Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Exchange (SGX SP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oversea-chinese-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:114:1" rel="noopener">OCBC (OCBC SP)</a> recently launched a new sustainability/ESG index – the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iedge-ocbc-singapore-low-carbon-select-50-capped-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35795:1" rel="noopener">IEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 50 Capped Index (SGLC50CN INDEX)</a>.</li>
<li>Whilst country-Specific carbon indices are often too narrow for index-linked products, they are invaluable as carbon performance benchmarks for climate change mitigation and planning.</li>
<li>The iEdge-OCBC index, along with the broad-based <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/iedge-singapore-low-carbon-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35793:1" rel="noopener">iEdge Singapore Low Carbon Index (SGLCN INDEX)</a>, consistently outperformed (backcast) comparable indices, often with lower volatility.</li>
</ul>



Singapore Exchange (SGX SP) and OCBC (OCBC SP) recently launched a new sustainability/ESG index – the IEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 50 Capped Index (SGLC50CN INDEX).
Whilst country-Specific carbon indices are often too narrow for index-linked products, they are invaluable as carbon performance benchmarks for climate change mitigation and planning.
The iEdge-OCBC index, along with the broad-based iEdge Singapore Low Carbon Index (SGLCN INDEX), consistently outperformed (backcast) comparable indices, often with lower volatility.


SGX's New Low Carbon Index Outperformed Comparable Indices and With Less Volatility

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>Singapore is far less dependent on consumption than others in region</li>
<li>People can far better afford higher retail prices in Singapore vs Asean</li>
<li>Banks in Singapore can benefit from higher oil prices unlike others</li>
</ul>


Singapore is far less dependent on consumption than others in region
People can far better afford higher retail prices in Singapore vs Asean
Banks in Singapore can benefit from higher oil prices unlike others


<ul>
<li>Singapore's banks stand out well on several features compared with high-growth Asean</li>
<li>Credit-Risk management may be most important, which is fundamental to banking</li>
<li>Stability of returns, high dividend payouts, better non-interest income are also key </li>
</ul>


Singapore's banks stand out well on several features compared with high-growth Asean
Credit-Risk management may be most important, which is fundamental to banking
Stability of returns, high dividend payouts, better non-interest income are also key 


Singapore Banks Compare Well with ASEAN Banks, Perhaps Unexpectedly?

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>STI constituents are expected to deliver around 10% earnings growth in their current FYs, with similar growth implied for the following FY.</li><li>Retail flows concentrated in DBS, Singapore Telecommunications, CapitaLand Ascendas REIT, Genting Singapore, and Sembcorp Industries, with OCBC recording both net institutional and retail inflows.</li><li>SATS reported FY26 EPS of 19.2 cents, with current consensus forecast for FY27F EPS at 21.825 cents, illustrating evolving earnings expectations.</li></ul>

STI constituents are expected to deliver around 10% earnings growth in their current FYs, with similar growth implied for the following FY.Retail flows concentrated in DBS, Singapore Telecommunications, CapitaLand Ascendas REIT, Genting Singapore, and Sembcorp Industries, with OCBC recording both net institutional and retail inflows.SATS reported FY26 EPS of 19.2 cents, with current consensus forecast for FY27F EPS at 21.825 cents, illustrating evolving earnings expectations.

STI Hits Record as Focus Shifts to Earnings

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<div class="content-highlight">
There have been ongoing signs that the competition within the digital finance space is starting to reach a hiatus as it moves up a gear both for the existing banks, as well as the digital economy players including GoTo, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>, and Shopee (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd (SE US)</a>).  
</div>
Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitization trend in the industry. In August, some digital banks were offering interest rates of 7% - 8% on current account deposits.
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-jago-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31094:1" rel="noopener">Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ)</a> recorded a sevenfold annual increase in credit lending in 1H2021 and the bank plans to jack up its lending further through partnerships with peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders and multi-finance companies,
While some of these new digital banks might seem small compared to major established lenders, their ecosystem support and a steady stream of funding from big tech will make them potentially a formidable foe to the conventional banks.
Digitalization in the banking industry is inevitable and it is likely that the use-case for conventional and digital banking are likely to converge in a number of areas as digital banks become the new normal. 
We expect digital banking to be initially focused on consumer banking and SMEs and do not expect any major infringement into corporate banking, which still makes up the majority of the larger bank's business
Another very interesting area currently is the rapid pace of development and movement within the digital payments landscape in Indonesia.
There is little doubt that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grabtaxi-holdings-pte-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> is looking for partners to push out its digital finance aspirations. This may involve taking a stake in a smaller bank potentially with its partner <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elang-mahkota-teknologi-tbk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7752:1" rel="noopener">Emtek (EMTK IJ)</a> to transform it into a digital bank.
We continue to favour <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-negara-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8285:1" rel="noopener">Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ)</a> in the sector. We also take a positive view of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-central-asia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:440:1" rel="noopener">Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ)</a> as a core holding and rank its digital banking services the highest amongst the banks at this time.


There have been ongoing signs that the competition within the digital finance space is starting to reach a hiatus as it moves up a gear both for the existing banks, as well as the digital economy players including GoTo, Grab, and Shopee (Sea Ltd (SE US)).  

Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitization trend in the industry. In August, some digital banks were offering interest rates of 7% - 8% on current account deposits.
Bank Jago Tbk PT (ARTO IJ) recorded a sevenfold annual increase in credit lending in 1H2021 and the bank plans to jack up its lending further through partnerships with peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders and multi-finance companies,
While some of these new digital banks might seem small compared to major established lenders, their ecosystem support and a steady stream of funding from big tech will make them potentially a formidable foe to the conventional banks.
Digitalization in the banking industry is inevitable and it is likely that the use-case for conventional and digital banking are likely to converge in a number of areas as digital banks become the new normal. 
We expect digital banking to be initially focused on consumer banking and SMEs and do not expect any major infringement into corporate banking, which still makes up the majority of the larger bank's business
Another very interesting area currently is the rapid pace of development and movement within the digital payments landscape in Indonesia.
There is little doubt that Grab is looking for partners to push out its digital finance aspirations. This may involve taking a stake in a smaller bank potentially with its partner Emtek (EMTK IJ) to transform it into a digital bank.
We continue to favour Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) and Bank Negara Indonesia Persero (BBNI IJ) in the sector. We also take a positive view of Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ) as a core holding and rank its digital banking services the highest amongst the banks at this time.

CrossASEAN Digital Economy - The Gloves Are off in Digital Finance?

Singapore

United Overseas Bank is a leading Asian bank offering a comprehensive range of financial services across its Group Retail, Group Wholesale Banking, and Global Markets segments. Its offerings include personal, private, commercial, and corporate banking, investment banking, asset management, and insurance services. The bank is headquartered in Singapore and was founded in 1935.

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United Overseas Bank (UOB SP)

SGX's New Low Carbon Index Outperformed Comparable Indices and With Less Volatility

SGX's new iEdge-OCBC Low Carbon index outperforms comparable indices, and with lower volatility – a testament to Singapore issuers' carbon...

Kyle Rudden

Singapore Shines With Asean Inflation

Singapore is far less dependent on private consumption for its economic growth than other countries in ASEAN. As such, Singapore's economy can be...

Daniel Tabbush

Singapore Banks Compare Well with ASEAN Banks, Perhaps Unexpectedly?

There are several stand out characteristics of Singapore’s banks compared with others in Asean: credit metrics, return stability, cost-management,...

Daniel Tabbush

STI Hits Record as Focus Shifts to Earnings

STI constituents are expected to deliver around 10% earnings growth in their current FYs, with similar growth implied for the following FY. Retail...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

CrossASEAN Digital Economy - The Gloves Are off in Digital Finance?

Competition between digital banks and conventional banks has started to heat up in Indonesia and is only going to accelerate the digitisation trend...

Angus Mackintosh

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