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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Smoore International Holdings / Event-Driven

On 1 March, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) announced the conclusions of the market consultation on the "Proposal to enhance the Hang Seng Index as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market".The main takeaways are an increase in the number of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> constituents to 80 by mid-2022 and ultimately to 100, balanced representation across 7 Industry group with a market coverage of not less than 50%, a 3 month minimum listing history requirement, a representation of 20-25 Hong Kong companies in the index, and a rationalisation in the weighting cap to 8% for all stocks (including Secondary Listings and WVR Securities).There is no timeline of how HSIL intends to reach the 80 constituent target count by mid-2022 or to the 100 constituents beyond that. HSIL has not updated the index methodology file either which adds another layer of uncertainty.In this Insight we look at stocks that could be higher probability inclusions in the index at the June review based on the current index methodology and the proposed changes to the methodology and come up with 9 potential inclusions and 2 potential exclusions.

On 1 March, Hang Seng Indexes (HSIL) announced the conclusions of the market consultation on the "Proposal to enhance the Hang Seng Index as regards continuing to serve as the most representative and important benchmark of the Hong Kong stock market".The main takeaways are an increase in the number of Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) constituents to 80 by mid-2022 and ultimately to 100, balanced representation across 7 Industry group with a market coverage of not less than 50%, a 3 month minimum listing history requirement, a representation of 20-25 Hong Kong companies in the index, and a rationalisation in the weighting cap to 8% for all stocks (including Secondary Listings and WVR Securities).There is no timeline of how HSIL intends to reach the 80 constituent target count by mid-2022 or to the 100 constituents beyond that. HSIL has not updated the index methodology file either which adds another layer of uncertainty.In this Insight we look at stocks that could be higher probability inclusions in the index at the June review based on the current index methodology and the proposed changes to the methodology and come up with 9 potential inclusions and 2 potential exclusions.

HSI Index Rebalance Preview: Potential Changes in June

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

*Another Poor Set Of Results Expected: Pre-market on March 12, 2021, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] is set to release its 4Q20/full year  results. By our calculation, AIA’s overall Value of New Business (VONB) is expected to decline 33% YOY on a constant exchange rate basis – declining on a linked quarter basis, due largely to weaker volumes and margins.AIA’s product mix remains sub-optimal with the single premium product remaining the focus due to the COVID-19 impact on face-to-face agency sales;  and *No Hong Kong Rebound In Sight: The focus should remain Hong Kong, where a 60% plus YOY decline in VONB would not be out of the question as its border with mainland China continued to remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. This should continue to weigh on results over the next few quarters as well.

*Another Poor Set Of Results Expected: Pre-market on March 12, 2021, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] is set to release its 4Q20/full year  results. By our calculation, AIA’s overall Value of New Business (VONB) is expected to decline 33% YOY on a constant exchange rate basis – declining on a linked quarter basis, due largely to weaker volumes and margins.AIA’s product mix remains sub-optimal with the single premium product remaining the focus due to the COVID-19 impact on face-to-face agency sales;  and *No Hong Kong Rebound In Sight: The focus should remain Hong Kong, where a 60% plus YOY decline in VONB would not be out of the question as its border with mainland China continued to remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. This should continue to weigh on results over the next few quarters as well. 

AIA Group – 4Q Results Likely To Remain Very Challenging

*Autohome’s Hong Kong Secondary: Autohome Inc. (ATHM. US) [Autohome], a leading online destination for automobile consumers, announced the launch an offering of 27.3 mn shares (including 10.1 mn shares to be sold by Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An]) on the Hong Kong Exchange (388.HK) [HKEX]. In this four share for one ADR deal, Ping An -  as Autohome’s largest shareholder with  49.0% of total shares – stands to crystallize a gain of HKD 7.0 bn or USD 893 mn based off its initial acquisition price per share of USD 29.55 from Telstra (TLS.AU); and  *Telegraphing Poor Insurance Going Forward: Fundamentals at Ping An’s traditional financial companies are expected to remain challenged for the longer-term. Offloading bits and pieces of their technology investments to offset its poor results should really come as no surprise. Given both the low rate and low growth environment which are major negatives for both P&amp;C and life, we question how some of the other major insurers in mainland China will remain in the black.

*Autohome’s Hong Kong Secondary: Autohome Inc. (ATHM. US) [Autohome], a leading online destination for automobile consumers, announced the launch an offering of 27.3 mn shares (including 10.1 mn shares to be sold by Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An]) on the Hong Kong Exchange (388.HK) [HKEX]. In this four share for one ADR deal, Ping An -  as Autohome’s largest shareholder with  49.0% of total shares – stands to crystallize a gain of HKD 7.0 bn or USD 893 mn based off its initial acquisition price per share of USD 29.55 from Telstra (TLS.AU); and  *Telegraphing Poor Insurance Going Forward: Fundamentals at Ping An’s traditional financial companies are expected to remain challenged for the longer-term. Offloading bits and pieces of their technology investments to offset its poor results should really come as no surprise. Given both the low rate and low growth environment which are major negatives for both P&amp;C and life, we question how some of the other major insurers in mainland China will remain in the black.  

Ping An Insurance – Autohome’s Turn To Offset Bad Insurance Fundamentals

Haidilao International Holding / Event-Driven

The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March.For the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>, there are 3 inclusions - <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-health-information-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:453:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/longfor-properties" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8149:1" rel="noopener">Longfor Properties (960 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao (6862 HK)</a>. This takes the number of index constituents to 55 and sets the stage for a further increase in the number of stocks as a part of the market consultation, the conclusions of which are to be announced on 1 March.One-way turnover is estimated at 2.65% and will result in a one-way trade of HK$6.08bn. The highest impact is on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/longfor-properties" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8149:1" rel="noopener">Longfor Properties (960 HK)</a> while the impact on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-health-information-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:453:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haidilao-international-holding-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27044:1" rel="noopener">Haidilao (6862 HK)</a> is lower, though still substantial.There are only 10 trading days to implementation of the changes, so the three stocks should move up on Monday and outperform their peers till implementation date.Hang Seng Indexes is scheduled to announce the conclusions of the market consultation on Monday, 1 March and there will be a lot more changes to the index. These changes should commence at the June 2021 review and will most likely be implemented in 4 tranches, concluding at the March 2022 review.

The Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (HSIL) announced the results of its review of the Hang Seng Family of Indexes post market close on 26 February. The constituent changes will be effective after the close of trading on 12 March.For the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX), there are 3 inclusions - Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK), Longfor Properties (960 HK) and Haidilao (6862 HK). This takes the number of index constituents to 55 and sets the stage for a further increase in the number of stocks as a part of the market consultation, the conclusions of which are to be announced on 1 March.One-way turnover is estimated at 2.65% and will result in a one-way trade of HK$6.08bn. The highest impact is on Longfor Properties (960 HK) while the impact on Alibaba Health Information Technology (241 HK) and Haidilao (6862 HK) is lower, though still substantial.There are only 10 trading days to implementation of the changes, so the three stocks should move up on Monday and outperform their peers till implementation date.Hang Seng Indexes is scheduled to announce the conclusions of the market consultation on Monday, 1 March and there will be a lot more changes to the index. These changes should commence at the June 2021 review and will most likely be implemented in 4 tranches, concluding at the March 2022 review.

Hang Seng Index Rebalance: Three Adds; Market Consultation Conclusions on 1 March

Quantitative Analysis

<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.</div><div>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/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/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/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/lenovo-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13359:1" rel="noopener">Lenovo (992 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/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 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/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/galaxy-entertainment-group-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:806:1" rel="noopener">Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK)</a>. Shorts increased on Financials, Information Technology and Real Estate, while decreasing on Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Health Care.</div><div>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pan-pacific-international-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13475:1" rel="noopener">Pan Pacific International Holdings (7532 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/resona-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6841:1" rel="noopener">Resona Holdings (8308 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyo-tire-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15064:1" rel="noopener">Toyo Tire Corporation (5105 JP)</a> while shorts decreased on <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/casio-computer-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18338:1" rel="noopener">Casio Computer (6952 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toshiba-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:637:1" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corp (6502 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monex-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14211:1" rel="noopener">Monex Group Inc (8698 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased marginally in Consumer Discretionary, Financials and Materials, and decreased in Industrials.</div><div>In Korea, short increased 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/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/hanmi-pharm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12476:1" rel="noopener">Hanmi Pharm (128940 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/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 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/hana-tour-service-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4852:1" rel="noopener">Hana Tour Service (039130 KS)</a>. </div><div>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/yageo-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13212:1" rel="noopener">Yageo Corporation (2327 TT)</a>, <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> 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/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/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/alchip-technologies-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20219:1" rel="noopener">Alchip Technologies (3661 TT)</a> and <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>.</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), Kuaishou Technology (1024 HK), BYD (1211 HK), China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) and Lenovo (992 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), NetEase (9999 HK), Meituan (3690 HK), AIA Group Ltd (1299 HK) and Galaxy Entertainment Group (27 HK). Shorts increased on Financials, Information Technology and Real Estate, while decreasing on Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary and Health Care.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Pan Pacific International Holdings (7532 JP), Sharp Corp (6753 JP), Resona Holdings (8308 JP) and Toyo Tire Corporation (5105 JP) while shorts decreased on Itochu Corp (8001 JP), Casio Computer (6952 JP), Toshiba Corp (6502 JP) and Monex Group Inc (8698 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased marginally in Consumer Discretionary, Financials and Materials, and decreased in Industrials.In Korea, short increased on Hyundai Motor Co (005380 KS), Celltrion Inc (068270 KS) and Hanmi Pharm (128940 KS) while shorts decreased on Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Hynix (000660 KS), Naver Corp (035420 KS) and Hana Tour Service (039130 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Pegatron Corp (4938 TT), Yageo Corporation (2327 TT), Largan Precision (3008 TT) and United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) while shorts were covered on Unimicron Technology (3037 TT), TSMC (2330 TT), Alchip Technologies (3661 TT) and Winbond Electronics (2344 TT).

Asia Short Interest: Kuaishou, BYD, Galaxy, Sharp, Resona, Toshiba, Celltrion, Naver, Pegatron, TSMC

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)

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Brian Freitas

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