and value-added products, such as aluminium sheet ingots and aluminium billet), aluminium foil and packaging products.

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United Co Rusal (486 HK)

One Belt One Road - Three Years On

In 2013, Xi Jinping launched the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The aim of the initiative was to connect major Eurasian economies through...

Ishita Jain

China - Late 2012-Early 2013 Repeat

Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle. 2015 is no...

Mark Artherton

Beware Impairments in EM and Asia

The failure to use or the aggressive implementation of asset write downs in emerging markets and Asia will have far reaching implications for...

Mark Artherton

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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RELATED PARTIES: Family Games in HK and SG

Given that related party transactions are somewhat of a national sport in Asia and a key component of most accounting frauds, it is somewhat...

GMT Research

One Belt One Road - Three Years On

In 2013, Xi Jinping launched the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The aim of the initiative was to connect major Eurasian economies through...

Ishita Jain

China - Late 2012-Early 2013 Repeat

Every time the Chinese authorities try to wean the economy off monetary stimulus they are forced back into an ever diminishing cycle. 2015 is no...

Mark Artherton

Beware Impairments in EM and Asia

The failure to use or the aggressive implementation of asset write downs in emerging markets and Asia will have far reaching implications for...

Mark Artherton