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>Monthly data for job vacancies in Australia continues to weaken sequentially</li>
<li>Australian HFD on bankruptcies and insolvencies has been weak for some time</li>
<li>Risk is that credit metrics of Australian banks remain poor, continuing what we see for many at present</li>
</ul>


Monthly data for job vacancies in Australia continues to weaken sequentially
Australian HFD on bankruptcies and insolvencies has been weak for some time
Risk is that credit metrics of Australian banks remain poor, continuing what we see for many at present


Australia - Job Vacancies Data Continue To Weaken, Reminding Us of HFD Bankruptcies Data

<ul>
<li>We must recognize the wide variance in credit growth rates across Asian countries</li>
<li>There are critical implications for differences in net interest income growth and profit</li>
<li>Credit metrics also tend to move in tandem with loan growth rates, as does GDP growth</li>
</ul>


We must recognize the wide variance in credit growth rates across Asian countries
There are critical implications for differences in net interest income growth and profit
Credit metrics also tend to move in tandem with loan growth rates, as does GDP growth


Asian Banks - Wide Variance in Credit Growth, and in Delta of Growth Rates in Recent Months

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Context: This Insight follows up on previously highlighted relative value opportunities, using a statistical methodology based on mean-reversion to identify opportunities in paired securities.</li>
<li>
Highlights: In Australia, currently two pair trade opportunities persist across two sectors.</li>
<li>
Why read: Statistical analysis offers a unique perspective on relative value. Gain insights into actionable statistical pair trade opportunities and monitor performance of previously highlighted pairs.</li>
</ul>



Context: This Insight follows up on previously highlighted relative value opportunities, using a statistical methodology based on mean-reversion to identify opportunities in paired securities.

Highlights: In Australia, currently two pair trade opportunities persist across two sectors.

Why read: Statistical analysis offers a unique perspective on relative value. Gain insights into actionable statistical pair trade opportunities and monitor performance of previously highlighted pairs.


Australia: Relative Value Opportunities and Pair Trades (8 Sep 2026)

<ul>
<li>Credit growth is persistently weak in Australia, and this is as good of a sign as any, of weak demand or / and worsening credit metrics. </li>
<li>Many other figures at the macro level point to weakness ahead (and now) for Australia's banks even if credit costs appear low.</li>
<li>WBC data on stressed corporate exposures shows all too well how migration can impact bad loans. BEN shows this too, with mortgage loans.</li>
</ul>


Credit growth is persistently weak in Australia, and this is as good of a sign as any, of weak demand or / and worsening credit metrics. 
Many other figures at the macro level point to weakness ahead (and now) for Australia's banks even if credit costs appear low.
WBC data on stressed corporate exposures shows all too well how migration can impact bad loans. BEN shows this too, with mortgage loans.


Australia Banks - Loan Growth Flat Line, Negative Building Approvals, WBC Credit Metrics Concerning

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 31st August, published on the 4th September.</li>
<li>The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$1.2bn into "Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.9bn out of "Gold". Net shorts declined A$0.9bn week-on-week.</li>
<li>Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-australia-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15:1" rel="noopener">National Australia Bank (NAB AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/transurban-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:593:1" rel="noopener">Transurban (TCL AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac Banking (WBC AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhp-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1" rel="noopener">BHP (BHP AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 31st August, published on the 4th September.
The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$1.2bn into "Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.9bn out of "Gold". Net shorts declined A$0.9bn week-on-week.
Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU), National Australia Bank (NAB AU), Transurban (TCL AU), Westpac Banking (WBC AU), and BHP (BHP AU).


Aussie Shorts [31 Aug 2026]: CBA, NAB, Transurban, Westpac, BHP

Australia

Westpac Banking Corporation offers general and savings banking services.  The Company provides investment portfolio management and advice, insurance services,  consumer finance, and money market services among other services.  Westpac Banking Corp. serves individuals, businesses, and corporations worldwide.

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Westpac Banking Corp Sp Adr (WBK US)

Australia - Job Vacancies Data Continue To Weaken, Reminding Us of HFD Bankruptcies Data

Monthly job vacancies data continues to weaken, reminding us also of the well established HFD series on insolvencies. Risk for banks is continues...

Daniel Tabbush

Asian Banks - Wide Variance in Credit Growth, and in Delta of Growth Rates in Recent Months

There is a wide variance of domestic loan growth rates in Asian countries, one must be highly selective. There are implications for growth of net...

Daniel Tabbush

Australia: Relative Value Opportunities and Pair Trades (8 Sep 2026)

Discover two pair trade opportunities across two sectors using statistical mean-reversion methodology for actionable insights.

Gaudenz Schneider

Australia Banks - Loan Growth Flat Line, Negative Building Approvals, WBC Credit Metrics Concerning

Loan growth flat lining for a long time in Australia, with highly negative growth rates for building approvals, and WBC and BEN showing weakening...

Daniel Tabbush

Aussie Shorts [31 Aug 2026]: CBA, NAB, Transurban, Westpac, BHP

The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$1.2bn into "Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.9bn out of "Gold". Net...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Australia - Job Vacancies Data Continue To Weaken, Reminding Us of HFD Bankruptcies Data

Monthly job vacancies data continues to weaken, reminding us also of the well established HFD series on insolvencies. Risk for banks is continues...

Daniel Tabbush

Asian Banks - Wide Variance in Credit Growth, and in Delta of Growth Rates in Recent Months

There is a wide variance of domestic loan growth rates in Asian countries, one must be highly selective. There are implications for growth of net...

Daniel Tabbush

Australia: Relative Value Opportunities and Pair Trades (8 Sep 2026)

​Discover two pair trade opportunities across two sectors using statistical mean-reversion methodology for actionable insights.

Gaudenz Schneider

Australia Banks - Loan Growth Flat Line, Negative Building Approvals, WBC Credit Metrics Concerning

Loan growth flat lining for a long time in Australia, with highly negative growth rates for building approvals, and WBC and BEN showing weakening...

Daniel Tabbush

Aussie Shorts [31 Aug 2026]: CBA, NAB, Transurban, Westpac, BHP

The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$1.2bn into "Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.9bn out of "Gold". Net...

David Blennerhassett

Discover two pair trade opportunities across two sectors using statistical mean-reversion methodology for actionable insights.