Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>China's M2 (USD42.04trn) is double the size of US M2, having risen 10.4-fold in 18 years (far faster than the 3.1-fold increase in US M2 over that period). </li>
<li>Attempts at further monetary ease (RRR/rate cuts, QE) are futile, as they induce larger capital flight, and fail to rekindle credit demand amid PPI deflation and real-estate over-capacity. </li>
<li>RGDP growth is likely to weaken in H2CY24 as FAI and industrial growth flag, and retail sales stay sluggish. A larger trade surplus won't help, as FX reserves stagnate. </li>
</ul>


China's M2 (USD42.04trn) is double the size of US M2, having risen 10.4-fold in 18 years (far faster than the 3.1-fold increase in US M2 over that period). 
Attempts at further monetary ease (RRR/rate cuts, QE) are futile, as they induce larger capital flight, and fail to rekindle credit demand amid PPI deflation and real-estate over-capacity. 
RGDP growth is likely to weaken in H2CY24 as FAI and industrial growth flag, and retail sales stay sluggish. A larger trade surplus won't help, as FX reserves stagnate. 


China: Growth Inevitably Set to Flag as All Monetary Easing Proves Inefficacious

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

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Media reports indicate that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/walmart-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11134:1" rel="noopener">Walmart (WMT US)</a> is looking to sell 144.5m shares of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:446:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (JD US)</a> to raise up to US$3.74bn. That would be substantially all of its stake.</li>
<li>There will be passive buying from global index trackers at the time of settlement of the placement shares and could absorb around 12% of the placement shares.</li>
<li>There will be no passive buying from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">HSI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">HSCEI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-tech-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31367:1" rel="noopener">HSTECH</a> and HSIII trackers in the short-term. An increase in CCASS holdings should result in passive buying in December.</li>
</ul>


Media reports indicate that Walmart (WMT US) is looking to sell 144.5m shares of JD.com (JD US) to raise up to US$3.74bn. That would be substantially all of its stake.
There will be passive buying from global index trackers at the time of settlement of the placement shares and could absorb around 12% of the placement shares.
There will be no passive buying from HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH and HSIII trackers in the short-term. An increase in CCASS holdings should result in passive buying in December.


JD.com (9618 HK): Index Implications of Walmart Placement

<ul>
<li>As expected, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asm-pacific-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15061:1" rel="noopener">ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK)</a> will replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technol" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technol (1833 HK)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-tech-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31367:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng TECH Index (HSTECH INDEX)</a> at the close on 6 September.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.2% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$6.5bn. Passives need to buy over 7x ADV in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asm-pacific-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15061:1" rel="noopener">ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>Positioning appears light in both stocks. Expect <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asm-pacific-technology-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15061:1" rel="noopener">ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK)</a> to move up and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ping-an-healthcare-and-technol" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27008:1" rel="noopener">Ping An Healthcare and Technol (1833 HK)</a> to move lower near-term.</li>
</ul>


As expected, ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK) will replace Ping An Healthcare and Technol (1833 HK) in the Hang Seng TECH Index (HSTECH INDEX) at the close on 6 September.
Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.2% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$6.5bn. Passives need to buy over 7x ADV in ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK). 
Positioning appears light in both stocks. Expect ASM Pacific Technology (522 HK) to move up and Ping An Healthcare and Technol (1833 HK) to move lower near-term.


HSTECH Index Rebalance: ASMPT (522 HK) Replaces Ping An Healthcare (1833 HK)

<ul>
<li>There will be 3 changes for the Hang Seng Internet &amp; Information Technology Index (HSIII) at the September rebalance. There are some surprises.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.4% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$2.04bn (US$262m). 7 stocks will have over 1x ADV to trade.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/weimob-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27394:1" rel="noopener">Weimob Inc. (2013 HK)</a> is a surprise add. There is 6x ADV to buy from passive trackers and shorts are 12% of shares out and 24x ADV to cover.</li>
</ul>


There will be 3 changes for the Hang Seng Internet &amp; Information Technology Index (HSIII) at the September rebalance. There are some surprises.
Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.4% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$2.04bn (US$262m). 7 stocks will have over 1x ADV to trade.

Weimob Inc. (2013 HK) is a surprise add. There is 6x ADV to buy from passive trackers and shorts are 12% of shares out and 24x ADV to cover.


Hang Seng Internet & IT Index Rebalance: Three Changes & A Few Surprises

<ul>
<li>In a surprise (maybe should not have been!), there are no constituent changes for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> in September. However, there are float and capping changes.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover is 1% and estimated round-trip trade is HK$3.73bn (US$478m). There are no stocks with over +/-0.5x ADV to trade but flows could add to/offset other index flows.</li>
<li>We remain at 82 index constituents and the road to 100 constituents appears to be a long drawn out torturous one. At this glacial pace, could be an eternity away.</li>
</ul>


In a surprise (maybe should not have been!), there are no constituent changes for the Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) in September. However, there are float and capping changes.
Estimated one-way turnover is 1% and estimated round-trip trade is HK$3.73bn (US$478m). There are no stocks with over +/-0.5x ADV to trade but flows could add to/offset other index flows.
We remain at 82 index constituents and the road to 100 constituents appears to be a long drawn out torturous one. At this glacial pace, could be an eternity away.


Hang Seng Index (HSI) Rebalance: Meh (Or Will We Ever Get to 100 Stocks?)

China

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index is a free-float capitalization-weighted index comprised of H-Shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index. The base value of this index is 2000 as of Jan 3, 2000. This index replaced the old HSCE index on Oct. 3, 2001.

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)

China: Growth Inevitably Set to Flag as All Monetary Easing Proves Inefficacious

China's M2 is double the size of US M2, but further monetary easing futile amid capital flight and lack of credit demand amid deflation and over...

Prasenjit K. Basu

JD.com (9618 HK): Index Implications of Walmart Placement

Walmart is looking to sell its entire stake in JD.com. The ADR is lower in the aftermarket and the HK-line is down 10.8%. Passive trackers will buy...

Brian Freitas

HSTECH Index Rebalance: ASMPT (522 HK) Replaces Ping An Healthcare (1833 HK)

ASMPT will replace Ping An Healthcare in the HSTECH at the close on 6 Sep. Changes were expected but positioning appears light. With 6.5% of float...

Brian Freitas

Hang Seng Internet & IT Index Rebalance: Three Changes & A Few Surprises

There are 3 changes for the HSIII in Sep. Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.4% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$2.04bn...

Brian Freitas

Hang Seng Index (HSI) Rebalance: Meh (Or Will We Ever Get to 100 Stocks?)

No constituent changes so we stay at 82 stocks. Reaching 100 stocks is few years away. FAF/capping changes lead to 1-way turnover of 1% and round...

Brian Freitas

China: Growth Inevitably Set to Flag as All Monetary Easing Proves Inefficacious

​China's M2 is double the size of US M2, but further monetary easing futile amid capital flight and lack of credit demand amid deflation and over...

Prasenjit K. Basu

JD.com (9618 HK): Index Implications of Walmart Placement

Walmart is looking to sell its entire stake in JD.com. The ADR is lower in the aftermarket and the HK-line is down 10.8%. Passive trackers will buy...

Brian Freitas

HSTECH Index Rebalance: ASMPT (522 HK) Replaces Ping An Healthcare (1833 HK)

ASMPT will replace Ping An Healthcare in the HSTECH at the close on 6 Sep. Changes were expected but positioning appears light. With 6.5% of float...

Brian Freitas

Hang Seng Internet & IT Index Rebalance: Three Changes & A Few Surprises

There are 3 changes for the HSIII in Sep. Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 3.4% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$2.04bn...

Brian Freitas

Hang Seng Index (HSI) Rebalance: Meh (Or Will We Ever Get to 100 Stocks?)

No constituent changes so we stay at 82 stocks. Reaching 100 stocks is few years away. FAF/capping changes lead to 1-way turnover of 1% and round...

Brian Freitas

China's M2 is double the size of US M2, but further monetary easing futile amid capital flight and lack of credit demand amid deflation and over...