Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

<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

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

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

Equity Bottom-Up

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/thai-beverage-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3656:1" rel="noopener">Thai Beverage (THBEV SP)</a> is uniquely positioned as a Thai company listed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">SGX (SGX SP)</a> with an exposure to the reopening of tourism in Thailand. The Thai government has proposed to exempt Chinese tourists from the required 14-day quarantine by 2021 and replace that with an app or token to trace their whereabouts during their holiday in Thailand. With the positive vaccine announcement, this initiative will be rolled out sooner rather than later and possibly be expanded for other countries too which means the number of tourists in Thailand will soon resume to the almost pre-COVID-19 level. </p>
<p>At 16x PER, 2.8x PBR, and 13.4 EV/EBITDA, Thai Beverage is trading at a  <strong>63% PER discount, 76% PBR discount, and 36% EV/EBITDA discount </strong>to the regional brewery peers<strong> and a 65% PER discount, 53% PBR discount, and 50% EV/EBITDA discount to the </strong>other Thai tourism-related stocks. </p>

Thai Beverage (THBEV SP) is uniquely positioned as a Thai company listed in SGX (SGX SP) with an exposure to the reopening of tourism in Thailand. The Thai government has proposed to exempt Chinese tourists from the required 14-day quarantine by 2021 and replace that with an app or token to trace their whereabouts during their holiday in Thailand. With the positive vaccine announcement, this initiative will be rolled out sooner rather than later and possibly be expanded for other countries too which means the number of tourists in Thailand will soon resume to the almost pre-COVID-19 level. 
At 16x PER, 2.8x PBR, and 13.4 EV/EBITDA, Thai Beverage is trading at a  63% PER discount, 76% PBR discount, and 36% EV/EBITDA discount to the regional brewery peers and a 65% PER discount, 53% PBR discount, and 50% EV/EBITDA discount to the other Thai tourism-related stocks. 

Thai Beverage (Thbev): Brewing for Reopening

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Melco International Development / Event-Driven

<div>
<p>This week in StubWorld ...</p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="content-highlight">
<p>Encouraging data about a potential coronavirus vaccine from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pfizer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1131:1" rel="noopener">Pfizer Inc (PFE US)</a> gives a boost to Nevada-gaming stocks, which now trade "rich" to their Macau gaming holdings.</p>
<p>Conversely, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/melco-international-development-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:809:1" rel="noopener">Melco International Development (200 HK)</a> is trading cheap to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/melco-crown-entertainme-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:810:1" rel="noopener">Melco Resorts &amp; Entertainment (MLCO US)</a>, as Lawrence Ho continues to add to his holding - plus there are large movements in CCASS.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Preceding my comments on Melco and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-pacific-ltd-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10433:1" rel="noopener">Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)</a>  are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.</p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="content-remarks">
<p>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>


This week in StubWorld ...



Encouraging data about a potential coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer Inc (PFE US) gives a boost to Nevada-gaming stocks, which now trade "rich" to their Macau gaming holdings.
Conversely, Melco International Development (200 HK) is trading cheap to Melco Resorts &amp; Entertainment (MLCO US), as Lawrence Ho continues to add to his holding - plus there are large movements in CCASS.



Preceding my comments on Melco and Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)  are the weekly setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos.




These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity threshold of US$1mn on a 90-day moving average, and a % market capitalisation threshold - the $ value of the holding/opco held, over the parent’s market capitalisation, expressed in percent - of at least 20%.




StubWorld: A Shot In The Arm For Gaming Stocks

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

<p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> rallied 14% on Monday in the US on news that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pfizer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1131:1" rel="noopener">Pfizer Inc (PFE US)</a>'s Covid19 vaccine had been found highly effective, and that distribution of the vaccine would begin before the end of 2020. Many travel-related stocks, such as airlines (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/american-airlines-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3663:1" rel="noopener">American Airlines Group (AAL US)</a>, +15%) and cruise operators (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/royal-caribbean-cruises-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1629:1" rel="noopener">Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL US)</a>, +29%) also rallied by 10% or more. </p><p>We have anticipated a rebound in Chinese travel-related shares when there is positive news about a 'normalization' of travel, especially cross-border travel, which has been hit harder than domestic travel. As investors in Chinese travel-related stocks begin thinking about a return to 'normal' market conditions for the sector, now is probably a good time to revisit what 'normal' means. </p><p>In the months prior to the emergence of Covid19, Chinese travel demand -- outbound and domestic -- was by several measures quite weak. While there will likely be a brief period in 2021 during which pent-up demand is finally met with easing travel restrictions, we believe that in the medium-term demand growth will sink back to the single digits. </p>

Trip.com (TCOM US) rallied 14% on Monday in the US on news that Pfizer Inc (PFE US)'s Covid19 vaccine had been found highly effective, and that distribution of the vaccine would begin before the end of 2020. Many travel-related stocks, such as airlines (American Airlines Group (AAL US), +15%) and cruise operators (Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL US), +29%) also rallied by 10% or more. We have anticipated a rebound in Chinese travel-related shares when there is positive news about a 'normalization' of travel, especially cross-border travel, which has been hit harder than domestic travel. As investors in Chinese travel-related stocks begin thinking about a return to 'normal' market conditions for the sector, now is probably a good time to revisit what 'normal' means. In the months prior to the emergence of Covid19, Chinese travel demand -- outbound and domestic -- was by several measures quite weak. While there will likely be a brief period in 2021 during which pent-up demand is finally met with easing travel restrictions, we believe that in the medium-term demand growth will sink back to the single digits. 

Trip.com Rallies 14% on Vaccine News. But What's the 'Normal' We'll Return To in 2021?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Less than a year since the news hit that the Chinese outbreak spread to the world, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pfizer-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1131:1" rel="noopener">Pfizer Inc (PFE US)</a> has announced its vaccine with more than <strong>90%</strong> effective in preventing Covid-19 among those without evidence of prior infection. Similar to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/china-outbreak-theme-winners-and-losers" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:35971" rel="noopener">China Outbreak Theme: Winners and Losers</a> , this insight will discuss the potential winners and losers from the announcement of the vaccine. </p><p>Travel-related names such as airlines, airport operators, tour operators, the duty-free operators are the clear beneficiaries of this news while auto dealership will also benefit from the potential lower unemployment later on. </p><p>Instant noodle makers, pc makers that benefit from the work-from-home rush, as well as glove makers will no longer enjoy the same growth rate in 1H, and in the case of the glove makers, both ASP and volumes may see a decline. </p>

Less than a year since the news hit that the Chinese outbreak spread to the world, Pfizer Inc (PFE US) has announced its vaccine with more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 among those without evidence of prior infection. Similar to China Outbreak Theme: Winners and Losers , this insight will discuss the potential winners and losers from the announcement of the vaccine. Travel-related names such as airlines, airport operators, tour operators, the duty-free operators are the clear beneficiaries of this news while auto dealership will also benefit from the potential lower unemployment later on. Instant noodle makers, pc makers that benefit from the work-from-home rush, as well as glove makers will no longer enjoy the same growth rate in 1H, and in the case of the glove makers, both ASP and volumes may see a decline. 

United States

Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets medicines for humans and animals.  The Company's products include prescription pharmaceuticals, non-prescription self-medications, and animal health products such as anti-infective medicines and vaccines.

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

Pfizer Inc (PFE US)

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

Thai Beverage (Thbev): Brewing for Reopening

Thai Beverage is uniquely positioned as a Thai company listed in Singapore with an exposure to the reopening of tourism in Thailand.

Henry Soediarko

StubWorld: A Shot In The Arm For Gaming Stocks

Melco International Development (200 HK) is trading cheap to Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO US), as Lawrence Ho continues to add to his...

David Blennerhassett

Trip.com Rallies 14% on Vaccine News. But What's the 'Normal' We'll Return To in 2021?

An effective vaccine is part of what will get China and the world back to 'normal' travel demand. But even before Covid19 erupted, Chinese travel...

Tracking Traffic

Pfizer Vaccine: Winners and Losers

Similar to China Outbreak Theme: Winners and Losers , this insight will discuss the potential winners and losers from the announcement of the vaccine.

Henry Soediarko

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)