Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-communications-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24562:1" rel="noopener">Bank of Communications' (BOCOM)</a> recently issued Additional Tier 1 bond appears fully priced. Trading just behind <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank of China (BCHINA)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">Industrial &amp; Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)</a>, we see little upside and despite moderate exposure to typically problematic exposures, we are not convinced that BOCOM is a flight to quality bank. We see better value elsewhere.</p>

Bank of Communications' (BOCOM) recently issued Additional Tier 1 bond appears fully priced. Trading just behind Bank of China (BCHINA) and Industrial &amp; Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), we see little upside and despite moderate exposure to typically problematic exposures, we are not convinced that BOCOM is a flight to quality bank. We see better value elsewhere.

Bank of Communications: Recent AT1 Is Fully Priced; Look Elsewhere for Value

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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p><strong><em>*Yongcheng Coal Default: </em></strong>According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and</p><p><strong><em>*Watch Your Banks: </em></strong>The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.</p>

*Yongcheng Coal Default: According to Shanghai Clearing House, Yongcheng Coal and Electricity (YCE) in Henan Province failed to repay a CNY 1 bn (USD 151 mn) short-term bond despite being given the highest rating by one of mainland China’s awful domestic credit ratings agencies; and*Watch Your Banks: The yield on benchmark five-year “AAA” rated mainland Chinese corporates was 3.99% - up over 100 bp from their April 2020 low. Investor flight is pushing financing costs higher and squeezing local corporate funding in a market which is just barely recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns remain over higher problem loans as debt service risk is heightened over higher rates, unreliable financial statements and ratings agency reports, and now an inability to refinance public debt with a number of bond sales being canceled. Further, the degradation of corporate bond values is limiting their usage as collateral.

<p style="text-align: justify;">Risk markets rallied on expectations that a meaningful economic restart will be brought forward following news of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pfizer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1131:1" rel="noopener">Pfizer's (PFE US)</a> preliminary success rate of 90% in its Coronavirus vaccine trials. Combined with a Goldilocks election outcome whereby President Trump loses the election, but Joe Biden does not win a mandate, Caa rated corporates continued to tighten by more than the Asia High Yield (HY) index and other components of the US HY complex.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Following two days of initial euphoria, markets consolidated on news of increased Coronavirus contagion. The growing footprint of Coronavirus related, pre-Christmas, restrictions across Europe and the US may be a headwind for economic growth over the near term.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the rate markets, a sharp jump in US yields early in the week retraced as the week progressed and attracted end-user buying, particularly in Asia. Japanese investors were reported to have been strong buyers of 7- to 10-year Treasuries. <strong>One of the developing risks at this point is that the reflation trade does not resurface while federal stimulus is constrained, and near-term economic prospects reduce.</strong> A tepid increase in yields could limit the effectiveness of any fresh Fed action. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Against this background, almost all Asia-headquartered bonds tightened relative to their benchmark spreads as vaccine progress and US Treasury curve steepening increased prospects for higher net interest margins. Amongst Additional Tier 1 bonds, Thai-headquartered banks led advances as the Bank of Thailand lifted a dividend ban and stated that the financial institutions have sufficient capital and loan-loss provisions to withstand the impact of COVID-19. This sounds like cheer-leading and we are tempted to fade this rally. Concurrently, Turkish HY Senior Unsecured bank bonds materially outperformed their global peers in anticipation of more orthodox monetary and economic policies. <strong>Given the starting point for a potential Turkish bank bond rally, we may see higher returns from Turkish- as opposed to Thai-bank bonds.</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the debt capital markets, over US$30 billion was raised by financial institutions in USD, Euros and Sterling across the credit continuum. When we noted last week that issuers were likely to bring 2021 issuance needs forward, we did not anticipate a flood like this. In what may have been the busiest bank bond issuance week of the year, the amount issued was almost one-half the amount brought in the prior eight weeks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Market Outlook: </strong>Over the near term, positive vaccine news combined with a goldilocks US election outcome lowers the likelihood of excessive US federal stimulus. This should cap additional upward pressure on US Treasury yields until vision increases on likely H2 ’21 US economic growth, post-vaccine distribution. Reflation remains on hold. This could limit US dollar weakness and limit positive impacts on reflationary beneficiaries such as bank valuations and Emerging Markets (EM) assets. Over the medium term, a less expansionary US fiscal policy should reduce upward pressure on U.S. rates and is likely to support yield-seeking, including EM fixed income securities over time.</p>

Risk markets rallied on expectations that a meaningful economic restart will be brought forward following news of Pfizer's (PFE US) preliminary success rate of 90% in its Coronavirus vaccine trials. Combined with a Goldilocks election outcome whereby President Trump loses the election, but Joe Biden does not win a mandate, Caa rated corporates continued to tighten by more than the Asia High Yield (HY) index and other components of the US HY complex.Following two days of initial euphoria, markets consolidated on news of increased Coronavirus contagion. The growing footprint of Coronavirus related, pre-Christmas, restrictions across Europe and the US may be a headwind for economic growth over the near term.In the rate markets, a sharp jump in US yields early in the week retraced as the week progressed and attracted end-user buying, particularly in Asia. Japanese investors were reported to have been strong buyers of 7- to 10-year Treasuries. One of the developing risks at this point is that the reflation trade does not resurface while federal stimulus is constrained, and near-term economic prospects reduce. A tepid increase in yields could limit the effectiveness of any fresh Fed action. Against this background, almost all Asia-headquartered bonds tightened relative to their benchmark spreads as vaccine progress and US Treasury curve steepening increased prospects for higher net interest margins. Amongst Additional Tier 1 bonds, Thai-headquartered banks led advances as the Bank of Thailand lifted a dividend ban and stated that the financial institutions have sufficient capital and loan-loss provisions to withstand the impact of COVID-19. This sounds like cheer-leading and we are tempted to fade this rally. Concurrently, Turkish HY Senior Unsecured bank bonds materially outperformed their global peers in anticipation of more orthodox monetary and economic policies. Given the starting point for a potential Turkish bank bond rally, we may see higher returns from Turkish- as opposed to Thai-bank bonds.In the debt capital markets, over US$30 billion was raised by financial institutions in USD, Euros and Sterling across the credit continuum. When we noted last week that issuers were likely to bring 2021 issuance needs forward, we did not anticipate a flood like this. In what may have been the busiest bank bond issuance week of the year, the amount issued was almost one-half the amount brought in the prior eight weeks.Market Outlook: Over the near term, positive vaccine news combined with a goldilocks US election outcome lowers the likelihood of excessive US federal stimulus. This should cap additional upward pressure on US Treasury yields until vision increases on likely H2 ’21 US economic growth, post-vaccine distribution. Reflation remains on hold. This could limit US dollar weakness and limit positive impacts on reflationary beneficiaries such as bank valuations and Emerging Markets (EM) assets. Over the medium term, a less expansionary US fiscal policy should reduce upward pressure on U.S. rates and is likely to support yield-seeking, including EM fixed income securities over time.

Bank Credit Weekly: Vaccine Rally, Then Consolidation, Drives Outperformance & Turkey Vs Thai Banks

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<div>
<div>
<div>
<article tabindex="0" role="article" data-focusable="true" data-detected_0="1">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div data-testid="tweet">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>And the rest, as they say, is history.</div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>At the 11th hour, leading to what would the world's largest IPO, with an implied valuation of US$316bn - nearly 20% larger than the world's largest bank, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ind-comm-bk-of-china-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC (H) (1398 HK)</a> - the Shanghai Stock Exchange <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1103/2020110302285.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancelled</a> the A-Share listing saying that the interviews that authorities had conducted with Jack Ma and regulation changes were not adequately explained in the documents, and the listing could not go ahead. Shortly after, Ant Group pulled its H-Share offering too.</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/170/692/original/image_68455652821605053632763.png?1605053634" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="170692"></figure>
</div>
</div>
<div class="content-caption">Source: FT</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
</div>
<div>It's easy to point the finger at Jack Ma's bellicose speech in Shanghai on the 24 October, in which he suggested traditional Chinese banks should change their “pawnshop” operating model. Arguably, this didn't help.</div>
<div></div>
<div>But the scuppering of the IPO is not some juicy vendetta - simply the reality of China's state-controlled banking system.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The runaway success of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group (9988 HK)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ant-financial-services-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24240:1" rel="noopener">Ant Group (6688 HK)</a> - and other massive tech companies such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent Holdings (700 HK)</a> - pivots off a less regulated entity pitched against more heavily regulated rivals.</div>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>The reining in of "disruptors" reach of these tech companies came in for even greater oversight yesterday with proposed new government measures to stomp on monopolistic practices, as a means to curtail their influence.</div>
<div></div>
<div>What does all this mean for big Chinese tech companies? Yesterday's downward move in BABA and Tencent could be just a sign of things to come.</div>
<div></div>
<div>More below the fold.</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<article tabindex="0" role="article" data-focusable="true" aria-labelledby="tweet-promoted-label conversation-level-label tweet-social-context tweet-user-name tweet-user-screen-name tweet-timestamp tweet-reply-context tweet-text tweet-rich-content-label conversation-control-label tweet-action-buttons" data-detected_0="1">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div data-testid="tweet">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<article tabindex="0" role="article" data-focusable="true" aria-labelledby="tweet-promoted-label conversation-level-label tweet-social-context tweet-user-name tweet-user-screen-name tweet-timestamp tweet-reply-context tweet-text tweet-rich-content-label conversation-control-label tweet-action-buttons" data-detected_0="1">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div data-testid="tweet">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div id="tweet-text"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>












And the rest, as they say, is history.






At the 11th hour, leading to what would the world's largest IPO, with an implied valuation of US$316bn - nearly 20% larger than the world's largest bank, ICBC (H) (1398 HK) - the Shanghai Stock Exchange cancelled the A-Share listing saying that the interviews that authorities had conducted with Jack Ma and regulation changes were not adequately explained in the documents, and the listing could not go ahead. Shortly after, Ant Group pulled its H-Share offering too.





Source: FT




It's easy to point the finger at Jack Ma's bellicose speech in Shanghai on the 24 October, in which he suggested traditional Chinese banks should change their “pawnshop” operating model. Arguably, this didn't help.

But the scuppering of the IPO is not some juicy vendetta - simply the reality of China's state-controlled banking system.

The runaway success of Alibaba Group (9988 HK) / Ant Group (6688 HK) - and other massive tech companies such as Tencent Holdings (700 HK) - pivots off a less regulated entity pitched against more heavily regulated rivals.


The reining in of "disruptors" reach of these tech companies came in for even greater oversight yesterday with proposed new government measures to stomp on monopolistic practices, as a means to curtail their influence.

What does all this mean for big Chinese tech companies? Yesterday's downward move in BABA and Tencent could be just a sign of things to come.

More below the fold.

















































Party Poopers: Reining In China's Internet

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

<p>The news of a C19 vaccine is a discrete variable that can affect how banks assess credit risk. With a vaccine there is less risk of economic shutdown, less risk of worsening consumption, and less risk of more unemployment. All of this must mean better statistics for probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD). At the same time, the US President-elect is talking about a ‘dark winter’ and urging mass mask-wearing. This comes as many European countries re-shutdown their economies at least to some degree. Banks will be hard-pressed to not view the Biden comments and actions from European countries as negative for credit metrics. This can mean a messy and moving set of credit risk assumptions for banks, making the path forward that much more difficult to ascertain.</p>

The news of a C19 vaccine is a discrete variable that can affect how banks assess credit risk. With a vaccine there is less risk of economic shutdown, less risk of worsening consumption, and less risk of more unemployment. All of this must mean better statistics for probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD). At the same time, the US President-elect is talking about a ‘dark winter’ and urging mass mask-wearing. This comes as many European countries re-shutdown their economies at least to some degree. Banks will be hard-pressed to not view the Biden comments and actions from European countries as negative for credit metrics. This can mean a messy and moving set of credit risk assumptions for banks, making the path forward that much more difficult to ascertain.

China Banks – Biden, Vaccine, Provisions

China

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd provides a broad range of personal and corporate commercial banking services all over China.  The Bank's businesses include deposit, loan, credit card, fund underwriting and trust, and foreign currency settlement and trading.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Ind & Comm Bk Of China (A) (601398 CH)

Bank of Communications: Recent AT1 Is Fully Priced; Look Elsewhere for Value

Bank of Communications' recently issued Additional Tier 1 bond appears fully priced. We see little upside despite moderate exposure to typically...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Another Day, Another Default

MAINLAND CHINA DEFAULT: Yongcheng Coal Defaulted On Its Debt, Leading To Concerns About The Credibility Of AAA Rated Corporates In Mainland China...

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank Credit Weekly: Vaccine Rally, Then Consolidation, Drives Outperformance & Turkey Vs Thai Banks

Positive vaccine news and the US election result lowers the likelihood of excessive US stimulus. This should cap pressure on Treasury yields and...

Hank Calenti, CFA

Party Poopers: Reining In China's Internet

It is a delicate dance to promote home-grown tech companies while keeping existing market forces in check. But it is no secret the PRC government's...

David Blennerhassett

China Banks – Biden, Vaccine, Provisions

There are conflicting factors at play in assessing banks, including Chinese banks, which will making the path forward that much more difficult to...

Daniel Tabbush

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)