Greater China Economics | PMI January PMI was below Bloomberg’s consensus, as the manufacturing PMI dipped to 49.2 (-0.9pt mom). The manufacturing output sub-index stayed marginally expansionary, while the new orders and new export orders sub-indices weakened. The purchase prices sub-index surged, pointing to higher cost pressure for manufacturers. The non-manufacturing PMI also fell to 49.4 (-0.8pt mom), mainly driven by a sharp contraction in the construction industry index. Large enterpri...
The appointment of Kevin Warsh as the new Fed Chair has strengthened the Fed’s credibility in fighting inflation, leading to an abrupt unwind for safe haven assets. Liquidity exiting safe haven assets, such as the Singapore dollar, could lead to firmer domestic interest rates in 2026. Maintain OVERWEIGHT. The Fed regaining its credibility is supportive of our thesis that banks benefit from the Goldilocks economy. BUY DBS (Target: S$68.95) and OCBC (Target: S$23.65). DBS provides an attractive 20...
We expect 4Q25 to be characterised by moderation in NIM compression, sustainable growth in wealth management fees and benign asset quality. We project net profit of S$2,523m for DBS (flat yoy, -15% qoq) and S$1,747m for OCBC (+4% yoy, -12% qoq). Maintain OVERWEIGHT. BUY DBS (Target: S$68.95) and OCBC (Target: S$23.65). DBS provides an attractive 2026 dividend yield of 5.6%. We are excited to hear the new CEO’s strategy, priorities and vision for OCBC.
Top Stories Sector Update | Banking We expect 4Q25 to be characterised by moderation in NIM compression, sustainable growth in wealth management fees and benign asset quality. We project net profit of S$2,523m for DBS (flat yoy, -15% qoq) and S$1,747m for OCBC (+4% yoy, -12% qoq). Maintain OVERWEIGHT. BUY DBS (Target: S$68.95) and OCBC (Target: S$23.65). DBS provides an attractive 2026 dividend yield of 5.6%. We are excited to hear the new CEO’s strategy, priorities and vision for O...
Top Stories Sector Update | Banks We envisage a Goldilocks economy with steady growth accompanied by low inflation, the ideal balance for sustainable and lengthy economic expansion, supported by the Trump Administration’s new focus on affordability. We anticipate two rate cuts in 1H26 but none in 2H26. Banks provide resilient earnings with growth in non-interest income, including wealth management, offsetting negative impact from NIM compression. Upgrade to OVERWEIGHT. BUY DBS (Target: S$68.95) ...
Greater China Company Update | Baidu (9888 HK/BUY/HK$146.60/Target: HK$166.00) We are optimistic on Baidu as the Kunlunxin spin-off could help unlock financial value for Baidu and strengthen its AI ecosystem. Baidu announced that on 1 Jan 26, Kunlunxin applied for a listing on the HK Stock Exchange. Following the spin-off, Kunlunxin will remain a consolidated subsidiary, with Baidu retaining a controlling 59% stake. Maintain BUY with a higher target price of HK$166.00 (US$185.00). Company ...
We envisage a Goldilocks economy with steady growth accompanied by low inflation, the ideal balance for sustainable and lengthy economic expansion, supported by the Trump Administration’s new focus on affordability. We anticipate two rate cuts in 1H26 but none in 2H26. Banks provide resilient earnings with growth in non-interest income, including wealth management, offsetting negative impact from NIM compression. Upgrade to OVERWEIGHT. BUY DBS (Target: S$68.95) and OCBC (Target: S$23.65) for att...
Top Stories Sector Update | Banking DBS and OCBC benefitted from spectacular surges in wealth management fees of 31% and 53% yoy respectively in 3Q25 as high-net-worth clients deployed their funds in investment products. UOB recognised one-off pre-emptive general allowances of S$615m in 3Q25 to strengthen its general provision coverage from 0.8% to 1.0% and loan loss coverage from 88% to 100%. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT. Influx of safe haven liquidity would continue to keep domestic interest rate...
DBS and OCBC benefitted from spectacular surges in wealth management fees of 31% and 53% yoy respectively in 3Q25 as high-net-worth clients deployed their funds in investment products. UOB recognised one-off pre-emptive general allowances of S$615m in 3Q25 to strengthen its general provision coverage from 0.8% to 1.0% and loan loss coverage from 88% to 100%. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT. Influx of safe haven liquidity would continue to keep domestic interest rates depressed. BUY OCBC (Target: S$20.22)...
A director at United Overseas Bank Ltd bought 150,000 shares at 33.758SGD and the significance rating of the trade was 67/100. Is that information sufficient for you to make an investment decision? This report gives details of those trades and adds context and analysis to them such that you can judge whether these trading decisions are ones worth following. Included in the report is a detailed share price chart which plots discretionary trades by all the company's directors over the last two y...
Greater China Sector Update | Automobile The anti-involution policy boosted OEMs’ 3Q25 earnings by ending the price war. However, the industry disruptor BYD saw worsened liquidity due to sales slowdown and inventory pile-up. Auto part companies saw margin erosion in 3Q25 due to delayed impacts from the OEMs’ price war, but 4Q25 margin will stabilise. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT. Top BUYs: CATL and Geely. Top SELLs: BYD and Li Auto. Cut target price for Li Auto to HK$60.0. Raise target price for Weich...
UOB’s net profit of S$443m for 3Q25 (-72% yoy and -67% qoq) was significantly below the consensus estimate of S$1,343m. New NPL formation was elevated at S$838m in 3Q25 due to exposures to commercial real estate in Greater China and the US. It also recognised pre-emptive general allowances of S$615m. UOB remains committed to its S$2b share buyback programme and dividend payout ratio of 50%.
Top Stories Company Results | DBS Group Holdings (DBS SP/HOLD/S$55.54/Target: S$55.50) Wealth management fees surged 31% yoy in 3Q25 due to brisk sales for investment products and bancassurance. AUM hit a new high of S$474b. New NPL formation was benign at S$113m. DBS wrote back general provisions of S$45m. Maintain HOLD. Target price: S$55.50. Company Results | Genting Singapore (GENS SP/BUY/S$0.73/Target: S$0.89) GENS’ stronger 3Q25 results reflect strengthening RWS footfall, better VIP vo...
Top Stories Asian Gems Corporate Highlights | United Overseas Bank (UOB SP/NOT RATED/S$34.54) UOB seeks to grow wholesale banking by financing regional supply chains. For retail banking, it aims to grow the invested AUM for wealth management. On a full-year basis, NIM could be at the bottom end of its previous guidance of 1.85-1.90% for 2025 due to the recent steep drop in 3M SORA. UOB intends to top up general provisions from 80bp to 90bp of gross loans, which would lead to high credit costs i...
Greater China Company Update | PICC P&C (2328 HK/BUY/HK$19.04/Target: HK$22.20) PICC P&C issued a positive profit alert, expecting its net profit to surge 40-60% in 9M25, attributed to a significant increase in underwriting profit and strong investment gains amid the stock market rally. We forecast continued CoR improvement in 4Q25, supported by the implementation of non-auto commission reforms effective from 1 Nov 25. We lift our 2025 earnings estimates by 8.9% to factor in the 3Q25 positiv...
UOB seeks to grow wholesale banking by financing regional supply chains. For retail banking, it aims to grow the invested AUM for wealth management. On a full-year basis, NIM could be at the bottom end of its previous guidance of 1.85-1.90% for 2025 due to the recent steep drop in 3M SORA. UOB intends to top up general provisions from 80bp to 90bp of gross loans, which would lead to high credit costs in 2H25.
Top Stories Sector Update | Banking We expect 3Q25 to be characterised by continued NIM compression, the resurgence of wealth management fees and benign asset quality. We expect net profit of S$2,749m for DBS (-9% yoy, -3% qoq) and S$1,808m for OCBC (-8% yoy, flat qoq). We remain concerned about heightened uncertainties emanating from trade conflicts and a prolonged US government shutdown. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT. BUY OCBC (Target: S$20.12), HOLD DBS (Target: S$55.25). Market Spotlight • US st...
Greater China Economics | Economic Activity China’s 3Q25 GDP growth slowed to 4.8% yoy, 9M25 growth to 5.1%. Ytd FAI fell 0.5% yoy, dragged by property FAI (-13.9% ytd yoy). September's industrial production rose 6.5% yoy, but retail sales growth eased to 3.0% yoy. With the stronger-than-expected 9M25 growth, we raise the full-year real GDP growth forecast to 5.0% yoy. That said, further policy support is still needed and we expect proposals for the 15th Five-year Plan to provide further clu...
We expect 3Q25 to be characterised by continued NIM compression, the resurgence of wealth management fees and benign asset quality. We expect net profit of S$2,749m for DBS (-9% yoy, -3% qoq) and S$1,808m for OCBC (-8% yoy, flat qoq). We remain concerned about heightened uncertainties emanating from trade conflicts and a prolonged US government shutdown. Maintain MARKET WEIGHT. BUY OCBC (Target: S$20.12), HOLD DBS (Target: S$55.25).
Greater China Sector Updates | Consumer In 2Q25/1H25, among 22 companies under our coverage, 9 beat / 7 inline or mixed / 6 missed. We observed: a) Deflation persists. b) Companies with more diversified product portfolios, along with product offerings ridding on the emerging consumption trends, stay constructive. c) Companies are expanding into new consumption channels. d) Sectors supported by monetised policy stimulus continue to demonstrate robust domestic sales in 3Q25. e) Companies are c...
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