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

Postal Savings Bank of China C / Equity Bottom-Up

*Private Placement Coming: We firmly believe that Postal Savings Bank (1658.HK) [PSBC] will be named a D-SIB which will cause it to face immediate pressures to raise capital, given the unprecedented COVID-19 and failure to deal with their legacy problem assets. To that end, PSBC is raising CNY 30 bn (USD 4.3 bn) through a private placement of shares to parent China Post Group. PSBC aims to close this transaction by the end of 1Q21; and   *Starting Off From A Better Place Than Peer: We view PSBC as one of mainland China’s higher quality financial institutions but we do recognize that credit risks continue to accelerate. At 1H20, we note that credit continues to breakdown at an accelerated pace, as net new NPLs increased CNY 12.1 bn or 57% on an annualized basis. The on-balance defaulted bonds amount to about CNY 500 mn, suggesting a limited impact. Total credit exposure to Yongmei and Henan Energy is CNY 1 bn.

*Private Placement Coming: We firmly believe that Postal Savings Bank (1658.HK) [PSBC] will be named a D-SIB which will cause it to face immediate pressures to raise capital, given the unprecedented COVID-19 and failure to deal with their legacy problem assets. To that end, PSBC is raising CNY 30 bn (USD 4.3 bn) through a private placement of shares to parent China Post Group. PSBC aims to close this transaction by the end of 1Q21; and   *Starting Off From A Better Place Than Peer: We view PSBC as one of mainland China’s higher quality financial institutions but we do recognize that credit risks continue to accelerate. At 1H20, we note that credit continues to breakdown at an accelerated pace, as net new NPLs increased CNY 12.1 bn or 57% on an annualized basis. The on-balance defaulted bonds amount to about CNY 500 mn, suggesting a limited impact. Total credit exposure to Yongmei and Henan Energy is CNY 1 bn.

Postal Savings Bank – D-SIB Spurs Placement

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Three macro events this week should drive near term returns. The outcomes may appear fiendish to over-extended investors, much in the same way that Krampus, the mythical counterparty to St. Nicholas, taunts naughty children.The events include the outcome of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the final week for the US Congress to agree addition US federal stimulus bill this year and the almost final week towards a Brexit deal. Resulting US dollar strength could snuff out the recent rally in Asia and broader EM US$-denominated credit.Expectations that the Fed could alter its bond purchase program at its upcoming meeting has limited bearish sentiment in the long end of the Treasury market. Look for a decision to extend the weighted average maturity of its bond purchases. The failure of the Fed to deliver could embolden the market to break a psychological 1% barrier on the 10-year Treasury bond. This would be beneficial to bank securities over the short term, especially if it occurs in tandem with continued bear steepening from the short end of the curve. However, this would raise the real effective rate and could be dollar negative. Asia and EM securities could react.Even if the Fed delivers what one-half of the market expects by altering its bond buying program, there are other extenuating circumstances that could result in a flight to quality, such as renewed lockdowns, the lack of a federal fiscal package and / or Brexit agreement. In a reversal of the recent trend of bad news = buy, the lack of federal stimulus would lower risk sentiment. We remain unconvinced that an actual agreement is the underlying goal of these negotiations. Control of the US Senate is at stake and the political posturing plays right into that race. Failure to reach an agreement would move all eyes to the Senate run-off races in January. Please see out last weekly, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bank-credit-weekly-new-equation-is-bad-news-buy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46058" rel="noopener">The New Equation is Bad News = Buy</a>, for more details. The continuing saga of Brexit negotiations may also change investor risk preferences. As we approach a no deal deadline, signaling to prepare for a ‘hard Brexit’ or ‘Australian-option’ trade agreement, depending on your Brexit stance, is already impacting rates. The lack of an agreement could revive flight to quality trades as we cross into the new year.Against this backdrop, Asia High Yield securities continued to outperform US HY, as in the last few weeks. Caa-rated US credits softened slightly, although by less than Ba and B rated securities. Risk remains over-bid and the consensus trade on rates, the dollar and trade is disconcerting. Regarding over-bid risk, please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/yes-bank-par-is-plenty-move-to-underweight" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46120" rel="noopener">YES Bank: Par is Plenty- Move to Underweight</a>. As regards a trade to counter the over-consensus market, please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/societe-generale-at1-resolution-or-resilience-in-the-retail-restructuring-take-shorter-duration" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:46244" rel="noopener">Société Générale AT1: Resolution or Resilience in the Retail Restructuring? Take Shorter Duration</a>.Market Outlook: A strong start in Asia on the back of the US FDA approval of Pfizer’s vaccine may begin the week. However, the cognitive dissonance trade which ignores distribution and time extension risk may be overcome by a buy the rumor, sell the fact tactical trade since positive sentiment from vaccine news is already priced in. Event risk should take hold as the week progresses. With economic recovery increasingly priced-into risk assets but mispriced in risk-free assets due to central bank policies, the ability to hedge market downturns may be impaired. This could exacerbate a market correction.

Three macro events this week should drive near term returns. The outcomes may appear fiendish to over-extended investors, much in the same way that Krampus, the mythical counterparty to St. Nicholas, taunts naughty children.The events include the outcome of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the final week for the US Congress to agree addition US federal stimulus bill this year and the almost final week towards a Brexit deal. Resulting US dollar strength could snuff out the recent rally in Asia and broader EM US$-denominated credit.Expectations that the Fed could alter its bond purchase program at its upcoming meeting has limited bearish sentiment in the long end of the Treasury market. Look for a decision to extend the weighted average maturity of its bond purchases. The failure of the Fed to deliver could embolden the market to break a psychological 1% barrier on the 10-year Treasury bond. This would be beneficial to bank securities over the short term, especially if it occurs in tandem with continued bear steepening from the short end of the curve. However, this would raise the real effective rate and could be dollar negative. Asia and EM securities could react.Even if the Fed delivers what one-half of the market expects by altering its bond buying program, there are other extenuating circumstances that could result in a flight to quality, such as renewed lockdowns, the lack of a federal fiscal package and / or Brexit agreement. In a reversal of the recent trend of bad news = buy, the lack of federal stimulus would lower risk sentiment. We remain unconvinced that an actual agreement is the underlying goal of these negotiations. Control of the US Senate is at stake and the political posturing plays right into that race. Failure to reach an agreement would move all eyes to the Senate run-off races in January. Please see out last weekly, The New Equation is Bad News = Buy, for more details. The continuing saga of Brexit negotiations may also change investor risk preferences. As we approach a no deal deadline, signaling to prepare for a ‘hard Brexit’ or ‘Australian-option’ trade agreement, depending on your Brexit stance, is already impacting rates. The lack of an agreement could revive flight to quality trades as we cross into the new year.Against this backdrop, Asia High Yield securities continued to outperform US HY, as in the last few weeks. Caa-rated US credits softened slightly, although by less than Ba and B rated securities. Risk remains over-bid and the consensus trade on rates, the dollar and trade is disconcerting. Regarding over-bid risk, please see YES Bank: Par is Plenty- Move to Underweight. As regards a trade to counter the over-consensus market, please see Société Générale AT1: Resolution or Resilience in the Retail Restructuring? Take Shorter Duration.Market Outlook: A strong start in Asia on the back of the US FDA approval of Pfizer’s vaccine may begin the week. However, the cognitive dissonance trade which ignores distribution and time extension risk may be overcome by a buy the rumor, sell the fact tactical trade since positive sentiment from vaccine news is already priced in. Event risk should take hold as the week progresses. With economic recovery increasingly priced-into risk assets but mispriced in risk-free assets due to central bank policies, the ability to hedge market downturns may be impaired. This could exacerbate a market correction.

Bank Credit Weekly: Krampus Is Coming to Town: Fed, Stimulus & Brexit to Taunt Over-Eager Investors

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

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/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anta-sports-products-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10261:1" rel="noopener">Anta Sports Products (2020 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/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank H (939 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sunac-china-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:240:1" rel="noopener">Sunac China Holdings (1918 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (5 HK)</a>. Shorts decreased in most sectors led by Communication Services, Financials, Industrials, Real Estate, Energy and Utilities.</div><div>In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ana-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5308:1" rel="noopener">Ana Holdings (9202 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/suzuki-motor-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:732:1" rel="noopener">Suzuki Motor (7269 JP)</a>, <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> 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/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:280:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electron (8035 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1" rel="noopener">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tdk-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18847:1" rel="noopener">TDK Corp (6762 JP)</a>. Sectorally, shorts increased on Industrials, Health Care, Financials and Consumer Discretionary names.</div><div>In Korea, there was large short covering 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/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 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>. </div><div>Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were <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/largan-precision-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9126:1" rel="noopener">Largan Precision (3008 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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/compeq-manufacturing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9306:1" rel="noopener">Compeq Manufacturing (2313 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/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/unimicron-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18778:1" rel="noopener">Unimicron Technology (3037 TT)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nanya-technology-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3269:1" rel="noopener">Nanya Technology (2408 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), Meituan (3690 HK), Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) and Anta Sports Products (2020 HK) while there was short covering on Tencent Holdings (700 HK), China Construction Bank H (939 HK), Sunac China Holdings (1918 HK) and HSBC Holdings (5 HK). Shorts decreased in most sectors led by Communication Services, Financials, Industrials, Real Estate, Energy and Utilities.In Japan, stocks that saw the most shorts were Ana Holdings (9202 JP), Suzuki Motor (7269 JP), Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) while shorts decreased on Fast Retailing (9983 JP), Tokyo Electron (8035 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP) and TDK Corp (6762 JP). Sectorally, shorts increased on Industrials, Health Care, Financials and Consumer Discretionary names.In Korea, there was large short covering on Celltrion Inc (068270 KS), Samsung Biologics Co., (207940 KS), Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS). Stocks in Taiwan that saw the highest increase in shorts were Evergreen Marine Corp (2603 TT), Largan Precision (3008 TT), United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT) and Compeq Manufacturing (2313 TT) while shorts were covered on TSMC (2330 TT), Winbond Electronics (2344 TT), Unimicron Technology (3037 TT) and Nanya Technology (2408 TT). 

Asia Short Interest: BIG Covering in HK & Korea

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on December 3, 2020 released finalized standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that tighter regulations will be announced shortly; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value.

*D-SIB Standards Released: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and China Bank and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) on December 3, 2020 released finalized standards for the country’s domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), and indicated that tighter regulations will be announced shortly; and* Aggressive Capital Raises Expected: In our view, the forthcoming regulations are likely to focus on: additional paid-in capital; leverage ratios; risk concentrations; corporate governance; disclosure levels; and mechanism to prevent systemic risk; and internal controls. The idea is to finally strengthen mainland Chinese bank balance sheets and improve their loss absorption capacity. Problem for equity raises is that P/BV must be over 1.0x for the raise and many of the potential D-SIBs are trading below book value. 

The worse the economic news, the greater the expectation of US federal stimulus, the more the market rallies. Investors may be surprised to find that recent federal stimulus discussions are more appearance than substance. The balance of the US Senate is at stake and this posturing plays right into that election.Despite the overall improved risk tone, emerging market capital inflows flattened to remain at their highest levels since mid-February. This is surprising as almost everyone expects a weakening dollar next year. This is not a good sign. So long as yields are rising due to economic growth expectations, all is good; however, if yields are rising due to increasing inflation expectations, then a market correction is inevitable as investors re-assess policymaker’s commitment. Much depends on what and how the Fed communicates. Signs of wavering from overshooting inflation targets could spark a mini-taper tantrum.While global risk sentiment strengthened, Asia’s high yield markets outperformed the US indexes. Asia’s outperformance was likely due to more encouraging news from the region in terms of November’s PMIs which went down well with increased US federal stimulus expectations. Nonetheless, Asia’s HY index still has considerable room to catch-up with the US index. This difference was at its widest level in over 10-years recently and had hit a low of 1.45pp three months ago. This volatility seems overdone. We believe this to be due to US market irrational exuberance although increased concerns on the health of China’s debt issuers also played a part. Rising expectations for the Fed to take bond-supportive policy steps and the potential for another round of fiscal stimulus also play in the market dynamics. However, the Fed may not move before knowing the outcome of the Senate elections and federal stimulus discussions may be a false dawn. As such, we continue to suggest positioning for spread compression between the US and Asia HY indexes via the US Caa-rated index level.Within this environment, Asia’s High Yield bank bonds continued to outperform, although almost all bank bond prices rose on increased risk sentiment. Asia’s lowest rated bank bonds led in terms of spread outperformance. However, a Fed-influenced cap on US longer-term rates may not be bank friendly. We caution bank investors that Fed programs are forever, so be careful what you wish for. Remember when Quantitative Easing ended?Market Outlook: The question now is whether the federal stimulus discussion is about economic or political reality. We hope that our US federal stimulus cynicism is proven incorrect. Assuming we are incorrect, tension between longer-term optimism from vaccine driven economies and the shorter-term reality of increasing Coronavirus lockdowns may then weigh on the market. The recent surge in bullish sentiment raises the question of whether it is sustainable or if a correction may be around the corner, possibly due to the lack of Fed action in its asset purchase program. We are now more deeply set-up for buy-the-rumor, sell-the-fact profit taking.

The worse the economic news, the greater the expectation of US federal stimulus, the more the market rallies. Investors may be surprised to find that recent federal stimulus discussions are more appearance than substance. The balance of the US Senate is at stake and this posturing plays right into that election.Despite the overall improved risk tone, emerging market capital inflows flattened to remain at their highest levels since mid-February. This is surprising as almost everyone expects a weakening dollar next year. This is not a good sign. So long as yields are rising due to economic growth expectations, all is good; however, if yields are rising due to increasing inflation expectations, then a market correction is inevitable as investors re-assess policymaker’s commitment. Much depends on what and how the Fed communicates. Signs of wavering from overshooting inflation targets could spark a mini-taper tantrum.While global risk sentiment strengthened, Asia’s high yield markets outperformed the US indexes. Asia’s outperformance was likely due to more encouraging news from the region in terms of November’s PMIs which went down well with increased US federal stimulus expectations. Nonetheless, Asia’s HY index still has considerable room to catch-up with the US index. This difference was at its widest level in over 10-years recently and had hit a low of 1.45pp three months ago. This volatility seems overdone. We believe this to be due to US market irrational exuberance although increased concerns on the health of China’s debt issuers also played a part. Rising expectations for the Fed to take bond-supportive policy steps and the potential for another round of fiscal stimulus also play in the market dynamics. However, the Fed may not move before knowing the outcome of the Senate elections and federal stimulus discussions may be a false dawn. As such, we continue to suggest positioning for spread compression between the US and Asia HY indexes via the US Caa-rated index level.Within this environment, Asia’s High Yield bank bonds continued to outperform, although almost all bank bond prices rose on increased risk sentiment. Asia’s lowest rated bank bonds led in terms of spread outperformance. However, a Fed-influenced cap on US longer-term rates may not be bank friendly. We caution bank investors that Fed programs are forever, so be careful what you wish for. Remember when Quantitative Easing ended?Market Outlook: The question now is whether the federal stimulus discussion is about economic or political reality. We hope that our US federal stimulus cynicism is proven incorrect. Assuming we are incorrect, tension between longer-term optimism from vaccine driven economies and the shorter-term reality of increasing Coronavirus lockdowns may then weigh on the market. The recent surge in bullish sentiment raises the question of whether it is sustainable or if a correction may be around the corner, possibly due to the lack of Fed action in its asset purchase program. We are now more deeply set-up for buy-the-rumor, sell-the-fact profit taking.

Bank Credit Weekly: New Equation Is Bad News = Buy

China

China Construction Bank Corporation provides a comprehensive range of commercial banking products and services to individuals and corporate customers. The Bank's business consists of three principal business segments: corporate banking, personal banking, and treasury operations. China Construction Bank also services infrastructure loans, residential mortgage, and bank cards.

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China Construction Bank H (939 HK)

Postal Savings Bank – D-SIB Spurs Placement

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK OF CHINA: D-SIB Status Spurs Private Placement And Likely A Lower ROE Both From Dilution And Challenged Fundamentals In 2021.

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Credit Weekly: Krampus Is Coming to Town: Fed, Stimulus & Brexit to Taunt Over-Eager Investors

3-macro event outcomes this week may taunt over-eager investors. US-$ strength could halt the recent rally in Asia and broader EM US$-denominated...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Asia Short Interest: BIG Covering in HK & Korea

There was a big drop in short interest in Hong Kong and Korea while shorts rose in Japan mainly led by ANA on the back of the offering. Shorts in...

Brian Freitas

China Banks – About Time

CHINA BANKS: PBOC and CBIRC Released Finalized D-SIB Standards and Indicated Tighter Regulations. Aggressive Capital Raises Are Expected.

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Credit Weekly: New Equation Is Bad News = Buy

The worse the economic news, the greater the expectation of US federal stimulus, the more the market rallies. We are now more set-up for buy-the...

Hank Calenti, CFA

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