Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Quantitative Analysis

A negative feedback loop of poor sentiment, managers selling down positions leading to big underperformance has caused allocations in China banks to more than halve over the past 2-years.  An exodus out of the four major state banks has occurred across GEM, Asia Ex-Japan and China managers as the narrative has focused on growth over value.  From an ownership perspective, there are signs that this is bottoming out.  Underweights are being closed, funds are moving back in and weights are moving higher.  Whilst inflows remain skewed towards the higher growth and premium valuation stocks of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-bank-co-ltd-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:681:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Bank Co Ltd A (000001 CH)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> , ownership levels have moderated in the big four state banks.Against a backdrop of huge underperformance and low ownership levels, the majority of the active managers in our analysis are still positioned underweight in the China banks.  If the growth over value narrative does change, China Banks are one of the places you want to be.Analysis taken from our China fund universe, covering 114 active strategies with combined AUM of $62bn.

A negative feedback loop of poor sentiment, managers selling down positions leading to big underperformance has caused allocations in China banks to more than halve over the past 2-years.  An exodus out of the four major state banks has occurred across GEM, Asia Ex-Japan and China managers as the narrative has focused on growth over value.  From an ownership perspective, there are signs that this is bottoming out.  Underweights are being closed, funds are moving back in and weights are moving higher.  Whilst inflows remain skewed towards the higher growth and premium valuation stocks of Ping An Bank Co Ltd A (000001 CH) and China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) , ownership levels have moderated in the big four state banks.Against a backdrop of huge underperformance and low ownership levels, the majority of the active managers in our analysis are still positioned underweight in the China banks.  If the growth over value narrative does change, China Banks are one of the places you want to be.Analysis taken from our China fund universe, covering 114 active strategies with combined AUM of $62bn.

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*Costs Now An Issue: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;*Credit Is WEAKER Still:  We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and*Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans.

*Costs Now An Issue: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;*Credit Is WEAKER Still:  We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and*Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. 

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

After dropping steadily for the last 3 years, HK-listed China banks are finally starting to move higher led by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/postal-savings-bank-of-china" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22848:1" rel="noopener">Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK)</a>.The suspension of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a>'s IPO and the subsequent restrictions placed on Fintech (or Techfin) players gave the banks a shot in the arm. The economic recovery in China and the recent pre-announcement of better than consensus results by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> have got investor attention.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/steven-holden" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1337" rel="noopener">Steven Holden</a> has highlighted the shift out of Banking stocks pre- and post COVID by active managers with holdings close to the lowest on record.With the China economy stabilizing and growing and reporting better than expected GDP numbers today, there could be a further move into Banking stocks pushing them higher.

After dropping steadily for the last 3 years, HK-listed China banks are finally starting to move higher led by China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) and Postal Savings Bank of China (1658 HK).The suspension of Ant Group (6688 HK)'s IPO and the subsequent restrictions placed on Fintech (or Techfin) players gave the banks a shot in the arm. The economic recovery in China and the recent pre-announcement of better than consensus results by China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) have got investor attention.Steven Holden has highlighted the shift out of Banking stocks pre- and post COVID by active managers with holdings close to the lowest on record.With the China economy stabilizing and growing and reporting better than expected GDP numbers today, there could be a further move into Banking stocks pushing them higher.

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

*Weak 4Q20 Bottom-Line: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] announced a poor set of preliminary 4Q20 results, with net profit declining CNY 6.1 bn (22.7%) on a linked quarter basis – this, despite having its tax rate decline 790 bp to 15.6% over the period; and*Best Retail Franchise Hitting Credit Wall: While CMB has the best retail franchise in mainland China, credit risk has substantially increased in 4Q20. We note a potential net new NPL increase of CNY 11.4 bn linked quarter for a whopping annualized increase in NPLs of 80.4%. Trouble is brewing in paradise.

*Weak 4Q20 Bottom-Line: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] announced a poor set of preliminary 4Q20 results, with net profit declining CNY 6.1 bn (22.7%) on a linked quarter basis – this, despite having its tax rate decline 790 bp to 15.6% over the period; and*Best Retail Franchise Hitting Credit Wall: While CMB has the best retail franchise in mainland China, credit risk has substantially increased in 4Q20. We note a potential net new NPL increase of CNY 11.4 bn linked quarter for a whopping annualized increase in NPLs of 80.4%. Trouble is brewing in paradise.  

China Merchants Bank – Massive 4Q20 Charge-Offs

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.

The mass hysteria that has engulfed so many countries’ media appears well gone from China. This is perhaps one of the most important steps to regain normalcy. With this difference, China's banks can benefit from better top line growth than perhaps others globally, while a more stable underlying economy is certainly valuable for banks.

The mass hysteria that has engulfed so many countries’ media appears well gone from China. This is perhaps one of the most important steps to regain normalcy. With this difference, China's banks can benefit from better top line growth than perhaps others globally, while a more stable underlying economy is certainly valuable for banks.

China – No Mass Hysteria, Banks To Benefit

China

Bank of China Limited provides banking services. The Company offers deposits, loans, foreign currency transaction, fund settlement, and other services. Bank of China provides its services to individuals, enterprises, and other clients.

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Bank of China (601988 CH)

China Banks: Bottoming Out

China and HK banks have seen a large scale exodus from active China investors over the past 2 years. Managers now find themselves underweight and...

Steven Holden

Ping An Insurance - Awful Bank Result

PING AN INSURANCE: PAB reported a 25.1% lower linked quarter result. The bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a 17.1% increase in costs;...

Thomas J. Monaco

China Banks: Moving On Up

The recovery in the Chinese economy, the changes to fintech rules, the better than expected results, the low valuations and the extreme positioning...

Brian Freitas

China Merchants Bank – Massive 4Q20 Charge-Offs

CHINA MERCHANTS BANK: CMB announced a poor set of preliminary 4Q20 results, as profit declined 22.7% QOQ. Credit risk has substantially increased...

Thomas J. Monaco

China – No Mass Hysteria, Banks To Benefit

The mass hysteria that has engulfed so many countries’ media appears well gone in China. This is perhaps the most important step to regain...

Daniel Tabbush

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