Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<p><em><strong>Taiwan's real GDP grew 3.1% in 2020 (faster than the PRC's 2.3%), and accelerated to 8.2% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, led by a capex surge. The latter should accelerate further as the global semiconductor shortage and surging demand for computers, parts and peripherals induce an investment boom in Taiwan. We recommend staying solidly Overweight Taiwan. </strong></em></p><p>Taiwan's real GDP accelerated to 8.2% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, after growing 3.1% in 2020 -- faster than the People's Republic of China's 2.3% -- including an acceleration to 4.7% YoY growth in 2H 2020. Over the latest 4 quarters, Taiwan has comfortably had the fastest-growing economy among the world's developed economies, with its real GDP expanding 4.5%, the rare economy without a solitary quarter of YoY contraction in 2020. The acceleration in 1Q 2021 was led by a surge in net external demand, bolstered by 8.3% YoY growth in gross investment. The global semiconductor cycle will continue to bolster net-external-demand-led growth through the rest of 2021, with 2Q 2021 likely to see close to 10% YoY growth. For the full year, Taiwan's real GDP will likely grow 7%.</p><p>Exports expanded 27.3% YoY in March 2021 (and 24.5% YoY in 1Q 2021), led by soaring demand for semiconductors and computers (including parts like PCBs, for all of which Taiwan is a leading global manufacturer), and even stronger growth in smaller export categories like plastics and chemicals. Imports accelerated to 20.9% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, reflecting the strengthening of domestic demand, which broadened the economic recovery. </p><p>The global electronics cycle will likely spur continued strength in Taiwan's economy through the rest of this year. The semiconductor shortage has played to Taiwan's core strength, and demand for computers &amp; parts (benefiting <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asustek-computer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13002:1" rel="noopener">Asustek Computer (2357 TT)</a>) should also remain strong. The major global winner remains <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Sp Adr (TSM US)</a> , which has taken a huge lead at the top end of the semiconductor chain (with 84% global market share in 5nm ICs), and is ploughing much of its US$20 billion profits last year (from US$48 billion revenue) into re-investment to widen its lead over its competitors. While any such capex surge in cutting-edge technology is inherently risky/uncertain, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Sp Adr (TSM US)</a> 's market positioning raises the probability of success, implying greater pricing power as its lead over rivals expands further. That Taiwanese corporates have been careful to ensure that the high end of their manufacturing (cutting-edge technology, capital-goods output, research and design) stays in Taiwan (creating an annual bilateral trade surplus of over US$100 billion with the PRC). Although the PRC is the largest destination for Taiwan's exports, the processing in the PRC can be gradually moved elsewhere (Vietnam, Malaysia, India) if it becomes politically/militarily threatened. The capex-led growth of Taiwanese corporates should hugely bolster Taiwan's economy this year, and we recommend staying solidly Overweight Taiwan.   </p>

Taiwan's real GDP grew 3.1% in 2020 (faster than the PRC's 2.3%), and accelerated to 8.2% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, led by a capex surge. The latter should accelerate further as the global semiconductor shortage and surging demand for computers, parts and peripherals induce an investment boom in Taiwan. We recommend staying solidly Overweight Taiwan. Taiwan's real GDP accelerated to 8.2% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, after growing 3.1% in 2020 -- faster than the People's Republic of China's 2.3% -- including an acceleration to 4.7% YoY growth in 2H 2020. Over the latest 4 quarters, Taiwan has comfortably had the fastest-growing economy among the world's developed economies, with its real GDP expanding 4.5%, the rare economy without a solitary quarter of YoY contraction in 2020. The acceleration in 1Q 2021 was led by a surge in net external demand, bolstered by 8.3% YoY growth in gross investment. The global semiconductor cycle will continue to bolster net-external-demand-led growth through the rest of 2021, with 2Q 2021 likely to see close to 10% YoY growth. For the full year, Taiwan's real GDP will likely grow 7%.Exports expanded 27.3% YoY in March 2021 (and 24.5% YoY in 1Q 2021), led by soaring demand for semiconductors and computers (including parts like PCBs, for all of which Taiwan is a leading global manufacturer), and even stronger growth in smaller export categories like plastics and chemicals. Imports accelerated to 20.9% YoY growth in 1Q 2021, reflecting the strengthening of domestic demand, which broadened the economic recovery. The global electronics cycle will likely spur continued strength in Taiwan's economy through the rest of this year. The semiconductor shortage has played to Taiwan's core strength, and demand for computers &amp; parts (benefiting Acer Inc (2353 TT) and Asustek Computer (2357 TT)) should also remain strong. The major global winner remains Taiwan Semiconductor Sp Adr (TSM US) , which has taken a huge lead at the top end of the semiconductor chain (with 84% global market share in 5nm ICs), and is ploughing much of its US$20 billion profits last year (from US$48 billion revenue) into re-investment to widen its lead over its competitors. While any such capex surge in cutting-edge technology is inherently risky/uncertain, Taiwan Semiconductor Sp Adr (TSM US) 's market positioning raises the probability of success, implying greater pricing power as its lead over rivals expands further. That Taiwanese corporates have been careful to ensure that the high end of their manufacturing (cutting-edge technology, capital-goods output, research and design) stays in Taiwan (creating an annual bilateral trade surplus of over US$100 billion with the PRC). Although the PRC is the largest destination for Taiwan's exports, the processing in the PRC can be gradually moved elsewhere (Vietnam, Malaysia, India) if it becomes politically/militarily threatened. The capex-led growth of Taiwanese corporates should hugely bolster Taiwan's economy this year, and we recommend staying solidly Overweight Taiwan.   

Taiwan: The Rich World's Growth Star Continues to Shine

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinyi-solar-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:318:1" rel="noopener">Xinyi Solar Holdings (968 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lenovo-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13359:1" rel="noopener">Lenovo (992 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-health-international-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29677:1" rel="noopener">JD Health (6618 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-pacific-insurance-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6177:1" rel="noopener">China Pacific Insurance (2601 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cspc-pharmaceutical-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:229:1" rel="noopener">CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (1093 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Health Care and Information Technology, while shorts decreased in Communication Services, Financials, Real Estate and Industrials.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eneos-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:638:1" rel="noopener">ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/resona-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6841:1" rel="noopener">Resona Holdings (8308 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-lease-finance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1467:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nsk-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6309:1" rel="noopener">NSK Ltd (6471 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16287:1" rel="noopener">ASICS Corp (7936 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haseko-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:748:1" rel="noopener">Haseko Corp (1808 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cyberagent-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8197:1" rel="noopener">CyberAgent Inc (4751 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/idemitsu-kosan-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:109:1" rel="noopener">Idemitsu Kosan (5019 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in Financials, Energy, Health Care and Information Technology sectors, and decreased in the Industrials sector.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, short increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-united-pharm-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5207:1" rel="noopener">Korea United Pharm (033270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-electric-power-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16:1" rel="noopener">Korea Electric Power (015760 KS)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/doosan-infracore-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3982:1" rel="noopener">Doosan Infracore (042670 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp (035420 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pegatron-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12852:1" rel="noopener">Pegatron Corp (4938 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yulon-motor-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18249:1" rel="noopener">Yulon Motor Company (2201 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/au-optronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6704:1" rel="noopener">AU Optronics (2409 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Xinyi Solar Holdings (968 HK), Lenovo (992 HK), JD Health (6618 HK), BYD (1211 HK) and Alibaba Group (9988 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK), China Pacific Insurance (2601 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK) and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (1093 HK). Shorts increased in Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Health Care and Information Technology, while shorts decreased in Communication Services, Financials, Real Estate and Industrials.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP), Resona Holdings (8308 JP), Mitsubishi UFJ Lease &amp; Finance (8593 JP) and NSK Ltd (6471 JP) while shorts decreased on Toshiba Corp (6502 JP), ASICS Corp (7936 JP), Haseko Corp (1808 JP), CyberAgent Inc (4751 JP) and Idemitsu Kosan (5019 JP). Shorts increased in Financials, Energy, Health Care and Information Technology sectors, and decreased in the Industrials sector.In Korea, short increased on Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), Korea United Pharm (033270 KS), LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS) and Korea Electric Power (015760 KS) while shorts decreased on Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), Doosan Infracore (042670 KS), Naver Corp (035420 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Pegatron Corp (4938 TT), Unimicron Technology (3037 TT), Yulon Motor Company (2201 TT) and United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) while shorts were covered on TSMC (2330 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), AU Optronics (2409 TT) and Acer Inc (2353 TT). 

Asia Short Interest: Xinyi Solar, Alibaba, Tencent, ENEOS, Resona, Toshiba, Samsung, TSMC, Yageo

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/byd-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20962:1" rel="noopener">BYD (1211 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> and <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> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/smoore-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28241:1" rel="noopener">Smoore International (6969 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gcl-poly-energy-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3708:1" rel="noopener">Gcl Poly Energy Holdings Limited (3800 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innovent-biologics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27452:1" rel="noopener">Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Financials, Consumer Staples and Industrials, while decreasing on Information Technology, Real Estate and Health Care.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/olympus-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:356:1" rel="noopener">Olympus Corp (7733 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nomura-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:742:1" rel="noopener">Nomura Holdings (8604 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anritsu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3700:1" rel="noopener">Anritsu Corp (6754 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lasertec-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4126:1" rel="noopener">Lasertec Corp (6920 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/square-enix-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15003:1" rel="noopener">Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Financials, Industrials and Health Care, while decreasing on Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, there were short positions put on in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-display-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7145:1" rel="noopener">LG Display (034220 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gs-engineering-construct" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15916:1" rel="noopener">GS Engineering &amp; Construction (006360 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-mobis-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6089:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Mobis (012330 KS)</a> while shorts were covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>. </p></div><div>
<p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6450:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innolux-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4509:1" rel="noopener">Innolux Corp (3481 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/e-sun-financial-holding-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:719:1" rel="noopener">E.Sun Financial Holding Co (2884 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/evergreen-marine-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15428:1" rel="noopener">Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pegatron-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12852:1" rel="noopener">Pegatron Corp (4938 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ase-technology-holding-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27270:1" rel="noopener">ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT)</a>.</p>
<p>Following the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gamestop-corp-class-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13790:1" rel="noopener">GameStop Corp Class A (GME US)</a> saga, we have added tables in each market with the largest stocks in terms of days of ADV to cover.</p>
</div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on BYD (1211 HK), Meituan (3690 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Alibaba Group (9988 HK) and HKEX (388 HK) while there was short covering on Smoore International (6969 HK), Gcl Poly Energy Holdings Limited (3800 HK), Innovent Biologics Inc (1801 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK) and Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK). Shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Financials, Consumer Staples and Industrials, while decreasing on Information Technology, Real Estate and Health Care.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Olympus Corp (7733 JP), Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP), Nomura Holdings (8604 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) while shorts decreased on Anritsu Corp (6754 JP), Lasertec Corp (6920 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP) and Square Enix Holdings (9684 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Financials, Industrials and Health Care, while decreasing on Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary.In Korea, there were short positions put on in LG Display (034220 KS), GS Engineering &amp; Construction (006360 KS), LG Chem Ltd (051910 KS) and Hyundai Mobis (012330 KS) while shorts were covered in Netmarble Corporation (251270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and Kakao Corp (035720 KS). 
Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT), Innolux Corp (3481 TT), E.Sun Financial Holding Co (2884 TT) and TSMC (2330 TT) while shorts were covered on Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Acer Inc (2353 TT), Pegatron Corp (4938 TT) and ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd (3711 TT).
Following the GameStop Corp Class A (GME US) saga, we have added tables in each market with the largest stocks in terms of days of ADV to cover.


Asia Short Interest: BYD, Smoore, GCL Poly, Olympus, Nomura, Anritsu, Netmarble, UMC, Innolux, Acer

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

<div><p>In this report, we screen for the largest overweight Country/Sectors across Global EM by analysing the allocations of long-only active Emerging Market funds.</p></div><div>
<p>In part 3 of the series, we focus on the Taiwan Information Technology sector:</p>
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Tech allocations are at their peak, both in terms of absolute fund weights, relative weights, investment breadth and AUM.</li>
<li>The largest overweight stock position is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11230:1" rel="noopener">TSMC (2330 TT)</a> , with an average weight of 6.1%, representing a 0.21% overweight vs benchmark.</li>
<li>The largest underweights are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hon-hai-precision-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:745:1" rel="noopener">Hon Hai Precision Industry (2317 TT) </a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>
</li>
<li>Profit taking evident in H2 among some managers as Taiwan Tech contributes to outperformance among active managers in 2020.</li>
<li>Foundation of Taiwan Tech investment appears strong, with both Value, Growth and Income funds well exposed.</li>
</ul>
</div><div><p><em>Our Emerging Market fund universe consists of 242 Global Emerging Market active long-only funds, with combined AUM of $450bn.</em></p></div>

In this report, we screen for the largest overweight Country/Sectors across Global EM by analysing the allocations of long-only active Emerging Market funds.
In part 3 of the series, we focus on the Taiwan Information Technology sector:

Taiwan Tech allocations are at their peak, both in terms of absolute fund weights, relative weights, investment breadth and AUM.
The largest overweight stock position is TSMC (2330 TT) , with an average weight of 6.1%, representing a 0.21% overweight vs benchmark.
The largest underweights are Hon Hai Precision Industry (2317 TT)  and Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)

Profit taking evident in H2 among some managers as Taiwan Tech contributes to outperformance among active managers in 2020.
Foundation of Taiwan Tech investment appears strong, with both Value, Growth and Income funds well exposed.

Our Emerging Market fund universe consists of 242 Global Emerging Market active long-only funds, with combined AUM of $450bn.

Emerging Market Overweights Series.  Part 3:  Taiwan Tech

<div><p>The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.</p></div><div><p>Hong Kong saw shorts rise on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-insurance-grp-co-of-china-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12880:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haier-electronics-group-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4877:1" rel="noopener">Haier Electronics Group Co (1169 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technology-company-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunny-optical-tech" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13363:1" rel="noopener">Sunny Optical (2382 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a>. Shorts increased in Financials and Health Care stocks, and decreased on Consumer Discretionary, Industrials, Communication Services, Information Technology and Real Estate names.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1" rel="noopener">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-building-fund-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1900:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Building Fund (8951 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mercari-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27149:1" rel="noopener">Mercari Inc (4385 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miura-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20185:1" rel="noopener">Miura Co Ltd (6005 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuji-corp-aichi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12942:1" rel="noopener">Fuji Machine Mfg (6134 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ricoh-company-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15359:1" rel="noopener">Ricoh Company Ltd (7752 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate and Financials, while shorts were covered on Consumer Staples.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, the biggest increase in shorts were seen on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-motor-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hyundai-heavy-industries" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10155:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Heavy Industries (009540 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-sdi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:503:1" rel="noopener">Samsung SDI (006400 KS)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-chemicals-co-ltd-new" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26190:1" rel="noopener">Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-oil-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1667:1" rel="noopener">S Oil Corp (010950 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hmm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13494:1" rel="noopener">HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asustek-computer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13002:1" rel="noopener">Asustek Computer (2357 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wiwynn-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27838:1" rel="noopener">Wiwynn Corp (6669 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15726:1" rel="noopener">Acer Inc (2353 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 TT)</a> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/century-iron-steel-indus" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8853:1" rel="noopener">Century Iron &amp; Steel Indus (9958 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/formosa-petrochemical-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20875:1" rel="noopener">Formosa Petrochemical (6505 TT)</a>. </p></div>

The Asia Short Interest weekly looks at moves in market wide short interest and highlights movements in stock specific short interest across Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan using the last available data published by the relevant authorities.Hong Kong saw shorts rise on Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK), Alibaba Group (9988 HK), Haier Electronics Group Co (1169 HK) and Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (1833 HK) while there was short covering on Meituan (3690 HK), Tencent Holdings (700 HK), Sunny Optical (2382 HK) and AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK). Shorts increased in Financials and Health Care stocks, and decreased on Consumer Discretionary, Industrials, Communication Services, Information Technology and Real Estate names.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Itochu Corp (8001 JP), Nippon Building Fund (8951 JP), Mercari Inc (4385 JP) and Miura Co Ltd (6005 JP) while shorts decreased on Toshiba Corp (6502 JP), Fuji Machine Mfg (6134 JP), Casio Computer (6952 JP) and Ricoh Company Ltd (7752 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate and Financials, while shorts were covered on Consumer Staples.In Korea, the biggest increase in shorts were seen on Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), Hyundai Heavy Industries (009540 KS) and Samsung SDI (006400 KS) while shorts were covered on Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS), Sk Chemicals Co Ltd/New (285130 KS), S Oil Corp (010950 KS) and HMM Co., Ltd. (011200 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Asustek Computer (2357 TT), Wiwynn Corp (6669 TT), Acer Inc (2353 TT) and Largan Precision (3008 TT) while shorts were covered on Unimicron Technology (3037 TT), Century Iron &amp; Steel Indus (9958 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT) and Formosa Petrochemical (6505 TT). 

Asia Short Interest Weekly: Haier, Sunny Optical, Itochu, Mercari, Toshiba, HMM, Asustek, Acer

Taiwan

Acer Inc. manufactures and distributes semiconductor products, personal computers, computer peripherals, multimedia products, and computer software. The Company also provides maintenance and repair services to customers.  In addition, Acer Inc. operates real estate business. The Company markets its products under the Acer brand name.

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Acer Inc (2353 TT)

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