Asia Pacific Weekly
Mar 7 - 14, 2018

This week we published a report on the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership. While the economic gains for participating countries will prove smaller without the involvement of the US, we expect the trade deal will still boost exports and incomes and help sustain reform efforts in a number of economies.

We also look at Chinese banks, noting the considerable progress made in decelerating the growth of financial leverage in the economy in 2017. We expect the authorities will maintain their tight policy stance in 2018, as containment of risks in the financial system represents a key priority.


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Finally, the policy measures announced by the Chinese central government during the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress are positive for central state-owned enterprises, as they will push such entities to both continue with deleveraging and increasing their focus on profitability and operational efficiency.

On the events front, we will host a briefing next week in Kuala Lumpur entitled Inside ASEAN – Spotlight on Malaysia. And in case you missed our webcast on carbon black producer SKI Carbon Black (Mauritius) Limited, a replay is still available here.

Best regards,

MinYe

Min Ye
Managing Director – Regional Head Asia Pacific

To access the information within this email we ask that you register to Moodys.com. Registration is complimentary.

Research

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) - China: Government’s policy measures support further deleveraging for central SOEs
[13 Mar] The policy measures that the Chinese central government disclosed during the first session of the 13th National People's Congress are credit positive for central state-owned enterprises as they will push such entities to both continue with deleveraging and increasing their focus on profitability and operational efficiency.

Cross-Sector – Islamic Finance: Strong longer-term growth prospects despite relatively flat 2018
[13 Mar] The growth of the Islamic finance sector will continue to outstrip the growth of conventional assets across core Islamic finance markets in coming years, as demand for Shari'ah-compliant financial instruments rises.

Auto ABS - Asia Pacific: Sector update, Q4 2017
[12 Mar] Auto asset-backed securities (ABS) will perform solidly in 2018 in the markets of China, Australia and Japan, although some divergence will also be evident for each individual market, reflecting differences in collateral performance and economic conditions.

Banks - Malaysia: 2017 sees asset quality stabilize, profits improve
[9 Mar] The asset quality and profitability of the six rated banks generally improved in 2017, while their capitalization and funding remained adequate. We expect loan demand to recover further in 2018, strengthening profitability, but also tightening funding conditions

Sovereigns - Asia Pacific and Americas: Revised Trans-Pacific Partnership benefits all members, but less so without the US
[9 Mar] Economic gains for members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership will prove smaller without the participation of the US, but the trade deal will still boost exports and incomes for all members and help sustain reform efforts in a number of countries.

Banks - China: Moderation in financial leverage in 2017 lends support to bank credit standing
[8 Mar] China made considerable progress in decelerating the growth of financial leverage in the economy in 2017 and the authorities are likely to maintain their tight policy stance in 2018 because the containment of risks in the financial system is a key priority.

Renminbi Bonds Monitor: March 2018
[8 Mar] Tightened levels of liquidity in China's domestic bond markets will lead more high-yield issuers to access the offshore market, while the increased responsibilities of bond trustees will also improve transparency and investor protection on the onshore market.

Government of Bangladesh – Ba3 Stable: Annual credit analysis
[8 Mar] Bangladesh's credit profile is supported by strong economic growth, macroeconomic stability, a modest government debt burden and access to concessional funding.

Government of China and India: Investment in renewable power will bring long-run credit benefits
[7 Mar] China and India, the two largest global investors in renewable energy, will benefit from a steep fall in the sector's production costs, thereby improving their energy security, boosting their growth potential, while also reducing the carbon intensity of their economies.

Asian Liquidity Stress Indicator: Asian LSI increased to 26.1% in February from 24.7% in January
[7 Mar] Moody's Asian LSI reading also remained above the long-term average of 23.2%, highlighting ongoing weakness in liquidity for many companies in Asia, but was roughly in line with the trailing 12-month average of 26.4%.

Moody’s Credit Outlook on 8 and 12 March

[12 Mar] For India’s banks, resolution of Bhushan Steel bankruptcy would be credit positive; Revised Trans-Pacific Partnership is credit positive for all member nations, but less so without the US; Russian central bank proposes tighter capital requirements for some consumer loans, a credit positive.

[8 Mar] New South Wales and Victoria will benefit from Australian government’s full ownership of electricity company; China’s new asset-liability management rules for insurers are credit positive; Proposed US aluminum tariff would raise input costs for beverage companies, a credit negative.

Rating Events

AUSTRALIA
[8 Mar] Moody's downgrades Scentre Group to A2, outlook stable

CHINA
[14 Mar] Moody's assigns definitive rating to SAIC-GMAC auto loan ABS in China:
Rongteng 2018-1 Retail Auto Mortgage Loan Securitization
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns Ba2 to Greenland Holding Group's proposed CNY notes
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns provisional (P)Baa3 to Beijing Capital Group's guaranteed MTN program
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns definitive ratings to Dongfeng Nissan Auto Finance auto loan ABS in China: VINZ 2018-1 Retail Auto Loan Securitization Trust
[12 Mar] Moody's revises Nan Fung's rating outlook to stable from negative
[12 Mar] Moody's upgrades Class B Asset Backed Notes of Driver China six Trust
[9 Mar] Moody's assigns first-time B2 CFR to Zhengzhou Zhongrui Industrial Group
[7 Mar] Moody's revises outlook on Beijing Capital Land and its subsidiaries to stable from negative
[7 Mar] Moody's revises outlook on Beijing Capital Group's Baa3 ratings to stable from negative

INDIA
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns Ba2 rating to JSW Steel's proposed bonds; outlook stable
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa2 to NTPC's MTN drawdown
[9 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa3 to Rural Electrification Corporation Limited's USD note drawdown
[8 Mar] Moody's assigns Ba2 CFR to SKI Carbon Black (Mauritius), stable outlook
[7 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa3 (sf) to Series A PTCs issued by Platinum Trust February 2018, Cholamandalam-sponsored Auto Loan ABS in India
[7 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa3 (sf) to Series A PTCs issued by Shri Trust W 2018, Sundaram-sponsored Auto Loan ABS in India

INDONESIA
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns Ba3 to Bumi Serpong Damai's proposed notes
[12 Mar] Moody's changes Bumi Serpong Damai's outlook to positive
[7 Mar] Moody's downgrades Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust to Ba1; outlook negative
[7 Mar] Moody's assigns provisional rating to ROSE backed by installment sales receivables

JAPAN
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns a definitive rating to Auto Loan ABS Program 1803 Series
[13 Mar] Moody's assigns A1 to Toyota Industries' USD senior unsecured notes
[12 Mar] Moody's downgrades Daiichi Sankyo to A2; outlook stable
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns provisional rating to Trust Beneficial Interest (201803) backed by residential mortgages
[9 Mar] Moody's upgrades Hiroshima Bank to A2, outlook stable
[9 Mar] Moody's assigns a provisional rating to repackaged notes of US CLO: Class A Notes issued by GC Repackaging 2018-1 Ltd.
[7 Mar] Moody's assigns Ba1 to SoftBank's proposed senior notes
[7 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa2 (sf) to Series A PTCs issued by Platinum Trust February 2018 - Tranche II, Cholamandalam-sponsored loan against property ABS in India

KOREA
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns definitive Aaa (sf) to Shinhan Card's cross-border credit card deal

PHILIPPINES
[8 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa2 to Rizal Commercial Bank's USD note drawdown

SINGAPORE
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns (P)Baa1 to OCBC's Additional Tier 1 capital securities component of updated GMTN program
[12 Mar] Moody's assigns Baa1 to Ratch's guaranteed MTN drawdown
[8 Mar] Moody's affirms Singapore Management University's Aaa ratings; outlook stable

TAIWAN
[12 Mar] Moody's upgrades TSMC's rating to Aa3; outlook stable

THAILAND
[8 Mar] Moody's affirms Thai Oil's Baa1 ratings; outlook stable
[7 Mar] Moody's affirms EXIM Thailand's rating, upgrades BCA to ba2

Announcements

AUSTRALIA
[13 Mar] Moody's comments on Pepper Residential Securities Trust No. 16

HONG KONG
[12 Mar] Moody's: Jardine Strategic Holdings' solid 2017 results support its A1 rating
[9 Mar] Moody's: MTRC's 2017 results support its Aa2 ratings and stable outlook

Moody's Events

Moody’s Webcast - Zhengzhou Zhongrui Industrial Group Co., Ltd., 14 March 2018
Asia Pacific, 14 March

Inside ASEAN – Spotlight on Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), 21 March 2018
Kuala Lumpur, 21 March

Moody's Briefing: Japan’s P&C Insurance Sector: Trends and outlook
Tokyo, 29 March

Click below to access teleconference / webcast replay. (*Free registration is required)

Moody’s Global Teleconference/Webcast Series (APAC) - Moody's proposes introduction of a counterparty risk rating

Moody’s Webcast – Project Finance Default and Recovery Performance

Moody’s Webcast – SKI Carbon Black (Mauritius) Limited

Moody's Training Seminars

HONG KONG
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis, 19-21 Mar
Enterprise Risk Management in Banks, 5-6 Apr
Problem Credits: Early Warning Signs and Effective Actions, 9-10 Apr
Advanced Corporate Credit Analysis, 11-13 Apr
Advanced Bank Risk Analysis, 2-4 May
Corporate Debt Restructuring, 3-4 May
Corporate Cash Flow Analysis, 8-10 May
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 8-9 May
Corporate Credit Rating Analysis, 9-11 May
Fundamentals of Bank Credit Risk Analysis, 10-11 May
Covenants & Documentation, 4 Jun
Fundamentals of Corporate Credit, 11-14 Jun
Advanced Corporate Credit Analysis, 16-18 Jul
Counterparty Credit Risk, 14-15 Aug
Introduction to Derivatives, 16-17 Aug
Bank Regulation: Impact and Implications of Evolving Regimes, 16-17 Aug
Advanced Corporate Credit Analysis, 29-31 Aug
Insurance Credit Analysis, 10-12 Sep
Corporate Cash Flow Analysis, 9-11 Oct
Advanced Bank Risk Analysis, 29-31 Oct
Corporate Credit Rating Analysis, 31 Oct-2 Nov
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 1-2 Nov
Moody’s Project Finance Masterclass, 3-5 Dec

SINGAPORE
Moody’s Credit Masterclass, 19-23 Mar
Advanced High Yield Rating Analysis, 3-4 Apr
Counterparty Credit Risk, 3-4 Apr
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 16-17 Apr
Advanced Bank Risk Analysis, 18-20 Apr
Fundamentals of Corporate Credit, 23-26 Apr
Bank Regulation: Impact and Implications of Evolving Regimes, 26-27 Apr
Corporate Credit Rating Analysis, 2-4 May
Risk Culture Building, 12-13 Jun
Corporate Cash Flow Analysis, 12-14 Jun
Structured Finance, 20-22 Jun
Fundamentals of Bank Credit Risk Analysis, 16-17 Oct
Bank Regulation: Impact and Implications of Evolving Regimes, 18-19 Oct
Advanced Bank Risk Analysis, 19-21 Nov
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 22-23 Nov
Corporate Cash Flow Analysis, 27-29 Nov
Corporate Credit Rating Analysis, 27-29 Nov
Covenants & Documentation, 30 Nov
Fundamentals of Corporate Credit, 11-14 Dec

SYDNEY
Insurance Credit Analysis, 11-13 Jun
Fundamentals of Bank Credit Risk Analysis, 14-15 Jun
Fundamentals of Corporate Credit, 28-31 Aug
Insurance Credit Analysis, 3-5 Sep
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 6-7 Sep
Fundamentals of Bank Credit Risk Analysis, 29-30 Nov

TOKYO
Analyzing Sovereign and Country Risk, 15-16 Mar
Fundamentals of Bank Credit Risk Analysis, 10-11 Apr

CONTACT US
Cynthia Zhao
Senior Vice President
North China - Beijing
+86.10.6319.6566
James Flitton
Vice President
Singapore
+65.6398.8338
Kelly Moy
Associate Managing Director
North Asia
+852.3758.1323
Maria Lee
Senior Vice President
South China - Hong Kong
+852.3758.1338
Yasushi Furuya
Vice President
Japan
+81.3.5408.4272
Vineet Gupta
Vice President
India
+91.750.625.0104
Asia Pacific Client Desk
Research & Subscriptions
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