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

*Weak Great Eastern Returns: Great Eastern Life (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. Earnings were materially weaker than what consensus has built in for Overseas Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) (earnings release date November 5, 2020) – and pose a modest consensus miss for OCBC. Higher volatility in reported Great Eastern earnings decreases confidence in forecasts; and*Better Readacross to Regional Insurers: MTM gains would imply a negative readacross to AIA (1299.HK), Prudential (PRU.LN), ManuLife (MFC.CN), and of course the mainland Chinese insurers.

*Weak Great Eastern Returns: Great Eastern Life (GE.SP) [Great Eastern] reported 3Q20 bottom-line results of SGD 287.9 mn, declining SGD 9.6 mn (3.2%) linked quarter. On an operating basis excluding market-related gains, the decline in profits was even more pronounced at SGD 24.6 mn or 9.4% over the period due to new business strain. Earnings were materially weaker than what consensus has built in for Overseas Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC.SP) (earnings release date November 5, 2020) – and pose a modest consensus miss for OCBC. Higher volatility in reported Great Eastern earnings decreases confidence in forecasts; and*Better Readacross to Regional Insurers: MTM gains would imply a negative readacross to AIA (1299.HK), Prudential (PRU.LN), ManuLife (MFC.CN), and of course the mainland Chinese insurers. 

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern

*Another Poor Set Of Results Expected: Pre-market on November 11, 2020, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] is set to release its usual limited set of results. By our calculation, AIA’s overall Value of New Business (VONB) is expected to decline 30% YOY on a constant exchange rate basis – remaining flat on a linked quarter basis, however - due largely to weaker volumes and margins; *It’s More Than VONB: 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. Equity markets where AIA operates had setbacks: Hong Kong (down 4%); Singapore (down 5%); and Thailand (down 8%). AIA’s EV also suffered an 8% impairment due to an investment portfolio challenges – which is a continued worry for us given the global economic challenges that all corporates and sovereigns are facing; 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 November 11, 2020, AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] is set to release its usual limited set of results. By our calculation, AIA’s overall Value of New Business (VONB) is expected to decline 30% YOY on a constant exchange rate basis – remaining flat on a linked quarter basis, however - due largely to weaker volumes and margins; *It’s More Than VONB: 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. Equity markets where AIA operates had setbacks: Hong Kong (down 4%); Singapore (down 5%); and Thailand (down 8%). AIA’s EV also suffered an 8% impairment due to an investment portfolio challenges – which is a continued worry for us given the global economic challenges that all corporates and sovereigns are facing; 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 – 3Q Results Will Remain Very Challenging

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Today after the close, and a few days earlier than expected, the Nikkei's “Index Business Office" which administers the Nikkei 225 Average and the other indices announced the Annual Review of the Nikkei 225 Average has resulted in one deletion, and one replacement. 
The stock getting deleted is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-kayaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6971:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Kayaku (4272 JP)</a> and the stock being added is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/softbank-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27445:1" rel="noopener">Softbank Corp (9434 JP)</a>. Softbank Corp is getting added with a Deemed Par Value of 50 yen per share as of the close of 30 September. 
There will be a few other technical changes at the end of September to do with a few stock splits and reverse stock splits but they will have no effect on the index. 
I have been surprised by the lack of aggressive shorting on Nippon Kayaku as it was the odds-on favorite to get the boot. The addition of Softbank Corp will surprise a few people but it may indicate an ongoing trend at the Nikkei to favor a certain kind of rebalance. 
More below the fold.

Today after the close, and a few days earlier than expected, the Nikkei's “Index Business Office" which administers the Nikkei 225 Average and the other indices announced the Annual Review of the Nikkei 225 Average has resulted in one deletion, and one replacement. 
The stock getting deleted is Nippon Kayaku (4272 JP) and the stock being added is Softbank Corp (9434 JP). Softbank Corp is getting added with a Deemed Par Value of 50 yen per share as of the close of 30 September. 
There will be a few other technical changes at the end of September to do with a few stock splits and reverse stock splits but they will have no effect on the index. 
I have been surprised by the lack of aggressive shorting on Nippon Kayaku as it was the odds-on favorite to get the boot. The addition of Softbank Corp will surprise a few people but it may indicate an ongoing trend at the Nikkei to favor a certain kind of rebalance. 
More below the fold.

The 2020 Nikkei 225 Rebalance: Nippon Kayaku OUT and Softbank Corp IN

*PAL Leads Improvement: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK)[Ping An] reported a 1H20 operating profit of CNY 74.3 bn, increasing just 1% YOY and 5% below consensus. As a recovery appears underway with Ping An Life (PAL), Ping An results appeared to be well-supported by a HOH improvement of CNY 13.2 bn bn (40.4%) in net profits  - although its value of new business (VONB) declined CNY 3.9 bn (11.9%); and *P&amp;C Remains A Challenge: Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH, 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. Auto combined ratio improved temporarily during the lockdown by 360 bp to 94.7%, and certainly warrants watching a driving returns to normal in mainland China.

*PAL Leads Improvement: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK)[Ping An] reported a 1H20 operating profit of CNY 74.3 bn, increasing just 1% YOY and 5% below consensus. As a recovery appears underway with Ping An Life (PAL), Ping An results appeared to be well-supported by a HOH improvement of CNY 13.2 bn bn (40.4%) in net profits  - although its value of new business (VONB) declined CNY 3.9 bn (11.9%); and *P&amp;C Remains A Challenge: Ping An P&amp;C operating profits declined CNY 2.6 bn (29.2%) HOH, 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. Auto combined ratio improved temporarily during the lockdown by 360 bp to 94.7%, and certainly warrants watching a driving returns to normal in mainland China.

Ping An Insurance – Life Showing Signs Of Life

*Weak Result, As Expected:  AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] reported 1H20 net profit of USD 2.2 bn, which declined 43% over the same period one year ago primarily due to MTM losses.Operating profit after tax (OPAT) increased 5% YOY and was largely in-line with consensus  - albeit slightly lower than trend line due to lower sales and change in assumptions; and*VONB Appears To Have Turned: AIA’s Value of New Business (VONB) of USD 1.4 bn, declined 38% YOY and was significantly affected by the travel restrictions and social distancing measures. In fact, 2Q20 VONB was hit even harder  - declining 48%; however, AIA did note that VONB momentum did turn positive across a number of markets  - including mainland China.

*Weak Result, As Expected:  AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] reported 1H20 net profit of USD 2.2 bn, which declined 43% over the same period one year ago primarily due to MTM losses.Operating profit after tax (OPAT) increased 5% YOY and was largely in-line with consensus  - albeit slightly lower than trend line due to lower sales and change in assumptions; and*VONB Appears To Have Turned: AIA’s Value of New Business (VONB) of USD 1.4 bn, declined 38% YOY and was significantly affected by the travel restrictions and social distancing measures. In fact, 2Q20 VONB was hit even harder  - declining 48%; however, AIA did note that VONB momentum did turn positive across a number of markets  - including mainland China. 

Japan

The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd. underwrites and sells life, health and annuity insurance to groups and individuals. The Company offers a wide variety of insurance products to suit different needs, ranging from children's school tuition to emergency funds for the elderly.

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Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)

Oversea Chinese Banking Corp – Still Not A Great Eastern

OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING CORP: Great Eastern Life Posts Another Weak Quarter; Margins Were Weaker and EPS Reliant On Gains. OCBC Consensus Appear...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA Group – 3Q Results Will Remain Very Challenging

AIA GROUP: Previewing 3Q Results, We Note VONB Challenges And Other Risks - Hong Kong Not Rebounding, Weak Equity Markets, and Further Investment...

Thomas J. Monaco

The 2020 Nikkei 225 Rebalance: Nippon Kayaku OUT and Softbank Corp IN

Today after the close, and a few days earlier than expected, the Nikkei's “Index Business Office" which administers the Nikkei 225 Average and the...

Travis Lundy

Ping An Insurance – Life Showing Signs Of Life

*PAL Leads Improvement: Ping An Insurance (2318.HK)[Ping An] reported a 1H20 operating profit of CNY 74.3 bn, increasing just 1% YOY and 5% below...

Thomas J. Monaco

AIA – Not Out Of The Woods

*Weak Result, As Expected: AIA Group (1299.HK) [AIA] reported 1H20 net profit of USD 2.2 bn, which declined 43% over the same period one year ago...

Thomas J. Monaco

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