Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank 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>Terms of credit on US credit card loans have surged to levels well higher than any period on record, since 1972 suggesting far worse delinquencies, risk aversion by lenders. </li>
<li>There are important implications for the 2nd and 3rd order effects on consumption in the US economy, as well as obvious 1st order implications for banks, card issuers. </li>
<li>In September 2022 delinquent card loans rates bottomed at 7.6% and this delinquency rate is now at 9.7% in December 2023. </li>
</ul>


Terms of credit on US credit card loans have surged to levels well higher than any period on record, since 1972 suggesting far worse delinquencies, risk aversion by lenders. 
There are important implications for the 2nd and 3rd order effects on consumption in the US economy, as well as obvious 1st order implications for banks, card issuers. 
In September 2022 delinquent card loans rates bottomed at 7.6% and this delinquency rate is now at 9.7% in December 2023. 


US Banks - No Period on Record Since 1972 Shows Terms on Credit Card Loans so Poor

Equity Bottom-Up

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd. provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, fund settlement, and other services. Postal Savings Bank of China provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

Postal Savings Bank of China C (601658 CH)

<ul>
<li>NIM is continuing to decline, from ~2.5% at its recent peak to ~1.8% in the most recent quarter. This may be from higher rescheduled loans. </li>
<li>Loan growth ascent is strangely steady, and not indicative at all, of any business cycle. This alone is a concern, for true visibility of figures. </li>
<li>Impairment costs do not suggest concern on underlying credit metrics, but with far higher loan balances in the past few years, this is an even greater worry.</li>
</ul>


NIM is continuing to decline, from ~2.5% at its recent peak to ~1.8% in the most recent quarter. This may be from higher rescheduled loans. 
Loan growth ascent is strangely steady, and not indicative at all, of any business cycle. This alone is a concern, for true visibility of figures. 
Impairment costs do not suggest concern on underlying credit metrics, but with far higher loan balances in the past few years, this is an even greater worry.


China Postal Savings Bank - Lower NIM, But Steady Lending & Credit Costs Suggests All Is Fine?

<ul>
<li>Weekly high frequency data on US banks shows a major slow down continuing in residential mortgage loan growth</li>
<li>Mortgage loan applications index shows some of the worst figures in years in the latest weekly data</li>
<li>Core net interest income and credit costs can surprise even from an area that is traditionally not risky compared with CRE and C&amp;I loans</li>
</ul>


Weekly high frequency data on US banks shows a major slow down continuing in residential mortgage loan growth
Mortgage loan applications index shows some of the worst figures in years in the latest weekly data
Core net interest income and credit costs can surprise even from an area that is traditionally not risky compared with CRE and C&amp;I loans


US Banks - Residential Mortgage Loans Weekly Data Is Dismal

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited owns and operates the stock exchange, futures exchange, and their related clearing houses in Hong Kong.  The Company provides the trading platforms for a range of cash and derivatives products and the facilities for processing trades.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a> outlook has been withering for some time, and new data on property transactions, shows that this remains weak.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> in a less volatile geopolitical financial center, has a much lower market capitalization while its earnings outlook is far stronger.</li>
<li>Two major differences between these two entities is their ROE and ROA, although the former may be more relevant. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> has an ROE that is nearly 50% higher. </li>
</ul>



HKEX (388 HK) outlook has been withering for some time, and new data on property transactions, shows that this remains weak.

SGX (SGX SP) in a less volatile geopolitical financial center, has a much lower market capitalization while its earnings outlook is far stronger.
Two major differences between these two entities is their ROE and ROA, although the former may be more relevant. SGX (SGX SP) has an ROE that is nearly 50% higher. 


HKEX - Worsening Property Transactions, Underscores Ailments for Hong Kong

<ul>
<li>Japan's domestic credit growth is now running at 4.2% YoY in the latest month in February 2024. </li>
<li>The slope of Japan's domestic credit growth is greater than all developed Asia Pacific peer countries.</li>
<li>Weaker JPY can further raise interest in tourism, and USD translation of earnings for megabanks.</li>
</ul>


Japan's domestic credit growth is now running at 4.2% YoY in the latest month in February 2024. 
The slope of Japan's domestic credit growth is greater than all developed Asia Pacific peer countries.
Weaker JPY can further raise interest in tourism, and USD translation of earnings for megabanks.


Japan - Domestic Credit Growth Acceleration Higher Than Developed Asian Countries

The Tabbush Report: Asian bank research and consultancy, without the noise.

Daniel Tabbush has ~30 years experience analyzing Asia-Pacific banks, including HSBC, Standard Chartered, Japanese and Australian banks. His research and consulting focuses on global banking issues, including with banks in the US. He was the Head of Asian Bank research at the number one Asian brokerage CLSA for most of his career, overseeing coverage of 80 banks and 10 analysts in Asia-Pacific.

He has been highly ranked by Asiamoney, The Asset and Bloomberg, as well as by institutional investors focused on Asia. He continues to appear in press interviews with TVB in Hong Kong, and has appeared on CNBC in the past. He maintains an information-sharing agreement with Dr. Jim Walker of Asianomics, the foremost economist in Asia-Pacific, and Tabbush was an invited speaker on Asian banks at the Independent Research Summit in Hong Kong, during years 2013 and 2014.

Daniel started his own independent bank research and consultancy in 2012, under the banner name Tabbush Report. Since 2014, he has been a member of University of California San Diego Economics Leadership Council (ELC), supporting Economic students at the University through this alumni association, and providing guidance on Economics program develoment. Daniel grew up in Los Angeles, graduated from UCSD in Economics, cum laude and with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He lives with his family in Bangkok, and enjoys cooking, running and chess.

He is known for extolling the unusual positives of Japan’s mega banks in 2005, and the risks likely to hit HSBC from its U.S. subprime loan operations, in 2006.  More recently, when most were concerned with nearly all Western banks in late 2008, Tabbush highlighted the positive outlook for Standard Chartered Bank at that time. 

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, S&P Global Market Intelligence. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics.