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

Cross Asset Strategy

<p>China allocations among Global active managers have fallen to below pre 2017 levels.  Average holding weights among the 381 funds in our analysis dropped to 3.76%, underweight the MSCI All Country World index by -1.18% with just 28.3% overweight the benchmark. </p><p>This allocation drop is in stark contrast to what is occurring in the USA, with allocations powering to all-time highs of 53.70%.  The difference between US and China weights are at all-time wides.</p><p>The most widely held stocks are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:787:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (BABA US), </a><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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a>, with the trio accounting for 40.6% of total China allocations.  </p><p>If Global managers are to increase weights in China, they will likely have to broaden their investment horizons.  Comparing Global stock holdings in China with their Global Emerging Market peers suggests a number of stocks that could enter the radar of Global investors.  We highlight <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/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US)</a> as stocks lightly held by Global managers but well invested by EM active funds.</p>

China allocations among Global active managers have fallen to below pre 2017 levels.  Average holding weights among the 381 funds in our analysis dropped to 3.76%, underweight the MSCI All Country World index by -1.18% with just 28.3% overweight the benchmark. This allocation drop is in stark contrast to what is occurring in the USA, with allocations powering to all-time highs of 53.70%.  The difference between US and China weights are at all-time wides.The most widely held stocks are Alibaba Group (BABA US), AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) and Tencent (700 HK), with the trio accounting for 40.6% of total China allocations.  If Global managers are to increase weights in China, they will likely have to broaden their investment horizons.  Comparing Global stock holdings in China with their Global Emerging Market peers suggests a number of stocks that could enter the radar of Global investors.  We highlight Ping An Insurance (H) (2318 HK) , Meituan (3690 HK) and JD.com Inc (ADR) (JD US) as stocks lightly held by Global managers but well invested by EM active funds.

Global Funds China Fall:  Gap to US Largest in History

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

<p><strong>*</strong><strong><em>Weak Results Mask Improving Overall Fundamentals: </em></strong>Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declining CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH.  Much of the struggle this half appears to be centered in Ping An’s investment portfolio which caused its net investment yield to plummet 80 bp to 4.1%. This resulted in substantial HOH net profit declines of CNY 20.4 bn (40.6%) and CNY 3.0 bn (48.4%) at Ping An Life (PAL) and Ping An Technology, respectively.  Excluding both write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0%; and</p><p><strong><em>*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans: </em></strong>Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] reported 2Q21 reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter driven by credit concerns and weaker net interest income. In addition, Ping An is investing between CNY 37-51 bn in order to restructure the messy Founder Group, which will no doubt be a distraction for the Group just as fundamentals have begun to turn.</p>

*Weak Results Mask Improving Overall Fundamentals: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] reported 1H21 results of CNY 58.0 bn, declining CNY 16.4 bn (22.0%) HOH.  Much of the struggle this half appears to be centered in Ping An’s investment portfolio which caused its net investment yield to plummet 80 bp to 4.1%. This resulted in substantial HOH net profit declines of CNY 20.4 bn (40.6%) and CNY 3.0 bn (48.4%) at Ping An Life (PAL) and Ping An Technology, respectively.  Excluding both write-downs, we note that Ping An’s HOH operating result would have actually improved CNY 8.2 bn or 11.0%; and*Concerns Increase At Bank And With Expansion Plans: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB] reported 2Q21 reported results of CNY 7.5 bn – decreasing CNY 2.7 bn (26.4%) linked quarter driven by credit concerns and weaker net interest income. In addition, Ping An is investing between CNY 37-51 bn in order to restructure the messy Founder Group, which will no doubt be a distraction for the Group just as fundamentals have begun to turn.

Ping An Insurance – Looking Beyond The Investment Book

<p><strong><em>*Better, But Off A Low Base: </em></strong>AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and</p><p><strong><em>* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed:</em></strong> Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong. </p>

*Better, But Off A Low Base: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] released its 1H21 results. Operating profit amounted to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 5% YOY, while VONB improved 22% YOY to USD 1.8 bn due to a combination of higher new sales volume (ANP up across all markets ex-Hong Kong which declined 11% YOY) and VONB margin expansion from (up 4.6% to 59.0%). Net profit improved to USD 3.2 bn, increasing 47% YOY due to the large negative investment variance in 1H20; and* China And Hong Kong Risks Still Need To Be Addressed: Concerned about weakening organic growth, AIA has gone on a deal-making spree: Bank of East Asia’s (23.HK) [BEA] wholly-owned life insurance unit, BEA Life; an exclusive 15-year bancassurance relationship with BEA; acquisition of Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance’s underwritten closed life insurance; a strategic digital partnership with ZhongAn Online P&amp;C Insurance’ (6060.HK) [ZhongAn]; and received CBIRC approval to restructure its Shanghai-based life insurance branch into a wholly-owned subsidiary. In addition to the massive managerial distractions with so many deals at one time, there are challenges of bogusly rated AAA mainland Chinese bonds; no end in sight with its flailing Hong Kong flagship; and getting the BEA Life team on the same with AIA Hong Kong. 

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/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/geely-automobile-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:127:1" rel="noopener">Geely Auto (175 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhou-intl-group-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10415:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mengniu-dairy-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:354:1" rel="noopener">China Mengniu Dairy Co (2319 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/topsports-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28153:1" rel="noopener">Topsports International (6110 HK)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beijing-kuaishou-technology-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK)</a>, <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/aia-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14895:1" rel="noopener">AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com Inc. (9618 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>. Shorts decreased in the Communication Services, Information Technology, Real Estate, Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors.</p></div><div><p>In Japan, stocks increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yaskawa-electric-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2458:1" rel="noopener">Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP)</a>, <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/sharp-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:391:1" rel="noopener">Sharp Corp (6753 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nagoya-railroad-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8652:1" rel="noopener">Nagoya Railroad (9048 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shionogi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19535:1" rel="noopener">Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP)</a> while there was short covering on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sanken-electric-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6073:1" rel="noopener">Sanken Electric (6707 JP)</a>, <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/sbi-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10928:1" rel="noopener">SBI Holdings (8473 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thk-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19572:1" rel="noopener">Thk Co Ltd (6481 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-yusen-kk" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12285:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP)</a>. Shorts increased in the Real Estate, Industrials, Energy and Consumer Discretionary sectors, and decreased in the Financials sector.</p></div><div><p>In Korea, shorts increased on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kumho-petro-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2014:1" rel="noopener">Kumho Petro Chemical (011780 KS)</a>, <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/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp (035720 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ncsoft-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5169:1" rel="noopener">NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS)</a> and <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> while shorts were covered on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc (068270 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/hyundai-rotem-company" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1554:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Rotem Company (064350 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-household-health-care" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6501:1" rel="noopener">LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amorepacific-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20854:1" rel="noopener">Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS)</a>.</p></div><div><p>In Taiwan, shorts increased 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/winbond-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9177:1" rel="noopener">Winbond Electronics (2344 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yang-ming-marine-transport" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8502:1" rel="noopener">Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/elite-semiconductor-memory-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9373:1" rel="noopener">Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (3006 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-cement" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19736:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Cement (1101 TT)</a> while shorts 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/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a>, <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/asia-cement-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15350:1" rel="noopener">Asia Cement (1102 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fubon-financial-holding-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11869:1" rel="noopener">Fubon Financial Holding Co (2881 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 HKEX (388 HK), Geely Auto (175 HK), Shenzhou Intl Group Holdings (2313 HK), China Mengniu Dairy Co (2319 HK) and Topsports International (6110 HK) while there was short covering on Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), Xinyi Solar Holdings (968 HK), AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK), JD.com Inc. (9618 HK) and Alibaba Group (9988 HK). Shorts decreased in the Communication Services, Information Technology, Real Estate, Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors.In Japan, stocks increased on Yaskawa Electric (6506 JP), ENEOS Holdings (5020 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP), Nagoya Railroad (9048 JP) and Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP) while there was short covering on Sanken Electric (6707 JP), Anritsu Corp (6754 JP), SBI Holdings (8473 JP), Thk Co Ltd (6481 JP) and Nippon Yusen Kk (9101 JP). Shorts increased in the Real Estate, Industrials, Energy and Consumer Discretionary sectors, and decreased in the Financials sector.In Korea, shorts increased on Kumho Petro Chemical (011780 KS), Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), Kakao Corp (035720 KS), NCSOFT Corp (036570 KS) and LG Display (034220 KS) while shorts were covered on Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Hyundai Rotem Company (064350 KS), LG Household &amp; Health Care (051900 KS) and Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS).In Taiwan, shorts increased on TSMC (2330 TT), Winbond Electronics (2344 TT), Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609 TT), Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (3006 TT) and Taiwan Cement (1101 TT) while shorts covered on Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Mediatek Inc (2454 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT), Asia Cement (1102 TT) and Fubon Financial Holding Co (2881 TT).     

Asia Shorts: HKEX, Mengniu, Kuaishou, AIA, Sharp, Yaskawa, Kumho, HMC, Celltrion, TSMC, Yang Ming

Smartkarma Research Team, Smartkarma

Smartkarma Research

Smartkarma Research Team

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>For our next Webinar, we welcome Insight Provider <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/stanley-tsai-cfa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:1116" rel="noopener">Stanley Tsai, CFA</a>, who will present his views on positioning in China financials for the remainder of 2021 in the face of a slowing economy, renewed concerns over Covid-19, and asset quality challenges.</p><div><div><h3>The webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 17:00 SGT/HKT.</h3></div></div><div><div>
<div class="content-highlight"><h2><a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1H9pFZOB-RF2J00kbvMmxcw2c5gj?zoom_webinar_id=82322164524" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register for the Webinar here</a></h2></div>
<p>Stanley Tsai has over two decades' experience as a financials specialist across equities and fixed income. He is currently an advisor to a private investment fund and a non-executive director of a US VC fund.</p>
</div></div>

For our next Webinar, we welcome Insight Provider Stanley Tsai, CFA, who will present his views on positioning in China financials for the remainder of 2021 in the face of a slowing economy, renewed concerns over Covid-19, and asset quality challenges.The webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 17:00 SGT/HKT.
Register for the Webinar here
Stanley Tsai has over two decades' experience as a financials specialist across equities and fixed income. He is currently an advisor to a private investment fund and a non-executive director of a US VC fund.


Smartkarma Webinar | China Banks: Silver Linings Playbook

Hong Kong

AIA Group Limited offers insurance and financial services. The Company writes life insurance for individuals, businesses, accident, and health insurance, as well as retirement planning and wealth management services.

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AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK)

Global Funds China Fall: Gap to US Largest in History

China allocations among Global active funds have fallen to below pre 2017 levels. Average holding weights among the 381 funds in our analysis...

Steven Holden

Ping An Insurance – Looking Beyond The Investment Book

PING AN INSURANCE: Weak results mask PAI's improving overall fundamentals, as 1H21 HOH declined 22.0% mainly due to investment risk. Excluding the...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – Its Own Worst Enemy

AIA GROUP: AIA's 1H21 operating profit improved 5% YOY off of a low base, while VONB improved 22%. With all of its aggressive moves in mainland...

Thomas J. Monaco

Asia Shorts: HKEX, Mengniu, Kuaishou, AIA, Sharp, Yaskawa, Kumho, HMC, Celltrion, TSMC, Yang Ming

The Insight looks at large short interest movements across HK, Japan, Korea and Taiwan stocks and highlights large increases/decreases in shorts to...

Brian Freitas

Smartkarma Webinar | China Banks: Silver Linings Playbook

Join us on 18 August, 5pm SGT, as we welcome Stanley Tsai, CFA, who will present his views on positioning in China financials in the face of a...

Smartkarma Research

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