Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

Recognizing the importance and value-add of Factor Investing in fixed income, Lucror developed the Smart Quant Navigator (SQN), an intuitive platform that helps clients devise and implement factor-based strategies ranging from pure quant to active fundamental, with integrated ESG.

Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

In this month's “In-Focus”, we update our study of agency ratings for Asian issuers, analysing ratings transitions for all issuers in the Lucror Asia HY index between January 2014 and the present. The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.

  In this month's “In-Focus”, we update our study of agency ratings for Asian issuers, analysing ratings transitions for all issuers in the Lucror Asia HY index between January 2014 and the present.   The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.  

Asia HY Monthly - Asian HY Ratings Transition Study - Lucror Analytics

The Q4/20 results​ of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (MLCO) were within expectations, with the improved q-o-q earnings being in line with the industry development. While liquidity remains strong, we caution that the company’s sizeable cash buffer could be drained by its substantial capex plans. We also believe MLCO’s debt will continue to rise through FY 2021. During the earnings call, management’s tone was markedly more optimistic compared to earlier calls. The company foresees  that the industry will continue to recover in 2021, amid strong pent-up demand (this drove a better than expected performance over the tail end of the Chinese New Year period). Management is also hopeful that the low number of COVID-19 cases in Macau and the Mainland, as well as the rollout of vaccines in both regions, will result in a further relaxation of border restrictions.

  The Q4/20 results​ of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (MLCO) were within expectations, with the improved q-o-q earnings being in line with the industry development. While liquidity remains strong, we caution that the company’s sizeable cash buffer could be drained by its substantial capex plans. We also believe MLCO’s debt will continue to rise through FY 2021.   During the earnings call, management’s tone was markedly more optimistic compared to earlier calls. The company foresees  that the industry will continue to recover in 2021, amid strong pent-up demand (this drove a better than expected performance over the tail end of the Chinese New Year period). Management is also hopeful that the low number of COVID-19 cases in Macau and the Mainland, as well as the rollout of vaccines in both regions, will result in a further relaxation of border restrictions. 

Melco Resorts - Earnings Flash - FY 2020 Results - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of February includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index.

  The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of February includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index. 

Asia HY Trade Book - February 2021 - Lucror Analytics

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Current investment levels in Macau Gaming stocks are low compared to history across all of our ownership measures.  Declines that started in 2014 were accentuated by the COVID crisis, as EM funds repositioned in to safer corners of the market.  From a positioning perspective, this leaves plenty of upside should a change in sentiment occur.  Active EM exposure is now close to a 10-year low, there are many previous investors sitting on the sidelines and current investors are far from overstretched.At present though, EM investors bullish on the fundamental case for Macau Gaming stocks should be aware that this is largely an anti-consensus view.  74% of EM active funds do not have exposure and neither does the benchmark MSCI Emerging Markets index.  If it does pays off, it will provide valuable outperformance against both the benchmark and the active peer group in the year to come.  The analysis looks at the collective allocations in Macau Gaming stocks from a pool of 243 actively managed Global Emerging Market funds, with combined AUM of $460bn,

Current investment levels in Macau Gaming stocks are low compared to history across all of our ownership measures.  Declines that started in 2014 were accentuated by the COVID crisis, as EM funds repositioned in to safer corners of the market.  From a positioning perspective, this leaves plenty of upside should a change in sentiment occur.  Active EM exposure is now close to a 10-year low, there are many previous investors sitting on the sidelines and current investors are far from overstretched.At present though, EM investors bullish on the fundamental case for Macau Gaming stocks should be aware that this is largely an anti-consensus view.  74% of EM active funds do not have exposure and neither does the benchmark MSCI Emerging Markets index.  If it does pays off, it will provide valuable outperformance against both the benchmark and the active peer group in the year to come.  The analysis looks at the collective allocations in Macau Gaming stocks from a pool of 243 actively managed Global Emerging Market funds, with combined AUM of $460bn,

Macau Gaming:  Beaten up Sector Has Potential to Reverse

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers. The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.

  In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year, with a substantial share of them being SOEs. We review broader trends as well as select cases, and discuss our takeaways on how best to asses the credit profiles of Chinese issuers.   The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the “In-Focus” section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.  

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

Hong Kong

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited develops, owns, and operates casinos. The Company offers casino gaming, restaurants, bars, and resorts facilities. Melco Resorts & Entertainment serves customers in Asia.

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Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO US)

Asia HY Monthly - Asian HY Ratings Transition Study - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we update our study of agency ratings for Asian issuers, analysing ratings transitions for all issuers in the Lucror...

Lucror Analytics

Melco Resorts - Earnings Flash - FY 2020 Results - Lucror Analytics

The Q4/20 results of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (MLCO) were within expectations, with the improved q-o-q earnings being in line with the...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Trade Book - February 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of February includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also...

Lucror Analytics

Macau Gaming: Beaten up Sector Has Potential to Reverse

As sentiment begins to turn in Macau Gaming stocks, Global EM investors are positioned at their lowest levels in a decade.

Steven Holden

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year,...

Lucror Analytics

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Asia HY Monthly - Asian HY Ratings Transition Study - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we update our study of agency ratings for Asian issuers, analysing ratings transitions for all issuers in the Lucror...

Lucror Analytics

Melco Resorts - Earnings Flash - FY 2020 Results - Lucror Analytics

The Q4/20 results​ of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (MLCO) were within expectations, with the improved q-o-q earnings being in line with the...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Trade Book - February 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of February includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also...

Lucror Analytics

Macau Gaming: Beaten up Sector Has Potential to Reverse

As sentiment begins to turn in Macau Gaming stocks, Global EM investors are positioned at their lowest levels in a decade.

Steven Holden

Asia HY Monthly - USD Bond Defaults In China - Lucror Analytics

In this month's “In-Focus”, we look at the Chinese offshore bond defaults in 2020. A record 12 issuers defaulted on USD Notes during the year,...

Lucror Analytics

The Q4/20 results of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (MLCO) were within expectations, with the improved q-o-q earnings being in line with the...