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

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.

Equity Bottom-Up

<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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carsome-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35913:1" rel="noopener">Carsome (CARSOME1 SP)</a>, Malaysia's used-car eCommerce/technology unicorn, has reportedly submitted a confidential IPO filing for a dual listing on Nasdaq and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Exchange</a>.</li>
<li>Carsome has a great ESG story to tell, but needs to be less humble about telling it because pre-IPO ESG messaging can impact IPO valuations, especially for transportation-related deals.</li>
<li>The centerpiece of Carsome's ESG story should be the important (but underappreciated) role of used car markets in decarbonising road transportation, a leading source of carbon emissions.</li>
</ul>



Carsome (CARSOME1 SP), Malaysia's used-car eCommerce/technology unicorn, has reportedly submitted a confidential IPO filing for a dual listing on Nasdaq and Singapore Exchange.
Carsome has a great ESG story to tell, but needs to be less humble about telling it because pre-IPO ESG messaging can impact IPO valuations, especially for transportation-related deals.
The centerpiece of Carsome's ESG story should be the important (but underappreciated) role of used car markets in decarbonising road transportation, a leading source of carbon emissions.


Carsome: A Paradigm of Circular Economy and Unsung Hero in the Decarbonisation of Transportation

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

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

Carsome: A Paradigm of Circular Economy and Unsung Hero in the Decarbonisation of Transportation

Carsome has reportedly filed for an IPO (dual Nasdaq/SGX listing), and has a great ESG story to tell investors including the role that used car...

Kyle Rudden

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