Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst, Evidente

Sam Ferraro

Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst

Evidente

Evidente is an independent financial education firm that delivers innovative financial advice to wholesale investors, including active long only funds, hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, in Australia and globally.  Drawing on academic research in asset pricing, behavioural finance and portfolio construction, Evidente provides wholesale investors with commercial solutions to stock selection and asset allocation decisions across equities and other asset classes.

Macroeconomics

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years earlier.&nbsp;A number of structural and cyclical headwinds continued to adversely impact the sector, including the persistently strong Australian dollar, consumer caution associated with the financial crisis and increased competition from e-tailers.&nbsp;In this post, I argue that signs of a less cautious consumer are emerging.&nbsp;There is downside risk to the household saving ratio as households become more optimistic about the future, durable goods spending continues to recover and consumer sentiment should benefit from the positive reaction to the Federal Budget.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, I recommend investors neutralise their under-weight bets in discretionary retailers, with a view to moving overweight as more signs of a less cautious consumer emerge.&nbsp;Getting the sector call right is more important than stock selection, but we highlight stocks that offer the strongest upside, including Echo, GUD, Harvey Norman, Premier Investment and Super Retail.

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years earlier.&nbsp;A number of structural and cyclical headwinds continued to adversely impact the sector, including the persistently strong Australian dollar, consumer caution associated with the financial crisis and increased competition from e-tailers.&nbsp;In this post, I argue that signs of a less cautious consumer are emerging.&nbsp;There is downside risk to the household saving ratio as households become more optimistic about the future, durable goods spending continues to recover and consumer sentiment should benefit from the positive reaction to the Federal Budget.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, I recommend investors neutralise their under-weight bets in discretionary retailers, with a view to moving overweight as more signs of a less cautious consumer emerge.&nbsp;Getting the sector call right is more important than stock selection, but we highlight stocks that offer the strongest upside, including Echo, GUD, Harvey Norman, Premier Investment and Super Retail.

A less cautious consumer: Good news for discretionary retailers (finally!)

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

Vulcan Energy Resources / Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>There is 1 change for the ASX20, 2 for the ASX50, 3 for the ASX100, 3 for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200</a> and 16 adds/9 deletes for the ASX300 in March.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/regis-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20106:1" rel="noopener">Regis Resources</a> and Greatland Resources are potential inclusions to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vaneck-gold-miners-etf-usa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32924:1" rel="noopener">VanEck Gold Miners ETF/USA (GDX US)</a> in March and those passive trackers will need to buy stock on the same day.</li>
<li>The adds have outperformed the deletes for all indices over the last few months, though performance has been flat over the last few weeks for most indices.</li>
</ul>


There is 1 change for the ASX20, 2 for the ASX50, 3 for the ASX100, 3 for the S&amp;P/ASX 200 and 16 adds/9 deletes for the ASX300 in March.

Regis Resources and Greatland Resources are potential inclusions to the VanEck Gold Miners ETF/USA (GDX US) in March and those passive trackers will need to buy stock on the same day.
The adds have outperformed the deletes for all indices over the last few months, though performance has been flat over the last few weeks for most indices.


S&P/​​​​ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2026): 43 Changes Across Indices as Adds Outperform Deletes

<ul>
<li>There could be 1 change for the ASX20, 2 for the ASX50, 3 for the ASX100, 4 for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200</a> and 17 adds/10 deletes for the ASX300 in March.</li>
<li>Passive trackers will need to trade a lot of stock in the forecast changes, with the impact being especially large for the changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a>. </li>
<li>While the forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes over the last few months, there was a drawdown for most indices in January. Most of that underperformance has now reversed.</li>
</ul>


There could be 1 change for the ASX20, 2 for the ASX50, 3 for the ASX100, 4 for the S&amp;P/ASX 200 and 17 adds/10 deletes for the ASX300 in March.
Passive trackers will need to trade a lot of stock in the forecast changes, with the impact being especially large for the changes to the S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX). 
While the forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes over the last few months, there was a drawdown for most indices in January. Most of that underperformance has now reversed.


S&P/​​​​​​​​​ASX Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 26): Plenty of Change with Big Flow & Impact

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day.</li>
<li>The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Diversified Meals"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Steel".</li>
<li>Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fortescue-metals-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:41:1" rel="noopener">Fortescue Metals (FMG AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:678:1" rel="noopener">AMP Ltd (AMP AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sims-metal-management-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18184:1" rel="noopener">Sims Metal Management (SGM AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nufarm-ltd-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1128:1" rel="noopener">Nufarm Ltd (NUF AU)</a>.
</li>
</ul>


Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day.
The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Diversified Meals"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Steel".
Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU), Fortescue Metals (FMG AU), AMP Ltd (AMP AU), Sims Metal Management (SGM AU), Nufarm Ltd (NUF AU).



Aussie Shorts (16 Feb 2026): Commonwealth Bank, Fortescue Metals, AMP, Sims Metal Management, Nufarm

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Feb 13th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD34.6bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Feb 13th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD34.6bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 13th): ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR

Australia

Adairs Limited operates as a retailer of manchester and homewares. The Company offers bed linen, bedding products, towels, cushions, throws, books, homewares, wall art, and furniture.

Price Gauge
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Adairs Ltd (ADH AU)

A less cautious consumer: Good news for discretionary retailers (finally!)

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years...

Sam Ferraro

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2026): 43 Changes Across Indices as Adds Outperform Deletes

There are 43 changes across the ASX changes in March. Couple of the adds could also be added to the GDX in March. The adds have outperformed the...

Brian Freitas

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 26): Plenty of Change with Big Flow & Impact

There could be 46 changes across the ASX family of indices in March. Passive trackers need to trade a lot of stock in many names. Some names are...

Brian Freitas

Aussie Shorts (16 Feb 2026): Commonwealth Bank, Fortescue Metals, AMP, Sims Metal Management, Nufarm

Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU), Fortescue Metals (FMG AU), AMP Ltd (AMP AU),...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 13th): ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

A less cautious consumer: Good news for discretionary retailers (finally!)

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years...

Sam Ferraro

S&P/​​​​ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2026): 43 Changes Across Indices as Adds Outperform Deletes

There are 43 changes across the ASX changes in March. Couple of the adds could also be added to the GDX in March. The adds have outperformed the...

Brian Freitas

S&P/​​​​​​​​​ASX Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 26): Plenty of Change with Big Flow & Impact

There could be 46 changes across the ASX family of indices in March. Passive trackers need to trade a lot of stock in many names. Some names are...

Brian Freitas

Aussie Shorts (16 Feb 2026): Commonwealth Bank, Fortescue Metals, AMP, Sims Metal Management, Nufarm

Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU), Fortescue Metals (FMG AU), AMP Ltd (AMP AU),...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 13th): ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in ALS, Northern Star Resources, CSL, AMP, CAR.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2026): 43 Changes Across Indices as Adds Outperform Deletes

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance Preview (Mar 26): Plenty of Change with Big Flow & Impact