Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<ul>
<li>The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently launched a public consultation regarding a Code of Conduct for ESG ratings providers and ESG data product providers in Singapore.</li>
<li>It is the right approach for Singapore – a voluntary best-practices framework furthering one of the world's most credible "green" economies, not a regulatory force-fix of something broken.</li>
<li>No surprise ratings methodology changes. No en masse upgrades/downgrades. No acute shocks to the system. Just slow and steady progress for ESG investing and finance in Singapore.</li>
</ul>


The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recently launched a public consultation regarding a Code of Conduct for ESG ratings providers and ESG data product providers in Singapore.
It is the right approach for Singapore – a voluntary best-practices framework furthering one of the world's most credible "green" economies, not a regulatory force-fix of something broken.
No surprise ratings methodology changes. No en masse upgrades/downgrades. No acute shocks to the system. Just slow and steady progress for ESG investing and finance in Singapore.


Singapore Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings Is Less Risk and More Reward

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>Cohen & Steers increases deemed interests in Parkway Life Reit and Digital Core Reit Stamford Land Corporation led the buyback consideration tally, buying back 325 million shares at an average price of S$0.40 per share over four sessions.</li><li>On Feb 1, Cohen & Steers Capital Management also increased its deemed interest in Digital Core Reit (DCReit) to above the 5 per cent substantial shareholder threshold.</li></ul>

Cohen & Steers increases deemed interests in Parkway Life Reit and Digital Core Reit Stamford Land Corporation led the buyback consideration tally, buying back 325 million shares at an average price of S$0.40 per share over four sessions.On Feb 1, Cohen & Steers Capital Management also increased its deemed interest in Digital Core Reit (DCReit) to above the 5 per cent substantial shareholder threshold.

Cohen & Steers increases deemed interests in Parkway Life Reit and Digital Core Reit

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.

<ul>
<li>ASX is seeing the number of listed companies in decline, although there are some positives with average daily turnover and secondary listings. </li>
<li>Higher costs are keeping positives from reaching the bottom line fully, with costs to revenue are now 40% in 1H24 where this was 29% in recent interim periods.</li>
<li>Capex plans for ASX and sticky inflationary figures on staff costs, the current year and following year net profit can see reasonable pressure.</li>
</ul>


ASX is seeing the number of listed companies in decline, although there are some positives with average daily turnover and secondary listings. 
Higher costs are keeping positives from reaching the bottom line fully, with costs to revenue are now 40% in 1H24 where this was 29% in recent interim periods.
Capex plans for ASX and sticky inflationary figures on staff costs, the current year and following year net profit can see reasonable pressure.


ASX - Listed Companies in Decline, Costs Soaring, Weaker Profit Can Be Dramatic

<ul>
<li>Absolute value of index-linked assets is the ultimate measure of market share, but it misses an important aspect of the ESG-related indexing market – i.e., relative market share growth.</li>
<li>A category of ESG index providers that leads vis-à-vis relative growth is exchange-owned ESG index providers, a group which currently accounts for US$46.3 billion in indexed assets.</li>
<li>Asian exchange-owned ESG indexers are the clear leaders in that subcategory, with <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 Korea Exchange leading that cohort with double-digit growth.</li>
</ul>


Absolute value of index-linked assets is the ultimate measure of market share, but it misses an important aspect of the ESG-related indexing market – i.e., relative market share growth.
A category of ESG index providers that leads vis-à-vis relative growth is exchange-owned ESG index providers, a group which currently accounts for US$46.3 billion in indexed assets.
Asian exchange-owned ESG indexers are the clear leaders in that subcategory, with Singapore Exchange (SGX SP) and Korea Exchange leading that cohort with double-digit growth.


Singapore Exchange, Korea Exchange Lead Exchange-Owned ESG Indexer Growth

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>After underperforming since listing, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/digital-core-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35145:1" rel="noopener">Digital Core REIT (DCREIT SP)</a> has outperformed <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-dc-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:85:1" rel="noopener">Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP)</a> over the last few months.</li>
<li>However, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/digital-core-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35145:1" rel="noopener">Digital Core REIT (DCREIT SP)</a> still trades at cheaper valuations as compared to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keppel-dc-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:85:1" rel="noopener">Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP)</a>. </li>
<li>There could be relative outperformance over the next few weeks and any underperformance can be used to enter positions in the pair. There is an important catalyst.</li>
</ul>


After underperforming since listing, Digital Core REIT (DCREIT SP) has outperformed Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP) over the last few months.
However, Digital Core REIT (DCREIT SP) still trades at cheaper valuations as compared to Keppel DC REIT (KDCREIT SP). 
There could be relative outperformance over the next few weeks and any underperformance can be used to enter positions in the pair. There is an important catalyst.


REIT Pair Trade: Long DCREIT SP/ Short KDCREIT SP

Singapore

Singapore Exchange Limited owns and operates Singapore's Securities and derivatives exchange and their related clearing houses.  The Company also provides ancillary securities processing and information technology services to participants in the financial sector.

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SGX (SGX SP)

Singapore Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings Is Less Risk and More Reward

Singapore's Code of Conduct for ESG ratings is more light-handed than other regulation-based approaches, but therein lies the "less risk and more...

Kyle Rudden

Cohen & Steers increases deemed interests in Parkway Life Reit and Digital Core Reit

Cohen & Steers increases deemed interests in Parkway Life Reit and Digital Core Reit Stamford Land Corporation led the buyback consideration...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

ASX - Listed Companies in Decline, Costs Soaring, Weaker Profit Can Be Dramatic

ASX is seeing listed companies in decline. Higher avg T/O and secondary capital raised is not fully showing at bottom line. Costs remain high, and...

Daniel Tabbush

Singapore Exchange, Korea Exchange Lead Exchange-Owned ESG Indexer Growth

Exchange-owned ESG index providers lead the market in terms of relative growth, Asia exchange lead that group, and SGX and Korea Exchange lead in...

Kyle Rudden

REIT Pair Trade: Long DCREIT SP/ Short KDCREIT SP

DCREIT underperformed KDCREIT since listing but has bounced back recently. Still trades at cheaper valuations though. A big catalyst could lead to...

Brian Freitas

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