Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<p>Our research suggests average container rates rose by 6% in September, boosted by improved Transpacific volumes. While inbound to US demand appears strong through October, estimates from the Port of LA suggest early November will see a modest YoY decline in throughput. </p>
<p>Bunker (ship fuel) prices remain below year-ago levels and carrier profitability in Q3 (and early Q4) likely remains high compared to 2019. Germany's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hapag-lloyd-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21649:1" rel="noopener">Hapag-Lloyd AG (HLAG GR)</a> lifted full-year guidance this week, reflecting confidence in near-term market conditions. </p>
<p>After almost tripling earlier in 2020 on a combination of strong demand and limited capacity, it appears air cargo pricing for key Asian carriers has moderated compared versus peak levels in Q2. </p>
<p>While current conditions appear buoyant, we believe the sharpest YoY improvements in profitability for container carriers (and air cargo) are probably already behind us. </p>

Our research suggests average container rates rose by 6% in September, boosted by improved Transpacific volumes. While inbound to US demand appears strong through October, estimates from the Port of LA suggest early November will see a modest YoY decline in throughput. 
Bunker (ship fuel) prices remain below year-ago levels and carrier profitability in Q3 (and early Q4) likely remains high compared to 2019. Germany's Hapag-Lloyd AG (HLAG GR) lifted full-year guidance this week, reflecting confidence in near-term market conditions. 
After almost tripling earlier in 2020 on a combination of strong demand and limited capacity, it appears air cargo pricing for key Asian carriers has moderated compared versus peak levels in Q2. 
While current conditions appear buoyant, we believe the sharpest YoY improvements in profitability for container carriers (and air cargo) are probably already behind us. 

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Box Rates Firm | LA Down in Nov? | Air Cargo Pricing Eases

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

<div>Adding Indonesia to the current 8 countries that Singapore has a reciprocal Green Lane travel arrangement with, we should expect an increase in mobility in Singapore as Indonesia contributes to the second largest number of tourists in Singapore besides China. There is also a pilot project of the travel bubble with Hong Kong that requires no 14-day quarantine. </div>
<div></div>
<div>The shift WFO from WFH is not losing any momentum but slowly increasing. Majority Singaporeans uses public transport to go to work compared to private vehicles (public transport is the largest revenue contributor to Comfort Delgro). Phase III of COVID-19 reopening creates higher mobility from the higher number of participants allowed in various events including weddings and religious services. </div>
<div></div>
<div>Let's not be fooled by the increase in the company's increase in PER, the increase was caused by the low earnings rather than an increase in share price thus for investors who have not have <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/comfortdelgro-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:497:1" rel="noopener">Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP)</a> in the portfolio, they still have a chance to do it. </div>

Adding Indonesia to the current 8 countries that Singapore has a reciprocal Green Lane travel arrangement with, we should expect an increase in mobility in Singapore as Indonesia contributes to the second largest number of tourists in Singapore besides China. There is also a pilot project of the travel bubble with Hong Kong that requires no 14-day quarantine. 

The shift WFO from WFH is not losing any momentum but slowly increasing. Majority Singaporeans uses public transport to go to work compared to private vehicles (public transport is the largest revenue contributor to Comfort Delgro). Phase III of COVID-19 reopening creates higher mobility from the higher number of participants allowed in various events including weddings and religious services. 

Let's not be fooled by the increase in the company's increase in PER, the increase was caused by the low earnings rather than an increase in share price thus for investors who have not have Comfortdelgro Corp (CD SP) in the portfolio, they still have a chance to do it. 

ComfortDelgro (CD): Higher Mobility Expected

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<p>On the 9 June, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> disclosed in its massive recapitalisation proposal <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0609/2020060900356.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a>, that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>By the fourth quarter of 2020, Cathay Pacific’s management team will recommend to the Board the optimum size and shape of the Cathay Pacific Group to meet the air travel needs of Hong Kong while keeping Cathay Pacific’s financial status at a healthy level and meeting its responsibilities to Shareholder - <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0609/2020060900356.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page 6</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This morning, Cathay <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1021/2020102100213.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> its board had approved the following restructuring plan:</p>
<ul>
<li>Its wholly-owned Cathay Dragon, will cease its operations with effect from today. It is intended that regulatory approval will be sought for a majority of Cathay Dragon’s routes to be operated by the Company and wholly-owned subsidiary low-cost carrier, Hong Kong Express Airways.</li>
<li>Approximately 8,500 positions across the Cathay Pacific Group (including Cathay Dragon) will be eliminated, accounting for around 24% of the Cathay Pacific Group’s headcount of 35,000.</li>
<li>Hong Kong-based cabin and cockpit crew of Cathay Pacific will be asked to agree to changes in their conditions of service which are designed, inter alia, to match remuneration more closely to productivity and to enhance market competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
<p>This restructuring will cost HK$2.2bn, to be funded internally. </p>
<p>Cathay is still running at a HK$1.5-HK$2bn/monthly loss. This restructuring is expected to save HK$500mn/month once fully implemented in 2021.</p>
<p>Separately <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>'s discount to NAV appears to have met support at around the current NAV discount.</p>
<p>As always, more below the fold.</p>

On the 9 June, Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) disclosed in its massive recapitalisation proposal announcement, that:

By the fourth quarter of 2020, Cathay Pacific’s management team will recommend to the Board the optimum size and shape of the Cathay Pacific Group to meet the air travel needs of Hong Kong while keeping Cathay Pacific’s financial status at a healthy level and meeting its responsibilities to Shareholder - page 6

This morning, Cathay announced its board had approved the following restructuring plan:

Its wholly-owned Cathay Dragon, will cease its operations with effect from today. It is intended that regulatory approval will be sought for a majority of Cathay Dragon’s routes to be operated by the Company and wholly-owned subsidiary low-cost carrier, Hong Kong Express Airways.
Approximately 8,500 positions across the Cathay Pacific Group (including Cathay Dragon) will be eliminated, accounting for around 24% of the Cathay Pacific Group’s headcount of 35,000.
Hong Kong-based cabin and cockpit crew of Cathay Pacific will be asked to agree to changes in their conditions of service which are designed, inter alia, to match remuneration more closely to productivity and to enhance market competitiveness.

This restructuring will cost HK$2.2bn, to be funded internally. 
Cathay is still running at a HK$1.5-HK$2bn/monthly loss. This restructuring is expected to save HK$500mn/month once fully implemented in 2021.
Separately Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)'s discount to NAV appears to have met support at around the current NAV discount.
As always, more below the fold.

<p>The Thai government is in talks with China to exempt Chinese tourists from the required 14-day quarantine by 2021. The exemption may push through if the limited reopening of Thailand for international tourism will be a success. The current14-day quarantine will be replaced by coronavirus testing and mobile tracking app.</p>
<p>Chinese tourists accounted for more than 25% of Thailand’s international tourists and maybe the first low-risk country that will sign up for quarantine-free travel. Most Chinese visitors come to Thailand for a week, so being quarantined would not be worth the trip for many. </p>
<p>The protest in Thailand has not subsided therefore the high pent-up demand from Chinese tourists may have to be reallocated somewhere else. Historically, however, any protests in Thailand did not last long and mostly peaceful thus it may create some opportunity to <strong>accumulate </strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/airports-of-thailand-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:239:1" rel="noopener">Airports of Thailand (AOT TB)</a> stock. </p>

The Thai government is in talks with China to exempt Chinese tourists from the required 14-day quarantine by 2021. The exemption may push through if the limited reopening of Thailand for international tourism will be a success. The current14-day quarantine will be replaced by coronavirus testing and mobile tracking app.
Chinese tourists accounted for more than 25% of Thailand’s international tourists and maybe the first low-risk country that will sign up for quarantine-free travel. Most Chinese visitors come to Thailand for a week, so being quarantined would not be worth the trip for many. 
The protest in Thailand has not subsided therefore the high pent-up demand from Chinese tourists may have to be reallocated somewhere else. Historically, however, any protests in Thailand did not last long and mostly peaceful thus it may create some opportunity to accumulate Airports of Thailand (AOT TB) stock. 

Airport of Thailand (AOT): Soon or Later?

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

DFI Retail Group Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

Potential Drivers of the Straits Times Index in 4Q20

Singapore

Singapore Airlines Limited provides air transportation, engineering, pilot training, air charter, and tour wholesaling services. The Company's airline operation covers Asia, Europe, the Americas, South West Pacific, and Africa.

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Singapore Airlines (SIA SP)

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Containers & Air Cargo: Box Rates Firm | LA Down in Nov? | Air Cargo Pricing Eases

Container volumes and pricing firmed in September, and fuel prices remain relatively low, but trading conditions are unlikely to improve much from...

Tracking Traffic

ComfortDelgro (CD): Higher Mobility Expected

HK-SG travel bubble, Phase III, higher mobility in workplace are key catalysts to start accumulating ComfortDelgro's shares now.

Henry Soediarko

Cathay Pacific: Exit The Dragon

With passenger travel unlikely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024, the inevitable staff cut is announced, together with the cessation of...

David Blennerhassett

Airport of Thailand (AOT): Soon or Later?

The Thai government is in talks with China to exempt Chinese tourists from the 14-day quarantine by 2021. The protest will bring weakness to the...

Henry Soediarko

Potential Drivers of the Straits Times Index in 4Q20

Singapore is expected to show signs of a 3Q20 recovery in its highly services-orientated economy from 2Q20 following the lifting of CB...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

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