Fintech & EM-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Fintech & EM-focused Analyst

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>This Original aims to identify the key investment opportunities among the listed brokers in the three major East Asian countries - China, Japan, and Korea. </p><p>By looking at the development of the brokerage sectors in these three countries, we observe a general trend where upstart online brokers first compete against the more established brokers based on their cost and technological advantages. This then pushes the more established brokers to either focus on more lucrative wholesale businesses or adopt and invest in tech initiatives in order to stay competitive in the retail market.</p><p>After further establishing themselves in the retail market, these upstart online brokers then also diversify and expand into the more lucrative wealth/asset management or even wholesale businesses.  By gauging at which phase the broker is in this cycle, investors can have a good understanding of its future outlook.</p><p>In our opinion, Korean brokers currently offer the best value, while the Chinese pure-play online brokers offer the highest growth potential. As such, our pecking order, in terms of investment attractiveness, is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kiwoom-securities-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20418:1" rel="noopener">Kiwoom Securities (039490 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/east-money-information-co-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8075:1" rel="noopener">East Money Information Co A (300059 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/futu-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27858:1" rel="noopener">Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monex-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14211:1" rel="noopener">Monex Group Inc (8698 JP)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/huatai-securities-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:449:1" rel="noopener">Huatai Securities Co Ltd (H) (6886 HK)</a>.  </p><h2>What is Original?</h2><p>In this Original, we look into the competitive landscape of the brokerage sectors in China, Japan, and Korea. 55 listed brokers from these three countries are included in this Original as the company universe for regression analysis. </p><p>Among them, a total of 8 brokers are chosen, with their company profiles separately presented, to further showcase and contrast the impact of competition and technological disruption. Based on this, a pecking order is then developed, both on a country and a company basis.</p>

This Original aims to identify the key investment opportunities among the listed brokers in the three major East Asian countries - China, Japan, and Korea. By looking at the development of the brokerage sectors in these three countries, we observe a general trend where upstart online brokers first compete against the more established brokers based on their cost and technological advantages. This then pushes the more established brokers to either focus on more lucrative wholesale businesses or adopt and invest in tech initiatives in order to stay competitive in the retail market.After further establishing themselves in the retail market, these upstart online brokers then also diversify and expand into the more lucrative wealth/asset management or even wholesale businesses.  By gauging at which phase the broker is in this cycle, investors can have a good understanding of its future outlook.In our opinion, Korean brokers currently offer the best value, while the Chinese pure-play online brokers offer the highest growth potential. As such, our pecking order, in terms of investment attractiveness, is Kiwoom Securities (039490 KS), East Money Information Co A (300059 CH), Futu Holdings Ltd (FUTU US), Monex Group Inc (8698 JP) / Huatai Securities Co Ltd (H) (6886 HK).  What is Original?In this Original, we look into the competitive landscape of the brokerage sectors in China, Japan, and Korea. 55 listed brokers from these three countries are included in this Original as the company universe for regression analysis. Among them, a total of 8 brokers are chosen, with their company profiles separately presented, to further showcase and contrast the impact of competition and technological disruption. Based on this, a pecking order is then developed, both on a country and a company basis.

Asian Brokers: A Competition Between Value and Growth

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Quantitative Analysis

<div>
<p>Spreads narrowed sharply this week with 68 of 100 liquid spreads narrowing, 32 widening. The big winner on the week was Consumer narrowing 2.46% as every spread in the space narrowed despite five of six stocks falling in Hs (i.e. As fell even more). </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shandong-chenming-paper-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13775:1" rel="noopener">Shandong Chenming Paper H (1812 HK)</a> situation intruded on the H/S spreads this week as the decision to convert the B shares to Hs (described by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/david-blennerhassett" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="accounts:840" rel="noopener">David Blennerhassett</a> in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/shandong-chenming-paper-1812-hk-the-h-b-convergence-trade" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:49247" rel="noopener">Shandong Chenming Paper (1812 HK): The H/B Convergence Trade</a> mid-week) caused ructions in the H/A spread.</p>
<p>But overall, it was a decent week. Only two sectors saw spreads widen (Energy and Utilities), both accompanied by net southbound selling in the week to Wednesday (the last day to which we have granular name-by-name data).</p>
<table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><p>Sector</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Last Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Previous Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>3wks Ago</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>4wks Ago</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Consumer</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.46%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.74%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.14%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.65%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Energy</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.39%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.56%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.36%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.67%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Financials &amp; Real Estate</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.92%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.53%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.19%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.12%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Health Care &amp; Info Tech</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.50%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.29%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.54%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  2.86%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Industrials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.19%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.15%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.42%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Materials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.42%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.61%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.33%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.84%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Utilities</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.91%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.87%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.25%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.14%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><strong>Sector Average</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>+ 0.88%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>+ 0.41%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>-  0.26%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>-  1.02%</strong></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><strong>All Market Average</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>+ 0.96%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>+ 0.59%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>+ 0.05%</strong></p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p><strong>-  1.22%</strong></p></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div><div><div></div></div><p><span>10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to fall. This past week ended at 20% down from 23% in the ten days to 12 March. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is still under 20%.</span></p><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/770/original/Screenshot+2021-03-20+at+8.25.25+PM.png?1616243179" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195770"></figure></section><div><div>
<hr>
<h3>The H/A Spread Market</h3>
</div></div><div><p>The past week has seen H-shares come off, but spreads narrow as Hs outperformed their As pretty dramatically. Interestingly, the narrower the spread, to start with, the better the performance on the week. Ideally, spread players want to see that red line sloping downward from upper left to lower right because even a big spread movement for a 70% discount stock means very large performance is needed to catch up. </p></div><div><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/724/original/Screenshot+2021-03-20+at+5.41.02+PM.png?1616233277" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195724"></figure></section></div><div>
<p>The average discount has started tightening again and we are at 38% which is where the spread rebounded to un Q2 of 2020 after widening in the Covid-crash. </p>
<p>In 2019, spreads spent a fairly long time in the 34-36% average. </p>
</div><section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/728/original/Screenshot+2021-03-20+at+5.44.03+PM.png?1616233457" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195728"></figure></section></section><hr><div><div><h2>Last Week's Recommendations</h2></div></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There were 81 recommendations last week.</li>
<li>Positive alpha returned. There were 49 long spreads and 32 short spreads which gained on average 27bp against the delta-neutral gain of 0.20%, indicating spread alpha of 7bp on the week. This is back to a good trend after a horrible week the week before.</li>
<li>There are <em>nearly</em> 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  </li>
</ul></div><hr><div><div><h2>Consumer Sector</h2></div></div><div>
<p>The first sector discussed is Consumer. It was a complex week there. </p>
<ul>
<li>Five out of six H-shares were down on the week. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tsingtao-brewery-co-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1296:1" rel="noopener">Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd H (168 HK)</a> was up 10.6%.</li>
<li>All six spreads narrowed with the average H-share outperformance of A at 2.46%. It was a strong week for every spread in the group. </li>
<li>Normally when this happens, there is significant net selling by Southbound. This week saw net buying of HK$270mm to Wednesday, halting four straight weeks prior of net selling. </li>
</ul>
</div><div></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Last week, I recommended keeping the shorts (<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> 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>) and the long in <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> and adding a long on <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> H vs A.</p>
<p>Those trades lost an average of 0.51% last week in spread terms after losing 29bp the week before, and 16bp the week before that. Despite three losing weeks in a row, positioning in the sector is still up 262bp in four weeks. </p>
<p>This week's trade recommendations are below the fold.</p>
</div></div></div><div><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/195/729/original/Screenshot+2021-03-20+at+5.44.45+PM.png?1616233498" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="195729"></figure></section></div><div><section>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.</section></div>


Spreads narrowed sharply this week with 68 of 100 liquid spreads narrowing, 32 widening. The big winner on the week was Consumer narrowing 2.46% as every spread in the space narrowed despite five of six stocks falling in Hs (i.e. As fell even more). 
The Shandong Chenming Paper H (1812 HK) situation intruded on the H/S spreads this week as the decision to convert the B shares to Hs (described by David Blennerhassett in Shandong Chenming Paper (1812 HK): The H/B Convergence Trade mid-week) caused ructions in the H/A spread.
But overall, it was a decent week. Only two sectors saw spreads widen (Energy and Utilities), both accompanied by net southbound selling in the week to Wednesday (the last day to which we have granular name-by-name data).


Sector
Last Week
Previous Week
3wks Ago
4wks Ago


Consumer
+ 2.46%
+ 0.74%
-  0.14%
-  1.65%


Energy
-  0.39%
-  0.56%
-  0.36%
+ 0.67%


Financials &amp; Real Estate
+ 0.92%
+ 0.53%
+ 1.19%
-  1.12%


Health Care &amp; Info Tech
+ 1.50%
+ 2.29%
-  0.54%
-  2.86%


Industrials
+ 1.19%
+ 0.15%
-  0.42%
-  1.20%


Materials
+ 1.42%
+ 0.61%
-  0.33%
-  0.84%


Utilities
-  0.91%
-  0.87%
-  1.25%
-  0.14%


Sector Average
+ 0.88%
+ 0.41%
-  0.26%
-  1.02%


All Market Average
+ 0.96%
+ 0.59%
+ 0.05%
-  1.22%


10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to fall. This past week ended at 20% down from 23% in the ten days to 12 March. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is still under 20%.

The H/A Spread Market
The past week has seen H-shares come off, but spreads narrow as Hs outperformed their As pretty dramatically. Interestingly, the narrower the spread, to start with, the better the performance on the week. Ideally, spread players want to see that red line sloping downward from upper left to lower right because even a big spread movement for a 70% discount stock means very large performance is needed to catch up. 
The average discount has started tightening again and we are at 38% which is where the spread rebounded to un Q2 of 2020 after widening in the Covid-crash. 
In 2019, spreads spent a fairly long time in the 34-36% average. 
Last Week's Recommendations
There were 81 recommendations last week.
Positive alpha returned. There were 49 long spreads and 32 short spreads which gained on average 27bp against the delta-neutral gain of 0.20%, indicating spread alpha of 7bp on the week. This is back to a good trend after a horrible week the week before.
There are nearly 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  
Consumer Sector
The first sector discussed is Consumer. It was a complex week there. 

Five out of six H-shares were down on the week. Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd H (168 HK) was up 10.6%.
All six spreads narrowed with the average H-share outperformance of A at 2.46%. It was a strong week for every spread in the group. 
Normally when this happens, there is significant net selling by Southbound. This week saw net buying of HK$270mm to Wednesday, halting four straight weeks prior of net selling. 


Last week, I recommended keeping the shorts (BYD (1211 HK) and Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK)) and the long in Guangzhou Automobile Group (2238 HK) and adding a long on Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK) H vs A.
Those trades lost an average of 0.51% last week in spread terms after losing 29bp the week before, and 16bp the week before that. Despite three losing weeks in a row, positioning in the sector is still up 262bp in four weeks. 
This week's trade recommendations are below the fold.
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: Consumer Strong, Spreads Narrowing Masks A-Share Weakness

David Blennerhassett

Event-Driven

<p>On the 4 June 2019, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cordlife-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:568:1" rel="noopener">Cordlife (CLGL SP)</a> <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/CGL%20SGX%20-%20Announcement%20of%20Indicative%20Non-Binding%20Proposal.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=562493" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a non-binding proposal for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/global-cord-blood-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:689:1" rel="noopener">Global Cord Blood (CO US)</a> (GCB), via the issuance of 2.497bn shares worth S$1.248bn or an indicative Offer Price of US$7.50/share. The transaction was subject to the entry into a definitive transaction documentation, including a merger agreement following satisfactory completion of business, financial, legal, and other due diligence.</p>
<p>Some 18 months later, Cordlife announced the <a href="https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/CGL_SGX_Termination_of_discussion_Indicative_Non-Binding_Proposal.ashx?App=Announcement&amp;FileID=648215" target="_blank" rel="noopener">termination</a> of the proposal.</p>
<h3>The NEW News</h3>
<p>On the 2 March, less than a month after Cordlife walked away, GCB <a href="https://ir.globalcordbloodcorp.com/static-files/f8b2aceb-b2fb-4de7-b9ea-5e466584ceda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the receipt of a non-binding acquisition proposal from a wholly-owned subsidiary of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haitong-international-securities-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13153:1" rel="noopener">Haitong International Securities Group (665 HK)</a>. The consideration under the proposal is US$5/share.</p>
<p>Yesterday GCB <a href="https://ir.globalcordbloodcorp.com/static-files/57848e55-d492-4a0b-8eee-03e431935b68" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the formation of a special committee to evaluate the proposal.</p>
<p>More below the fold.</p>

On the 4 June 2019, Cordlife (CLGL SP) announced a non-binding proposal for Global Cord Blood (CO US) (GCB), via the issuance of 2.497bn shares worth S$1.248bn or an indicative Offer Price of US$7.50/share. The transaction was subject to the entry into a definitive transaction documentation, including a merger agreement following satisfactory completion of business, financial, legal, and other due diligence.
Some 18 months later, Cordlife announced the termination of the proposal.
The NEW News
On the 2 March, less than a month after Cordlife walked away, GCB announced the receipt of a non-binding acquisition proposal from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haitong International Securities Group (665 HK). The consideration under the proposal is US$5/share.
Yesterday GCB announced the formation of a special committee to evaluate the proposal.
More below the fold.

Global Cord Blood: Haitong Raids The Bank

<div><p>Spreads generally narrowed this week with 63 of 100 liquid spreads narrowing, 37 widening. The big winner on the week was Health Care and Tech narrowing 2.3%. One tech name <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/flat-glass-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1108:1" rel="noopener">Flat Glass (6865 HK)</a> moved 10+% while several healthcare names saw spreads narrow 3-7% each, all happening in a somewhat lackluster week for outright performance. Overall, five of seven sectors represented saw spreads narrow.</p></div><div><table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><p>Sector</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Last Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>Previous Week</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>3wks Ago</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>4wks Ago</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Consumer</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.74%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.14%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.65%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Energy</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.56%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.36%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.67%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.43%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Financials &amp; Real Estate</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.53%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.19%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.12%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.10%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Health Care &amp; Info Tech</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 2.29%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.54%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  2.86%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 1.45%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Industrials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.15%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.42%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.20%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.26%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Materials</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.61%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.33%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.84%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 3.08%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Utilities</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.87%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.25%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.14%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.99%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>Sector Average</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.41%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  0.26%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.02%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.87%</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p>All Market Average</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.59%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.05%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>-  1.22%</p></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><p>+ 0.76%</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div></div></div><p>10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to be somewhat high at 23% annualised. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is still just under 20%.</p><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></div><section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/200/original/Screenshot+2021-03-14+at+9.05.58+AM.png?1615683976" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194200"></figure><p></p></section></section><p>The average discount appears not to want to tighten, still. The average spread has kept at around 40.0% plus or minus a small bit for the past eight weeks or so (despite that illiquidity-bump around LNY). This week we narrowed just inside 40%.</p><section><section><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/201/original/Screenshot+2021-03-14+at+9.08.22+AM.png?1615684116" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194201"></figure></section><p></p></section></section><hr><div><div><h2>Last Week's Recommendations</h2></div></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There were 80 recommendations last week.</li>
<li>This is the second week of negative alpha for the portfolio strategy in as many weeks. The average trade loss 22bp and only 31 of 80 trades recommended was up on the week. Shorts were particularly to blame as spread compression among the names in the 10-25% discount range was much wider than in the 35-60% discount range.</li>
<li>There are <em>nearly</em> 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  </li>
</ul></div><hr><div><div><h2>Consumer Sector</h2></div></div><div><p>The first sector discussed is Consumer, where most H-shares fell on the week. Shares averaged down 1.4% this past week after gaining 0.6% the week before. The two gainers from the prior week both fell this week.</p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Spreads were less tame, but momentum continues to be strong.</li>
<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> ended the week down 2% despite good production numbers out at the end of the week prior. BYD is down 28% in four weeks. </li>
<li>
<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> continued to fall and the spread continued to widen. It is now 13% wider over 4 weeks, but is still the second-narrowest spread in the sector at 21% vs the average spread in the sector at -30%.</li>
<li>Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$611mm after selling nearly that amount the prior week and HK$2bn in the two weeks before that. <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> saw continued net buying by southbound, which added about 60bp of H-share float ownership on the week through Wednesday.</li>
</ul></div><div><div><div class="content-highlight">
<p>Last week, I recommended staying 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>, 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, unwinding the <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> short, and replacing 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> long with <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>. </p>
<p>Those trades lost an average of 0.29% last week in spread terms after losing 16bp the week before, but gaining 3.58% the week before that. </p>
</div></div></div><div>
<section class="figure"><section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/194/249/original/Screenshot+2021-03-14+at+11.50.08+AM.png?1615693825" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="194249"></figure><p></p></section></section><section class="figure">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.</section>
</div>

Spreads generally narrowed this week with 63 of 100 liquid spreads narrowing, 37 widening. The big winner on the week was Health Care and Tech narrowing 2.3%. One tech name Flat Glass (6865 HK) moved 10+% while several healthcare names saw spreads narrow 3-7% each, all happening in a somewhat lackluster week for outright performance. Overall, five of seven sectors represented saw spreads narrow.

Sector
Last Week
Previous Week
3wks Ago
4wks Ago


Consumer
+ 0.74%
-  0.14%
-  1.65%
-  1.20%


Energy
-  0.56%
-  0.36%
+ 0.67%
+ 1.43%


Financials &amp; Real Estate
+ 0.53%
+ 1.19%
-  1.12%
+ 0.10%


Health Care &amp; Info Tech
+ 2.29%
-  0.54%
-  2.86%
+ 1.45%


Industrials
+ 0.15%
-  0.42%
-  1.20%
+ 0.26%


Materials
+ 0.61%
-  0.33%
-  0.84%
+ 3.08%


Utilities
-  0.87%
-  1.25%
-  0.14%
+ 0.99%


Sector Average
+ 0.41%
-  0.26%
-  1.02%
+ 0.87%


All Market Average
+ 0.59%
+ 0.05%
-  1.22%
+ 0.76%

10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to be somewhat high at 23% annualised. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is still just under 20%.

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, still. The average spread has kept at around 40.0% plus or minus a small bit for the past eight weeks or so (despite that illiquidity-bump around LNY). This week we narrowed just inside 40%.Last Week's Recommendations
There were 80 recommendations last week.
This is the second week of negative alpha for the portfolio strategy in as many weeks. The average trade loss 22bp and only 31 of 80 trades recommended was up on the week. Shorts were particularly to blame as spread compression among the names in the 10-25% discount range was much wider than in the 35-60% discount range.
There are nearly 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  
Consumer SectorThe first sector discussed is Consumer, where most H-shares fell on the week. Shares averaged down 1.4% this past week after gaining 0.6% the week before. The two gainers from the prior week both fell this week.
Spreads were less tame, but momentum continues to be strong.

BYD (1211 HK) ended the week down 2% despite good production numbers out at the end of the week prior. BYD is down 28% in four weeks. 

Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) continued to fall and the spread continued to widen. It is now 13% wider over 4 weeks, but is still the second-narrowest spread in the sector at 21% vs the average spread in the sector at -30%.
Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$611mm after selling nearly that amount the prior week and HK$2bn in the two weeks before that. Great Wall Motor (2333 HK) saw continued net buying by southbound, which added about 60bp of H-share float ownership on the week through Wednesday.

Last week, I recommended staying short BYD (1211 HK), and Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) H vs A, unwinding the Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd. H (921 HK) short, and replacing the Great Wall Motor (2333 HK) long with Guangzhou Automobile Group (2238 HK). 
Those trades lost an average of 0.29% last week in spread terms after losing 16bp the week before, but gaining 3.58% the week before that. 

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: Energy Up, Spreads Wider, Pharmas Down Spreads Narrower

<div>
<p>Spreads were mixed this week with 48 out of 100 observed pair spreads narrower and 52 wider. The big winner on the week was Financials with spreads 119bp narrower on average. Banks and Big Insurance generally narrowed. </p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Overall, it was a lackluster performance, and one cannot say spreads won't move wider, but at 40% discount (and an arithmetic average upside of 87% for each liquid H to reach parity with its A), this spreads <em>are</em> wide.</p>
</div>
<div>
<table class="table table-striped">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p><strong>Sector</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p><strong>Last Week</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p><strong>Previous Week</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p><strong>3wks Ago</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p><strong>4wks Ago</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Consumer</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  0.14%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  1.65%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>-  1.20%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>+ 2.55%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Energy</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  0.36%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>+ 0.67%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 1.43%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>-  1.64%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Financials &amp; Real Estate</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>+ 1.19%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  1.12%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 0.10%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>+ 0.29%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Health Care &amp; Info Tech</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  0.54%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  2.86%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 1.45%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>-  1.52%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Industrials</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  0.42%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  1.20%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 0.26%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>-  0.62%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Materials</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  0.33%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  0.84%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 3.08%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>-  0.57%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p>Utilities</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p>-  1.25%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p>-  0.14%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p>+ 0.99%</p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p>+ 0.25%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p><em><strong>Sector Average</strong></em></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p><em><strong>-  0.26%</strong></em></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p><em><strong>-  1.02%</strong></em></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p><em><strong>+ 0.87%</strong></em></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p><em><strong>-  0.18%</strong></em></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 211.818px;">
<p><strong>All Market Average</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 99.0909px;">
<p><strong>- 0.03%</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 136.364px;">
<p><strong>-  1.22%</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 95.4545px;">
<p><strong>+ 0.76%</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="text-align: right; width: 97.2727px;">
<p><strong>-  0.33%</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<div></div>
</div>
<div>
<p>10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to be high at 26% annualised. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is quite a bit lower. </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>
</div>
<section>
<section class="figure">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/192/678/original/Screenshot+2021-03-07+at+8.28.29+PM.png?1615120136" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="192678"></figure>
</section>
<p></p>
</section>
<div>
<p>The average discount appears not to want to tighten, still. The average spread has kept at around 40.0% for the past four weeks or so (despite that illiquidity-bump around LNY). </p>
</div>
<section>
<section class="figure">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/192/679/original/Screenshot+2021-03-07+at+8.30.27+PM.png?1615120295" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="192679"></figure>
</section>
</section>
<hr>
<div>
<h2>Last Week's Recommendations</h2>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There were 80 recommendations last week. This was the first losing week on alpha in several. </li>
<li>The 34 short spread recommendations lost an average of 0.12%, underperforming the market as a whole (which saw the average spread widen 0.03%). That is negative alpha of 9bp after positive alpha of 48bp the previous week on 33 spreads.</li>
<li>The 46 long recommendations averaged losses of 4bp during the week, underperforming the market as a whole by 1bp (vs +46bp outperformance the previous week). The combined total package was up -0.07% for the week vs +0.27% for the prior week, with -10bp of cross-bias alpha (vs 92bp of alpha on the cross-bias the previous week).</li>
<li>There are nearly 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  </li>
</ul>
</div>
<hr>
<div>
<div>
<h2>Consumer Sector</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>The first sector discussed is Consumer, where most H-shares fell on the week </p>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Spreads were remarkably tame.</li>
<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> ended the week down 1.1% after rising in the first four days, and the shares even fell Friday despite <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0304/2021030401545.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing</a> Thursday after the close that production was up 125%yoy in February, and sales +106%. BYD is down 20+% in four weeks. </li>
<li>
<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> was only up small in sympathy, outperforming auto names, and significantly outperforming glass names across other sectors. Thursday saw significant selling of glass names. </li>
<li>Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$585mm after selling HK$2bn in the previous two weeks. 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> saw decent Southbound buying on a net basis (+HK$190mm). BYD was the big net sell at -HK$673mm. </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> H vs 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 lost an average of 0.16% last week in spread terms after gaining 3.58% the previous week.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<section class="figure">
<section class="figure">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/192/669/original/Screenshot+2021-03-07+at+7.38.39+PM.png?1615117130" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="192669"></figure>
<p></p>
</section>
</section>
</div>
<div>
<section>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.</section>
</div>


Spreads were mixed this week with 48 out of 100 observed pair spreads narrower and 52 wider. The big winner on the week was Financials with spreads 119bp narrower on average. Banks and Big Insurance generally narrowed. 


Overall, it was a lackluster performance, and one cannot say spreads won't move wider, but at 40% discount (and an arithmetic average upside of 87% for each liquid H to reach parity with its A), this spreads are wide.






Sector


Last Week


Previous Week


3wks Ago


4wks Ago




Consumer


-  0.14%


-  1.65%


-  1.20%


+ 2.55%




Energy


-  0.36%


+ 0.67%


+ 1.43%


-  1.64%




Financials &amp; Real Estate


+ 1.19%


-  1.12%


+ 0.10%


+ 0.29%




Health Care &amp; Info Tech


-  0.54%


-  2.86%


+ 1.45%


-  1.52%




Industrials


-  0.42%


-  1.20%


+ 0.26%


-  0.62%




Materials


-  0.33%


-  0.84%


+ 3.08%


-  0.57%




Utilities


-  1.25%


-  0.14%


+ 0.99%


+ 0.25%




Sector Average


-  0.26%


-  1.02%


+ 0.87%


-  0.18%




All Market Average


- 0.03%


-  1.22%


+ 0.76%


-  0.33%









10-day cross-market spread volatility continues to be high at 26% annualised. This is down off highs in the low 30s a couple weeks ago, but the long-term average is quite a bit lower. 




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, still. The average spread has kept at around 40.0% for the past four weeks or so (despite that illiquidity-bump around LNY). 








Last Week's Recommendations



There were 80 recommendations last week. This was the first losing week on alpha in several. 
The 34 short spread recommendations lost an average of 0.12%, underperforming the market as a whole (which saw the average spread widen 0.03%). That is negative alpha of 9bp after positive alpha of 48bp the previous week on 33 spreads.
The 46 long recommendations averaged losses of 4bp during the week, underperforming the market as a whole by 1bp (vs +46bp outperformance the previous week). The combined total package was up -0.07% for the week vs +0.27% for the prior week, with -10bp of cross-bias alpha (vs 92bp of alpha on the cross-bias the previous week).
There are nearly 80 recommendations this week (turnover remains low).  





Consumer Sector



The first sector discussed is Consumer, where most H-shares fell on the week 



Spreads were remarkably tame.

BYD (1211 HK) ended the week down 1.1% after rising in the first four days, and the shares even fell Friday despite announcing Thursday after the close that production was up 125%yoy in February, and sales +106%. BYD is down 20+% in four weeks. 

Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) was only up small in sympathy, outperforming auto names, and significantly outperforming glass names across other sectors. Thursday saw significant selling of glass names. 
Southbound was a net seller of nearly HK$585mm after selling HK$2bn in the previous two weeks. Only Fuyao Glass Industry Group (3606 HK) saw decent Southbound buying on a net basis (+HK$190mm). BYD was the big net sell at -HK$673mm. 





Last week, I recommended staying long the Great Wall Motor (2333 HK) H vs A, 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 lost an average of 0.16% last week in spread terms after gaining 3.58% the previous 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: Financials Outpace Everything Else: Marketwide 87% Upside to A-Share Parity

China

Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. is a securities firm which acts as a broker, dealer for securities. The Company also provides investment advisory, placing and underwriting, nominee and custodian services.

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Haitong Securities Co Ltd (H) (6837 HK)

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Travis Lundy

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Asian Brokers: A Competition Between Value and Growth

The Original looks into the current competitive landscape of the brokerage sectors in China, Japan, and Korea, with a view to developing a list of...

Alec Tseung

Quiddity Weekly H/A: Consumer Strong, Spreads Narrowing Masks A-Share Weakness

The move in H/A spreads was 96bp this week. The strength in spreads masks some A-share weakness in the big and liquid names. Quiddity long/short...

Travis Lundy

Global Cord Blood: Haitong Raids The Bank

Despite a 9% gross spread to terms, I would not chase shares here. You have a broker oddly making the Offer; whereas a more suitable candidate...

David Blennerhassett

Quiddity Weekly H/A: Energy Up, Spreads Wider, Pharmas Down Spreads Narrower

Spread momentum continues unabated. Of note, CanSino's vaccine approval is getting no friends as the stock is down nearly 25% in 2 weeks and 29% in...

Travis Lundy

Quiddity Weekly H/A: Financials Outpace Everything Else: Marketwide 87% Upside to A-Share Parity

H/A spreads were largely unchanged on the week but more widened than narrowed. Financials was the only sector narrower on the whole. With average...

Travis Lundy