Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

ICBC <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">(1398 HK</a> | <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:494:1" rel="noopener">601398 CH)</a> 
The market rout since April has taken ICBC-H <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">(1398 HK)</a> back to HKD5.00/share. The stock is now trading at historically low forward P/B and P/E multiples and offers a hefty yield of 7%. Investors are pricing the shares exactly as if the bank is a dividend stock with no perpetual growth.
A perpetual bond may just be what the bank is. The market-implied NPL ratio of over 8% is not out of the realm of possibility. We forecast cumulative loan write-offs of CNY1 trillion (USD155 billion) over the next five years. It doesn't take another global crisis for us to get there. Asset quality concerns will continue to weigh heavily on the stock and the lack of catalysts will limit re-rating potential, in our view.
A multi-year ROE compression story is taking shape. Even the most bullish forecasts see the bank's ROE trending lower as impairment charges eat into interest and fee income. A strong provision level helps to an extent. But we expect the bank to burn down its reserve cover considerably in 2021E to 2025E just to maintain its dividends. 
Asset quality will likely get worse, but the mortgage book provides a glimmer of hope. ICBC continues to be a major funding source of China's capital-intensive recovery. The bank's infrastructure book has grown by CNY1.6 trillion (USD247 billion) since 2016. Indirect exposures to local government finances have also been on the rise. On a more positive note, the mortgage book has been a star. Even if NPLs tick up moderately as the portfolio seasons, homeowners are paying most of the bank's shareholder dividends.
We are underweight ICBC-H against MSCI China <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/msci-china-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22895:1" rel="noopener">(MXCN INDEX)</a> and would look to build a net short position if the stock edges past HKD6.00/share. The bank's dividend capacity puts a floor on the stock, but offers limited room for capital appreciation. The key risks to our call are macro-related. Rising tides lift all boats and any unexpected form of monetary easing by the PBOC will drive the shares higher.
(Attachment: Financial Summary)

ICBC (1398 HK | 601398 CH) 
The market rout since April has taken ICBC-H (1398 HK) back to HKD5.00/share. The stock is now trading at historically low forward P/B and P/E multiples and offers a hefty yield of 7%. Investors are pricing the shares exactly as if the bank is a dividend stock with no perpetual growth.
A perpetual bond may just be what the bank is. The market-implied NPL ratio of over 8% is not out of the realm of possibility. We forecast cumulative loan write-offs of CNY1 trillion (USD155 billion) over the next five years. It doesn't take another global crisis for us to get there. Asset quality concerns will continue to weigh heavily on the stock and the lack of catalysts will limit re-rating potential, in our view.
A multi-year ROE compression story is taking shape. Even the most bullish forecasts see the bank's ROE trending lower as impairment charges eat into interest and fee income. A strong provision level helps to an extent. But we expect the bank to burn down its reserve cover considerably in 2021E to 2025E just to maintain its dividends. 
Asset quality will likely get worse, but the mortgage book provides a glimmer of hope. ICBC continues to be a major funding source of China's capital-intensive recovery. The bank's infrastructure book has grown by CNY1.6 trillion (USD247 billion) since 2016. Indirect exposures to local government finances have also been on the rise. On a more positive note, the mortgage book has been a star. Even if NPLs tick up moderately as the portfolio seasons, homeowners are paying most of the bank's shareholder dividends.
We are underweight ICBC-H against MSCI China (MXCN INDEX) and would look to build a net short position if the stock edges past HKD6.00/share. The bank's dividend capacity puts a floor on the stock, but offers limited room for capital appreciation. The key risks to our call are macro-related. Rising tides lift all boats and any unexpected form of monetary easing by the PBOC will drive the shares higher.
(Attachment: Financial Summary)

ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Beijing Kingsoft Office Softwa / Event-Driven

We are nearly 95% through the review period for the June review of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a>. With a large AUM in ETFs tracking the index, large open interest on the CFFEX listed futures, and volatile stocks, it could pay to look at the potential changes to the index.China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes end May/beginning June and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 11 June.We expect 30 changes at the upcoming June 2021 index review - this is the maximum number of changes that are permitted at a single review. Estimated one-way turnover is 4.08% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 10.8bn.The expected inclusions have outperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX)</a> on a year to date basis even post the momentum selloff that started in February. Buying the inclusion basket vs selling the CSI300 futures as a hedge could provide good market neutral returns over the next few weeks.

We are nearly 95% through the review period for the June review of the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX). With a large AUM in ETFs tracking the index, large open interest on the CFFEX listed futures, and volatile stocks, it could pay to look at the potential changes to the index.China Securities Index Co (CSI) will announce the changes end May/beginning June and the changes will be effective after the close of trading on 11 June.We expect 30 changes at the upcoming June 2021 index review - this is the maximum number of changes that are permitted at a single review. Estimated one-way turnover is 4.08% and will result in a one-way trade of CNY 10.8bn.The expected inclusions have outperformed the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX) on a year to date basis even post the momentum selloff that started in February. Buying the inclusion basket vs selling the CSI300 futures as a hedge could provide good market neutral returns over the next few weeks.

CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Recovering from the Growth Sell-Off

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Lower risk tolerance, as evidenced by the rating preferences, combined with duration desires to drive performance in February. Global monetary accommodation is in large part responsible for recent outperformance. Credit fundamentals have yet to catch-up with spreads in bonds which continue to outperform. Continued performance, however, cannot be ruled out as credit tourists crowd-in and markets melt-up.Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) had an outstanding month with each of the +100 bonds that we track tightening during the month of February, in Z-spread terms. The return of the economic reflation trade, with rising long-term rates on increased economic growth expectations, and short-term levels anchored by central banks globally, pushed investors to grab low risk, high duration securities. This could unwind spectacularly when real inflation concerns appear.Short duration, non-investment grade bond lagged with lower rated bonds at the bottom in terms of performance. Fundamental concerns remain regarding the weakest financial credits in Asia and these remain concentrated in India. At the same time, extension risk concerns may be overdone amongst the callable bonds which underperformed in February.In addition to identifying the bonds which out- and under-performed in February, we dive deeper into the Philippine banks which outperformed, despite starting at already tight spread levels, and we consider if extension risk being priced into the short-callable, China-centric, bonds is appropriate.

Lower risk tolerance, as evidenced by the rating preferences, combined with duration desires to drive performance in February. Global monetary accommodation is in large part responsible for recent outperformance. Credit fundamentals have yet to catch-up with spreads in bonds which continue to outperform. Continued performance, however, cannot be ruled out as credit tourists crowd-in and markets melt-up.Asia’s US$-denominated bank bonds (x-Japan) had an outstanding month with each of the +100 bonds that we track tightening during the month of February, in Z-spread terms. The return of the economic reflation trade, with rising long-term rates on increased economic growth expectations, and short-term levels anchored by central banks globally, pushed investors to grab low risk, high duration securities. This could unwind spectacularly when real inflation concerns appear.Short duration, non-investment grade bond lagged with lower rated bonds at the bottom in terms of performance. Fundamental concerns remain regarding the weakest financial credits in Asia and these remain concentrated in India. At the same time, extension risk concerns may be overdone amongst the callable bonds which underperformed in February.In addition to identifying the bonds which out- and under-performed in February, we dive deeper into the Philippine banks which outperformed, despite starting at already tight spread levels, and we consider if extension risk being priced into the short-callable, China-centric, bonds is appropriate.

Bank Credit Compass: High Duration, Low Risk Notes Outperform in Feb.

Equity Research in HK and Mainland China

Li Tang

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Vice-Premier Liu He wrote an article in the people's Daily on China's 'dual circulation' strategy on Wednesday in which he noted that the real estate industry influences investment and consumption, and is connected to people's livelihoods and development. Liu's speech maintains existing top-level property policy, but at the same time relates property to investment and consumption, implying that property policy setting could be considered jointly with investment and consumption targets. This suggests a more pragmatic approach towards property policy weighting up risks against growth benefits.
Rumour spread in the market that regulator will tighten the trust funding quota approved due to a risk concern, fears were quick to emerge of a liquidity squeeze for some of China's indebted developer, causing its shares and bonds to tumble. However, in the last week we have seen several cities such as Harbin in last week issuing the policy to support property sales. Those can be seen as policy support for the sector.

Vice-Premier Liu He wrote an article in the people's Daily on China's 'dual circulation' strategy on Wednesday in which he noted that the real estate industry influences investment and consumption, and is connected to people's livelihoods and development. Liu's speech maintains existing top-level property policy, but at the same time relates property to investment and consumption, implying that property policy setting could be considered jointly with investment and consumption targets. This suggests a more pragmatic approach towards property policy weighting up risks against growth benefits.
Rumour spread in the market that regulator will tighten the trust funding quota approved due to a risk concern, fears were quick to emerge of a liquidity squeeze for some of China's indebted developer, causing its shares and bonds to tumble. However, in the last week we have seen several cities such as Harbin in last week issuing the policy to support property sales. Those can be seen as policy support for the sector.

China's Real Estate Sector to Be Tightened

Founder-CEO & Chief Analyst, Real Estate Foresight

Robert Ciemniak

Founder-CEO & Chief Analyst

Real Estate Foresight

Since 2012, REF has been helping investors with market research, project due diligence, and strategy development. This has ranged from detailed assessments and estimates on distressed developers' project portfolios to market due diligence on specific projects to macro-level questions linked to demand for commodities. The unique combination of the housing markets and developer data from data partner China Index Academy in Beijing, primary research, and technology-powered alternative data collection from public sources result in a valuable content set used in REF analytics and reports.

Predictive Analytics for China Property

On April 1, 2017, the Chinese government announced it would set up the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province. We are taking a slightly closer look at what / where it is in the context of the property markets in the nearby cities.

On April 1, 2017, the Chinese government announced it would set up the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province. We are taking a slightly closer look at what / where it is in the context of the property markets in the nearby cities. 

China

China Fortune Land Development Company Limited conducts property development, infrastructure investment and management of industrial parks, as well as sales of building and furnishing materials.

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China Fortune Land (600340 CH)

ICBC: The Bond Identity | A Zero-Growth Dividend Discount Story

ICBC-H offers a hefty yield of 7% and is trading precisely as a zero-growth dividend-paying stock. But we are not buyers just yet and there is a...

Stanley Tsai, CFA

CSI300 Index Rebalance Preview: Recovering from the Growth Sell-Off

We forecast 30 changes to the CSI300 Index at the June review that will be announced at the end of May and effective 11 June. The expected...

Brian Freitas

Bank Credit Compass: High Duration, Low Risk Notes Outperform in Feb.

Lower risk tolerance combined with duration desires to drive performance in Feb. Continued performance cannot be ruled out as credit tourists crowd...

Hank Calenti, CFA

China's Real Estate Sector to Be Tightened

Overall property policies lean towards tightening.The change will constrain highly leveraged developers mostly but providing opportunities for...

Li Tang

Xiong'an New Area - The New Shenzhen?

On April 1, 2017, the Chinese government announced it would set up the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province. We are taking a slightly closer look at...

Robert Ciemniak

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