Why you should bet on bank stocks in 2015

Asset margins will remain resilient.

Smart investors should place their money on resilient bank stocks in 2015. According to Macquarie, Singapore banks will continue to outperform the market next year.

Macquarie notes that multinational banks to restructure and cut back their global businesses to improve
their poor ROE levels, and adjust for a changed regulatory environment.

Because local banks have more focused business strategies and run more cost efficient models, they will
be able to win further share in Transaction Banking and other cross border businesses.

“No major asset quality deterioration is expected for 2015 in combination with more stable margins. Loan loss provisioning ratios are below normalized levels and will increase only gradually in 2015 they believe. It is too early to make a more negative call on asset quality, in our view. The low rate environment, low unemployment rates and flattish GDP growth will likely keep loan loss provisioning ratios at a low level – at least through 2015. We do not expect further net interest margin pressure as asset margins have stabilized and the liquidity position of Singapore banks (50% CASA mix, below 90% LDR, strong credit ratings) is good, particularly compared to foreign banks,” noted Macquarie.