Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

China Suntien Green Energy / Event-Driven

<div>
<p>Several weeks ago, I gave the warning H/A spreads had moved tighter - too far too fast. The next week, spreads widened, they bounced back with a vengeance, then slightly wider in the short week at the start of Chinese New Year, and bouncing back in the post-CNY week.</p>
<p>They have started to move wider again, and given the global form in risk and higher volatility right now, I would not be surprised if they continued a bit wider.</p>
</div><div>
<p>Last week, in the first full week after the end of all the Chinese New Year festivities, all but one sector saw average spreads widen, and market-wide, spreads had their worst week in quite a while.</p>
<table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Sector</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>Last Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>Previous Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>3wks Ago</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>4wks Ago</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Consumer</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  1.65%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>+ 2.55%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 2.32%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Energy</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>+ 0.67%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 1.43%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>-  1.64%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 1.98%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Financials &amp; Real Estate</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  1.12%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 0.10%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>+ 0.29%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 0.62%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Health Care &amp; Info Tech</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  2.86%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 1.45%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>-  1.52%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 2.29%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Industrials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 0.26%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>-  0.62%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 2.48%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Materials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  0.84%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 3.08%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>-  0.57%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 2.66%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Utilities</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  0.14%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 0.99%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>+ 0.25%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 1.06%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p>Sector Average</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p>-  1.02%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p>+ 0.87%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p>-  0.18%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p>+ 1.92%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 198.182px;"><p><strong>All Market Average</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 103.636px;"><p><strong>-  1.22%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 135.455px;"><p><strong>+ 0.76%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 100px;"><p><strong>-  0.33%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 102.727px;"><p><strong>+ 1.80%</strong></p></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>Developers saw their Hs rise dramatically on the week on new rules about land sales which would appear to favor large developers over smaller developers, but few have an H/A spread presence.</p>
</div><div><div>
<hr>
<h3>The H/A Spread Market</h3>
</div></div><div>
<p>The past week has seen H-shares come off sharply and spreads widen reasonably dramatically. </p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/191/379/original/Screenshot+2021-02-28+at+7.50.25+PM.png?1614513037" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="191379"></figure></section>
</div><p>The average discount appears not to want to tighten. </p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/191/402/original/Screenshot+2021-02-28+at+9.36.30+PM.png?1614519456" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="191402"></figure></section><p></p><h2>Last Week's Recommendations</h2><ul>
<li>There were 78 recommendations last week. </li>
<li>The 33 short recommendations gained an average of 1.70%, outperforming the market as a whole (which saw the average spread widen 1.22%). That is alpha of 48bp.</li>
<li>The 45 long recommendations averaged losses of 76bp during the week, outperforming the market as a whole by 46bp. The combined total package was up 0.27% for the week, with 92bp of alpha on the cross-bias. </li>
</ul><hr><section><div><h2>Consumer Sector</h2></div>
<div><p>The first sector discussed is Consumer, where liquid H/A spreads widened on average 1.65% over the past week, with the sector continuing to see significant bumpiness. </p></div>
<div><ul>
<li>
<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> saw its spread move 2.9% narrower last week after widening 3.1% in the previous two weeks. It is now 3.7% narrower over four weeks.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-wall-motor-co-ltd-cb302af9-398c-4d2d-ba39-023e43287eef" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:128:1" rel="noopener">Great Wall Motor (2333 HK)</a> narrowed too, but the others in the space widened. </li>
<li>All but one stock in the sector saw its H-share decline in double digit percentages. The average H in the sector moved down 15.9% in the week. Only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/guangzhou-automobile-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11082:1" rel="noopener">Guangzhou Automobile Group (2238 HK)</a> was spared that indignity, seeings its H fall 'only' 9.7%.</li>
<li>Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$2bn of stock since the 10th of February, purchasing only <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuyao-glass-industry-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:330:1" rel="noopener">Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)</a> on a net basis.</li>
</ul></div>
<div><div><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Last week, I recommended staying long the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-wall-motor-co-ltd-cb302af9-398c-4d2d-ba39-023e43287eef" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:128:1" rel="noopener">Great Wall Motor (2333 HK)</a>, and short <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/hisense-home-appliances-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20107:1" rel="noopener">Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuyao-glass-industry-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:330:1" rel="noopener">Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)</a> H vs A. </p>
<p>Those four trades gained an average of 3.58% in spread terms on the week.</p>
</div></div></div>
<section><section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/191/384/original/Screenshot+2021-02-28+at+8.09.50+PM.png?1614514204" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="191384"></figure><p></p></section></section></section><section><em>For this week's recommendations on Consumer, and discussion of the Energy, Financials &amp; Real Estate, Health Care, Tech, Industrials, Materials, and Utilities sectors, and all trade recommendations, please read on.</em></section></section>


Several weeks ago, I gave the warning H/A spreads had moved tighter - too far too fast. The next week, spreads widened, they bounced back with a vengeance, then slightly wider in the short week at the start of Chinese New Year, and bouncing back in the post-CNY week.
They have started to move wider again, and given the global form in risk and higher volatility right now, I would not be surprised if they continued a bit wider.

Last week, in the first full week after the end of all the Chinese New Year festivities, all but one sector saw average spreads widen, and market-wide, spreads had their worst week in quite a while.


Sector
Last Week
Previous Week
3wks Ago
4wks Ago


Consumer
-  1.65%
-  1.20%
+ 2.55%
+ 2.32%


Energy
+ 0.67%
+ 1.43%
-  1.64%
+ 1.98%


Financials &amp; Real Estate
-  1.12%
+ 0.10%
+ 0.29%
+ 0.62%


Health Care &amp; Info Tech
-  2.86%
+ 1.45%
-  1.52%
+ 2.29%


Industrials
-  1.20%
+ 0.26%
-  0.62%
+ 2.48%


Materials
-  0.84%
+ 3.08%
-  0.57%
+ 2.66%


Utilities
-  0.14%
+ 0.99%
+ 0.25%
+ 1.06%


Sector Average
-  1.02%
+ 0.87%
-  0.18%
+ 1.92%


All Market Average
-  1.22%
+ 0.76%
-  0.33%
+ 1.80%


Developers saw their Hs rise dramatically on the week on new rules about land sales which would appear to favor large developers over smaller developers, but few have an H/A spread presence.


The H/A Spread Market

The past week has seen H-shares come off sharply and spreads widen reasonably dramatically. 

The average discount appears not to want to tighten. Last Week's Recommendations
There were 78 recommendations last week. 
The 33 short recommendations gained an average of 1.70%, outperforming the market as a whole (which saw the average spread widen 1.22%). That is alpha of 48bp.
The 45 long recommendations averaged losses of 76bp during the week, outperforming the market as a whole by 46bp. The combined total package was up 0.27% for the week, with 92bp of alpha on the cross-bias. 
Consumer Sector
The first sector discussed is Consumer, where liquid H/A spreads widened on average 1.65% over the past week, with the sector continuing to see significant bumpiness. 


BYD (1211 HK) saw its spread move 2.9% narrower last week after widening 3.1% in the previous two weeks. It is now 3.7% narrower over four weeks.  Great Wall Motor (2333 HK) narrowed too, but the others in the space widened. 
All but one stock in the sector saw its H-share decline in double digit percentages. The average H in the sector moved down 15.9% in the week. Only Guangzhou Automobile Group (2238 HK) was spared that indignity, seeings its H fall 'only' 9.7%.
Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$2bn of stock since the 10th of February, purchasing only Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) on a net basis.


Last week, I recommended staying long the Great Wall Motor (2333 HK), and short BYD (1211 HK), Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK), and Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) H vs A. 
Those four trades gained an average of 3.58% in spread terms on the week.

For this week's recommendations on Consumer, and discussion of the Energy, Financials &amp; Real Estate, Health Care, Tech, Industrials, Materials, and Utilities sectors, and all trade recommendations, please read on.

Quiddity Weekly H/A: Strong Dispersion, Strong Alpha; Brokers Beat Banks

<p>Four weeks ago, I gave the warning that H/A spreads had moved tighter - too far too fast. The next week, spreads widened, they bounced back with a vengeance, then slightly wider in the short week at the start of Chinese New Year, and bouncing back in the post-CNY week.</p><p>In the two weeks from before to after Chinese New Year, the average sector spread moved about 70bp tighter, but the average spread moved only 42bp tighter.</p><table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><p>Sector</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Last<br>Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Previous<br>Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>3wks<br>Ago</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>4wks<br>Ago</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Consumer</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.55%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.32%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  2.62%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Energy</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.43%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.64%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.98%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.59%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Financials &amp; Real Estate</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.10%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.29%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.62%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.73%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Health Care &amp; Info Tech</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.45%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.52%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.29%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.27%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Industrials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.26%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.62%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.48%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.30%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Materials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 3.08%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.57%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.66%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.95%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Utilities</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.99%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.25%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.06%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  2.45%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Sector Average</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.87%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.18%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.92%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.41%</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><p>This week, the data is a bit cut short as the China Securities Depository and Clearing has not reported Southbound position data since the 10th as far as I can tell. </p><div class="content-highlight"><p>There were 75 recommendations last week.  The 32 short recommendations lost an average of 48bp, slightly underperforming the market as a whole. The 43 long recommendations averaged gains of 50bp over the two weeks, outperforming the market as a whole. The combined total package was up 0.084% over the two weeks. </p></div><div><div><h3>The H/A Spread Market</h3></div></div><div>
<p>The past two weeks straddling Chinese New Year saw mixed movement in H/A spreads, with 63 of 98 liquid spreads (64%) narrowing an average of 42bp. They are on average 92bp tighter over four weeks. </p>
<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/189/832/original/Screenshot+2021-02-20+at+5.17.17+PM.png?1613812651" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="189832"></figure></section><hr>
</div><div><div><h3>Consumer Sector</h3></div></div><div>
<p>The first sector discussed is Consumer, where liquid H/A spreads narrowed on average 1.35% over the two weeks, but with some bumpiness. </p>
<p><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> saw its spread move 3.1% wider over the two weeks and is now 7.1% wider over four weeks and it is no longer the narrowest liquid H/A spread in the sector, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuyao-glass-industry-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:330:1" rel="noopener">Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)</a> taking its place moving 2.4% in the two weeks and 10.7% in four.</p>
</div><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Two weeks ago, I recommended staying long the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/great-wall-motor-co-ltd-cb302af9-398c-4d2d-ba39-023e43287eef" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:128:1" rel="noopener">Great Wall Motor (2333 HK)</a>, and short <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/hisense-home-appliances-group-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20107:1" rel="noopener">Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fuyao-glass-industry-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:330:1" rel="noopener">Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)</a> H vs A. </p>
<p>Those four trades gained an average of 1.67% in spread terms on the week.</p>
</div><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/189/833/original/Screenshot+2021-02-20+at+5.28.45+PM.png?1613813350" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="189833"></figure></section><p>For this week's recommendations on Consumer, and discussion of the Energy, Financials &amp; Real Estate, Health Care, Tech, Industrials, Materials, and Utilities sectors, and all trade recommendations, please read on.</p>

Four weeks ago, I gave the warning that H/A spreads had moved tighter - too far too fast. The next week, spreads widened, they bounced back with a vengeance, then slightly wider in the short week at the start of Chinese New Year, and bouncing back in the post-CNY week.In the two weeks from before to after Chinese New Year, the average sector spread moved about 70bp tighter, but the average spread moved only 42bp tighter.

Sector
Last Week
Previous Week
3wks Ago
4wks Ago


Consumer
-  1.20%
+ 2.55%
+ 2.32%
-  2.62%


Energy
+ 1.43%
-  1.64%
+ 1.98%
-  0.59%


Financials &amp; Real Estate
+ 0.10%
+ 0.29%
+ 0.62%
-  1.73%


Health Care &amp; Info Tech
+ 1.45%
-  1.52%
+ 2.29%
-  0.27%


Industrials
+ 0.26%
-  0.62%
+ 2.48%
-  1.30%


Materials
+ 3.08%
-  0.57%
+ 2.66%
-  0.95%


Utilities
+ 0.99%
+ 0.25%
+ 1.06%
-  2.45%


Sector Average
+ 0.87%
-  0.18%
+ 1.92%
-  1.41%

This week, the data is a bit cut short as the China Securities Depository and Clearing has not reported Southbound position data since the 10th as far as I can tell. There were 75 recommendations last week.  The 32 short recommendations lost an average of 48bp, slightly underperforming the market as a whole. The 43 long recommendations averaged gains of 50bp over the two weeks, outperforming the market as a whole. The combined total package was up 0.084% over the two weeks. The H/A Spread Market
The past two weeks straddling Chinese New Year saw mixed movement in H/A spreads, with 63 of 98 liquid spreads (64%) narrowing an average of 42bp. They are on average 92bp tighter over four weeks. 

Consumer Sector
The first sector discussed is Consumer, where liquid H/A spreads narrowed on average 1.35% over the two weeks, but with some bumpiness. 
BYD (1211 HK) saw its spread move 3.1% wider over the two weeks and is now 7.1% wider over four weeks and it is no longer the narrowest liquid H/A spread in the sector, with Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) taking its place moving 2.4% in the two weeks and 10.7% in four.

Two weeks ago, I recommended staying long the Great Wall Motor (2333 HK), and short BYD (1211 HK), Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK), and Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) H vs A. 
Those four trades gained an average of 1.67% in spread terms on the week.
For this week's recommendations on Consumer, and discussion of the Energy, Financials &amp; Real Estate, Health Care, Tech, Industrials, Materials, and Utilities sectors, and all trade recommendations, please read on.

Quiddity Weekly H/A: High Volatility in Materials and Industrials and Spreads Over Lunar New Year

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><em>*Costs Now An Issue: </em></strong>Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;</p><p><strong><em>*Credit Is WEAKER Still: </em></strong> We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and</p><p><strong><em>*Fundamentally Challenged Still:</em></strong> Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. </p>

*Costs Now An Issue: Ping An Bank (000001.CH) [PAB], the Ping An Insurance (2318.HK) [Ping An] banking subsidiary, reported CNY 6.5 bn – declining CNY 2.2 bn (25.1%) on a linked quarter basis. In this environment, credit troubles no doubt are a foregone conclusion. However, this was not necessarily PAB’s biggest issue in its most results announcement, where the bulk of the earnings decline was attributed to a CNY 1.9 bn (17.1%) linked quarter increase in costs;*Credit Is WEAKER Still:  We find that credit weakness is actually deteriorating at an even more accelerated pace than in 3Q20, as net new NPLs have increased CNY 20.5 bn or a massive 241% (223% in 3Q20) on an annualized basis. We also find that PAB’s reserves still remain quite light by CNY 152 bn if we assume a 2x NPL ratio. This shortfall represents 60% of stated equity; and*Fundamentally Challenged Still: Despite the Investor Day cheerleading session, Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH in 1H20, as the overall combined ratio eroded 1.5% to 98.1% due primarily to continued weakness within the credit insurance unit where the combined ratio came in at 125.6% (up 32.4%). The credit insurance segment reported a CNY 3.5 bn underwriting loss, due to defaults on underlying loans. 

China Merchants Bank H / Equity Bottom-Up

<p><strong><em>*Weak 4Q20 Bottom-Line:</em></strong> China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] announced a poor set of preliminary 4Q20 results, with net profit declining CNY 6.1 bn (22.7%) on a linked quarter basis – this, despite having its tax rate decline 790 bp to 15.6% over the period; and</p><p><strong><em>*Best Retail Franchise Hitting Credit Wall:</em></strong> While CMB has the best retail franchise in mainland China, credit risk has substantially increased in 4Q20. We note a potential net new NPL increase of CNY 11.4 bn linked quarter for a whopping annualized increase in NPLs of 80.4%. Trouble is brewing in paradise.  </p>

*Weak 4Q20 Bottom-Line: China Merchants Bank (3968.HK) [CMB] announced a poor set of preliminary 4Q20 results, with net profit declining CNY 6.1 bn (22.7%) on a linked quarter basis – this, despite having its tax rate decline 790 bp to 15.6% over the period; and*Best Retail Franchise Hitting Credit Wall: While CMB has the best retail franchise in mainland China, credit risk has substantially increased in 4Q20. We note a potential net new NPL increase of CNY 11.4 bn linked quarter for a whopping annualized increase in NPLs of 80.4%. Trouble is brewing in paradise.  

China Merchants Bank – Massive 4Q20 Charge-Offs

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<p>Goldilocks may morph into a market wolf if the US Senate changes leadership while 100 mask wearing days haunts of Jimmy Carter-like sentiment. This is not priced in and these changes may limit the annual January bounce.</p><p>Also, there is a risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. US bank earnings announcements at mid-month will be watched for signs of management concern as well as dividend expectations. January’s top 10 performers could have distinctively lower risk profiles.</p><p>Idiosyncratic plus vaccine impact expectations drove December performance. As such, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-east-asia-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:341:1" rel="noopener">Bank of East Asia (23 HK)</a> and Thai Bank Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities outperformed in Asia, albeit for differing reasons.</p><p>While Thai bank bonds rode the wave of enthusiasm following announcements of Coronavirus vaccines, Bank of East Asia’s notes gained on credit technical reasons. Similarly, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vietnam-prosperity-jsc-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26914:1" rel="noopener">Vietnam Prosperity's (VPB VN)</a> bond rose on vaccine developments while Ardshindbank and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-minsheng-banking-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:655:1" rel="noopener">China Minsheng  (600016 CH)</a> gained as their respective credit situations improved.</p><p>Bank of East Asia’s decision to retire its December callable Additional Tier 1 bonds woke the market to our insight several months earlier that this debt is inefficient capital. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bank-of-east-asia-buy-the-inefficient-capital-securities" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:42753" rel="noopener">Buy the Inefficient Capital Securities</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bank-of-east-asia-move-to-overweight-the-capital-inefficient-securities-from-buy" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45652" rel="noopener">Move to Overweight the Capital Inefficient Securities from Buy</a> for more details.</p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yes-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:767:1" rel="noopener">YES Bank (YES IN)</a> led spread widening. Having hit par at one point during December, investors followed our recommendation to lighten exposure. 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">Par Is Plenty- Move to Underweight</a> for more details.</p><p>In a positive sign from a vaccine momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst Thailand’s AT1 bonds continued throughout December. Nonetheless, we see this as a cognitive dissonance trade which ignores vaccine distribution and time extension risks. Rolling lockdowns do not improve consumer confidence and lower Q1 economic output in Europe and the US may ensue. This could impact Asia asset values and our preference would be to fade the rally in Thai bank AT1.</p>

Goldilocks may morph into a market wolf if the US Senate changes leadership while 100 mask wearing days haunts of Jimmy Carter-like sentiment. This is not priced in and these changes may limit the annual January bounce.Also, there is a risk that the market has gotten ahead of itself as bank management’s loss expectations are yet to be tested. US bank earnings announcements at mid-month will be watched for signs of management concern as well as dividend expectations. January’s top 10 performers could have distinctively lower risk profiles.Idiosyncratic plus vaccine impact expectations drove December performance. As such, Bank of East Asia (23 HK) and Thai Bank Additional Tier 1 (AT1) securities outperformed in Asia, albeit for differing reasons.While Thai bank bonds rode the wave of enthusiasm following announcements of Coronavirus vaccines, Bank of East Asia’s notes gained on credit technical reasons. Similarly, Vietnam Prosperity's (VPB VN) bond rose on vaccine developments while Ardshindbank and China Minsheng  (600016 CH) gained as their respective credit situations improved.Bank of East Asia’s decision to retire its December callable Additional Tier 1 bonds woke the market to our insight several months earlier that this debt is inefficient capital. Please see Buy the Inefficient Capital Securities and Move to Overweight the Capital Inefficient Securities from Buy for more details.YES Bank (YES IN) led spread widening. Having hit par at one point during December, investors followed our recommendation to lighten exposure. Please see: Par Is Plenty- Move to Underweight for more details.In a positive sign from a vaccine momentum perspective, the positive spread movement amongst Thailand’s AT1 bonds continued throughout December. Nonetheless, we see this as a cognitive dissonance trade which ignores vaccine distribution and time extension risks. Rolling lockdowns do not improve consumer confidence and lower Q1 economic output in Europe and the US may ensue. This could impact Asia asset values and our preference would be to fade the rally in Thai bank AT1.

Bank Credit Compass: Regime Change May Limit the Annual January Bounce

China

China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. operates in commercial banking businesses. The Bank provides deposit, loan, settlement, discount, financial bond issuance, government bond underwriting and trading, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and other related financial services.

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China Minsheng Banking H (1988 HK)

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Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Credit Compass: Regime Change May Limit the Annual January Bounce

Goldilocks may morph into a market wolf if the US Senate changes hands while 100 mask wearing days haunts of Carter-like sentiment. This is not...

Hank Calenti, CFA

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