กลุ่มปิโตรเคมี – ผลิตภัณฑ์อะโรเมติกส์ยังคงเป็นผู้นำ AP – 3Q66: กำไรตามคาด DCC – 3Q66: กำไรปรับตัวดีขึ้น QoQ แต่ยังอ่อนแอ ESSO – 3Q66: กำไรดีเพราะได้แรงหนุนจาก GRM ที่แข็งแกร่ง JASIF – 3Q66: ถูกฉุดรั้งโดยขาดทุนจากการเปลี่ยนแปลงมูลค่าเงินลงทุน MTC – 3Q66: กำไรตามคาด; NPL ไหลเข้าและ ECL เพิ่มขึ้น RJH – 3Q66: กำไรตามคาด...ราคาหุ้นยังขาดปัจจัยกระตุ้น THREL – 3Q66: กำไรยังต่ำกว่าคาด เพราะ combined ratio TU – 3Q66: กำไรสูงกว่าคาดเพระมาร์จิ้น Stock Note – NER Still resting |
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Market today | The SET is expected to continue resting after a strong recovery. Investors are waiting for the Fed chairman’s speech this Thursday to seek interest rate direction. Short-term upper bound is limited at resistance of 1,420-1,425, while supports are at 1,400 and 1,390, which are expected to be the turning points to recovery. | Today’s highlights | • Several Fed officials have expressed support for a rate hike. Neel Kashkari, President of the Minneapolis Fed, said the Fed needs to try harder to control inflation, and it is too early to declare victory. Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, noted that the U.S. economy in 3Q23 is strong, which may lead the Fed to consider raising interest rates. • US trade deficit in goods and services in Sep increased by 4.9% to US$61.5bn, higher than the expected US$59.9bn. • China reported a 6.4% decrease in exports in Oct, worse than the expected decrease of 3.3%, marking the sixth month of decline due to weak global market demand for goods and services. It is expected that China's oil refineries will cut back on crude oil refining in November and December, which will curtail domestic oil demand. • The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rate by 0.25% to 4.35%, the highest in 12 years, after keeping the rate steady for four months. It did not signal a further increase in rate to curb inflation to the target. • The Cabinet has approved the payment of civil servant salaries in two rounds, with participation voluntary. Those wishing to join can apply Dec 1-15. The Comptroller General's Department said it was ready to begin immediately. | Strategy today | Although the SET is likely to continue recover as there is hope the Fed will stop its upward rate cycle, upside is still limited as there is no new catalyst to stimulate investment and at the same time there are risks from the tension in the Middle East and, at home, the release of 3Q23 earnings. Our strategy is selective buy. | Trading today | Weekly portfolio: Although the SET may recover, upside is still limited as there is no new catalyst, the situation in the Middle East needs to be monitored, and 3Q23 earnings are being released. We recommend “selective buy” in themes with specific drivers: 1) Big-cap stocks expected to recover in line with the market; we pick undervalued stocks whose prices have entered oversold territory and valuations are not stretched (PER and PBV 2023F are below 5-year average.) – BDMS, CPALL, CPN and MINT. 2) Stocks whose profit is expected to be good through 4Q23 (+YoY and +QoQ) – AP, AOT, BCH, CENTEL and KCE, which has already passed bottom (+QoQ). 3) Speculative stocks expected to benefit from oil price if it rises or stays at the current high level if tension in the Middle East does not escalate (oil price upside between US$5-10/bbl). Recommend trading when Brent is between US$84-94/bbl – BCP and PTTEP. In the medium term we recommend being cautious on stocks that are expected to be affected by El Nino, which will erode purchasing power in the agricultural sector: Finance (MTC, SAWAD), Automotive (SAT, STANLY), Food & Agriculture (CPF GFPT and GFPT) and Beverages (CBG has high sugar cost). | Daily top picks | KCE: 3Q23 profit was Bt520mn, growing 58.1%QoQ (beating estimates by 13%) as demand is rising. Recovery will continue in 4Q23 as clients restock, raising orders, while cost of copper is lower and electricity cost will decline. AP: 3Q23 profit was Bt1.69bn, rising 19.6%YoY and 9.8%QoQ, in line with our estimates, supported by strong revenue and profit share from JV. 4Q23 profit is expected to grow YoY and push 2023F profit to a new high of Bt6.2bn (+6%YoY). | Today’s reports | Petrochemicals – Aromatics continue to lead AP – 3Q23: Earnings as expected DCC – 3Q23: Improved QoQ but still weak ESSO – 3Q23: Good profit driven by strong GRM JASIF – 3Q23: Dragged by revaluation losses MTC – 3Q23: In line; rising NPL inflow and ECLs THREL – 3Q23: Missed again on combined ratio TU – 3Q23: Above estimates on margin |
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