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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Fund exposure to China &amp; HK Banks closes in on lowest levels on record</li>
<li>Asia Ex-Japan investors prefer Indian and Indonesian Banks, whilst Tech/Internet industry groups dominate portfolios.</li>
<li>China &amp; HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is expected.</li>
</ul>


Fund exposure to China &amp; HK Banks closes in on lowest levels on record
Asia Ex-Japan investors prefer Indian and Indonesian Banks, whilst Tech/Internet industry groups dominate portfolios.
China &amp; HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is expected.


Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Active funds head in to 2023 overweight Industrials and Staples versus underweight Financials and Communication Services</li>
<li>Energy stocks are still only owned by 51% of funds yet captured the largest increase in ownership through 2022.  </li>
<li>China Banks are a key underweight.  Only 11% of funds are positioned ahead of the iShares MSCI China ETF benchmark.  Airlines, Casinos/Gaming and Airfreight/Couriers were the winners in 2022.</li>
</ul>


Active funds head in to 2023 overweight Industrials and Staples versus underweight Financials and Communication Services
Energy stocks are still only owned by 51% of funds yet captured the largest increase in ownership through 2022.  
China Banks are a key underweight.  Only 11% of funds are positioned ahead of the iShares MSCI China ETF benchmark.  Airlines, Casinos/Gaming and Airfreight/Couriers were the winners in 2022.


Active China Funds:  Top-Down Positioning Update, 2023

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher</li>
<li>Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications</li>
<li>Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral</li>
</ul>


Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher
Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications
Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral


BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

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

<ul>
<li>DBS reported a weak set of 4Q21 results of SGD 1.4 bn, down SGD 307 mn (18.1%) linked quarter and driven by negative operating jaws; </li>
<li>While provisions weren’t reversed this quarter, reserves should still be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting to about a half quarter of operating results; and  </li>
<li>Three transactions in the span of a year is too much. DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before taking on those of other financial institutions. </li>
</ul>


DBS reported a weak set of 4Q21 results of SGD 1.4 bn, down SGD 307 mn (18.1%) linked quarter and driven by negative operating jaws; 
While provisions weren’t reversed this quarter, reserves should still be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting to about a half quarter of operating results; and  
Three transactions in the span of a year is too much. DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before taking on those of other financial institutions. 


DBS Group Holdings – Weak Print, But Credit Improves

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

*Overstated 3Q21 Result: DBS Group Holdings (DBS.SP) [DBS] reported 3Q21 results of SGD 1.7 bn, flat linked quarter. When one accounts for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker, DBS’ results would appear to be grossly overstated;*Watch Your Credit: We struggle continue to believe that DBS’ due diligence had actually caught all of LVB’s risk (see discussion below), and remain unconvinced that the moratorium exits are anything more than additional reliance on government schemes and relief programs. DBS has disclosed absolutely nothing about Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank’s (SRCB) fundamentals. We feel that reserves should be shored up in the neighborhood of SGD 1.1 bn – amounting now to about a half quarter of operating results; and *Deal Distractions Mount:  While SRCB dos not appear to be riddled with problems the way LVB is, no doubt there will be issues to contend with.  DBS apparently isn’t done with its shopping spree, being in the running for parts of Citigroup's (C.US) consumer business in Asia. Frankly, DBS needs to focus on improving its own legacy issues before it starts both taking on those of other financial institutions.

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

Hong Kong

BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services to retail and corporate customers.  Its products include retail banking, corporate banking, and treasury services.  The Company operates its branches in Hong Kong and China.

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BOC Hong Kong (BOC HK) (2388 HK)

China Banks: Depressed Positioning

China and HK Banks stand as the largest industry underweight, with 87% of Asia Ex-Japan funds positioned below the benchmark. Underperformance is...

Steven Holden

Active China Funds: Top-Down Positioning Update, 2023

Our analysis of 119 active China strategies reveals the key sector and industry positions among China equity managers for the upcoming year.

Steven Holden

BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

BOC HK is now expensing credit costs/loans at 20bps, well higher than the preceding period, but still far lower than its more than 200bps in times...

Daniel Tabbush

DBS Group Holdings – Weak Print, But Credit Improves

DBS: DBS 4Q21 declined 18.1% QOQ and driven by negative operating jaws; While loss provisions weren’t reversed this quarter, reserves should be...

Thomas J. Monaco

DBS Group Holdings – Pushing The Envelope

DBS: DBS reported flat 3Q21 QOQ results. Accounting for the unnecessary negative loss provision of SGD 70 mn (down 188.6%) while credit was weaker,...

Thomas J. Monaco

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