1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: Let's get to our guests now. Katherine Young is investment 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: director at Fidelity International, joining us in our Hong Kong studio. 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Always great to have you on, Katherine. So China really 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: seeking to stabilize the property market with lions lower rates. 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Brian was telling us we could have a further triple 6 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: our cut too. Is this enough or do we need 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: further government stimulus too? So the issue really with the 8 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: property sector at the moment is that not only do 9 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 1: the policy makers have to protect prices so the systemic risk, 10 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: but they also have to make up the funding shortfalls 11 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: to complete these projects owed to the home by so 12 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: that you have this sort of social stability angle. So 13 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: what is likely to happen? I mean, we have seen 14 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: a you know, a property bubble emerge over the years. 15 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: So it's about twenty of g d P last year 16 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: versus let's say the US bubble and oh six which 17 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: was six six and a half percent of g d P. 18 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: So we do need to see some short term pain. Now, 19 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: this pain isn't going to put in danger China's long 20 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: term growth trajectory or it's financial viability, but we are 21 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: going to see some defaults and as a result, of 22 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: the default consolidated market. So some of the bigger players 23 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: who are better manage a better balance sheets, R and 24 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: DED going to get bigger over the next three five years. 25 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: When it comes to the overall economic slowdown, I mean 26 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: we heard earlier that Laylan Miller says unlikely to get 27 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: five and a half percent. I think we all agree 28 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: on that point. What's kind of your target and what 29 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: is going to help get us to even around three 30 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: point nine to four percent by the end of the year. Yeah, 31 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: the current TOLF five and a half percent is somewhat 32 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: of a challenge. I guess when you look at China, 33 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: it feels like we're sort of treading water at this point. 34 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: So it doesn't feel like we're going to see another 35 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 1: big inflection point, So no big step down from this point. 36 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: But at the same time, the earnings and the policy 37 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: cycle just don't feel strong enough to get things turning around. 38 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: So it's very much a case of sentiment on the 39 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: ground and with the lockdowns and the impact of the 40 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: lockdowns some of the toll that's had on consumption as 41 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: well as industrial activities. Take that plus also the heat wave, 42 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: the concerns about property, so it's all these issues combined, 43 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: which I think is sort of concerning the people know 44 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: both so really as well as investors. So it's going 45 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: to take further stimulus going forward. And does that mean 46 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: China's uninvestable right now? I mean we're starting to get 47 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: a lot of those bullish calls fade somewhat. Absolutely not. 48 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: I think we still have to think about the long 49 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: term picture of China. And you know, China is in 50 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: a very different place versus a lot of other economies 51 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: around the world when it's when we look at policy, 52 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: both from a COVID policy point of view as well 53 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: as a fiscal and monetary point of view. But the 54 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 1: PBOC is stuck in a bit of a conundrum though, 55 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,679 Speaker 1: because they can't aggressively ease as the rest of the 56 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: world aggressively tightens due to trade issues to the currency issues, 57 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: so there isn't that much room to ease on the 58 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: Darren side. But they still have the tool set to 59 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: add supporter of measures. And I think relatively speaking, we 60 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: saw China outperform in April, May had a lull and July. 61 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: We're probably going to see it resume its out performance 62 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: in October November, especially after this earning season, and we 63 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: see earnings being cut again and then a reassessment of valuations. 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: So you are saying Chinese equities do remain very attractive 65 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: over the longer term. Just tell us about where you're 66 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: looking particularly, and is that in the tech space. When 67 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: we've got the hang saying take index down some sixty 68 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: from the February one peak, it's probably not going to 69 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: be a beta rally anymore. So you know, over the 70 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: past few months or year, you've seen, for example, value 71 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: names outperformed by around temper cent versus growth names were 72 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: over that period. And not every value name is doing well, 73 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: not every growth name is underperforming. Given the interest rate 74 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: cycle though and the macro uncertainty, what's really key is 75 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: looking for those companies which still have this somewhat earnings 76 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: visibility coming through. So at this juncture of value or 77 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: defensive businesses tend to look more attractive. Having said that, 78 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: when we look at technology, I mean just take memory 79 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: for example, global memory. China consumes about global memory around 80 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: fifty to sixty percent of memory production whoccurs in China. 81 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: So even if you can't find a Chinese name that 82 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: fits your investment criteria, you can still access that kind 83 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: of demand, and I think that's why the consumption story, 84 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: I think the rise of the domestic investor, they're very, 85 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: very powerful long term themes. You're also saying focus on 86 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: the dividend policy. So when we're in the ending season, 87 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: what do you mean by that? Just checking whether or 88 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: not there is a good return and how are you 89 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: sort of playing that in the market. Even though we're 90 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: seeing some earnings cuts, what's been fascinating is this continued 91 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: focus on divingdend payouts and upward dividend payouts, and it 92 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: access somewhat of a cushion during this period of volatility. 93 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: So for me, but an E. S G perspective, you're 94 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: seeing improving governance as many companies, a lot of them 95 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: by the way our state on enterprises. You're seeing these 96 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 1: companies really rewarding minority shareholders through this income stream. And 97 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: again it feeds into the rise of the domestic investors, 98 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: because domestic investors are looking more at Chinese equities over 99 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: the long term in terms of that broader investment horizon 100 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: versus just hunting the market. When we look at the 101 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: slowdown though in China, I mean that's starting to be 102 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: reflected more broad Two across the region. To look at 103 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: Taiwan export orders contracting in July, South Korea early export 104 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: numbers virtually unchanged. How much of a worry is this 105 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: slowdown for the broader region if we're not sort of 106 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: at the point where we thought China would be recovering 107 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 1: at this point in the cycle. I think when you 108 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: look globally ex China, it's still that focus on on 109 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: global inflation and demand and even visibility for exports out 110 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: of Asia going into Christmas, that visibility is really not there. 111 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: So even if you could argue that global inflation is peaking, 112 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 1: the whole cycle in terms of tightening monetary policy is 113 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: definitely not peeking. So that's still the worry that remains. 114 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: And when you look at that angle versus China, that's 115 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: why China in terms of benign inflation, having the policy 116 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: tool set, should they need to further support the market. 117 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: It's again that long term angle that we're looking at. 118 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: But yeah, definitely across the region, it's it's this sort 119 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: of treading water idea and almost waiting for the October 120 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: November Congress to occur and use flow out of that, 121 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: and when it comes to whether or not we've seen 122 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: peak inflation and these recessionary fears. How hawkus do you 123 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: think we're going to see the FED at Jackson Hole 124 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: this week likely to continue to be hawkish. And then 125 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: you also now have the ECB. So again, ex China, 126 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: you're still seeing this policy or the cycle the biases 127 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: definitely towards further tightening. Is there anywhere, Katherine, that you 128 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: are looking for some potential I know you say you 129 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: like Chinese equities very attractive over the longer term, but 130 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: in the short terms some potential upside just very quickly. 131 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: You know. Again, Asia still has that domestic demand story 132 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: coming through. You still have the rise of the middle 133 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: class urbanization. So from a D M E M perspective, 134 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: Asia is a carve out. Still makes a lot of 135 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: sense for us. All right, Catherine, always great to have 136 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: you with us. Katherine Young as investment director at Fidelity 137 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: International with us in our Hong Kong studio,