Alibaba, GS Holdings, LVMH: Growth markets in Asia

Alibaba: The conflict with Beijing continues to smoulder

The best-known Asian stock is Alibaba. The stock has been the talk of the town recently, especially with sensational stories. After the cancelled IPO of the fintech subsidiary Ant Group and Alibaba founder Jack Ma's disappearance, rumors are flying: Is Ma being held somewhere? Has he been put under pressure? Has he withdrawn for personal reasons? This much is certain: the formerly communicative Ma has not appeared in public for months. The background to the rumors is that the central government in Beijing is critical of the rise of the tech giants and their increasingly self-assured demeanor. Ant Group's planned record IPO, which was also expected to exceed Saudi Aramco's IPO in 2019, was presumably cancelled in part because of this conflict.

For a Company like Alibaba, this headwind does not bode well. If Beijing takes a closer look at Alibaba in the future, many business areas in development could no longer be expanded - for example, in the digital sector. As a purely online retailer, Alibaba remains attractive, but without the imagination of new startups and ideas, it lacks the salt in the soup. The stock has failed to deliver a return on a twelve-month view. Over a period of three months, it has fallen by around 20%. Currently, the risks outweigh the rewards. However, if the dispute between Alibaba and Beijing subsides, the stock will become interesting again.

GS Holdings: Small Singapore share with big China fantasy

The GS Holdings share is trading entirely under the radar of the market and the Chinese government. The Singapore Company operates several food courts in the city-state and is also active as a consultant for brand development in the foodservice industry. Its 'Sing Swee Kee' brand represents a chicken-and-rice concept, and 'Raffles Coffee' offers traditional Nanyang-style coffee. Both brands are to expand into China.

After years of losses, GS Holdings brought in a gross profit of SGD 30.2 million in 2019. Sales increased more than fourfold to SGD 35.7 million in the same period. Liabilities decreased significantly compared to the previous year. The Company's market capitalization is currently SGD 92 million, and the share in the middle of its 52-week range is trading at SGD 0.50. The share has also been tradable in Germany for a few weeks. However, due to the limited liquidity, investors should work with limits.

LVMH: Back on track thanks to Asia

When the Asian growth story is mentioned, the name of LVMH often comes up. The luxury goods group offers brands such as Louis Vuitton, Kenzo or even Dior and TAG Heuer. Since luxury goods are frequently bought at the airport or while travelling, the pandemic also weighed on LVMH's share price. However, the luxury top dog quickly recovered from the Corona shock, and the healthy development of the economy in Asia also contributed positively. The pandemic is better under control there than in Europe or the USA. There is also an opportunity in the crisis for LVMH: If it succeeds in establishing digital sales channels in the luxury segment, it could also appeal to more young customers in the future.

The figures at LVMH already recovered in the third quarter and appeased the market. Business was particularly good for Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. Another positive factor is that LVMH offers high-quality spirits in addition to accessories and jewelry - and people are drinking, after all, even in times of crisis. On a one-year view, the share price rose by around 18%. The value recently reached its five-year high again, showing that a profitable Asian business is proving its worth, especially in the crisis.