Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In this insight, we provide the major changes in NPS' stakes in 25 Korean companies in 3Q 2023.</li>
<li>In 3Q 2023, NPS reduced its stakes in the IT, construction, and contents related stocks. On the other hand, NPS increased its stakes in China's re-opening and cosmetics related stocks.</li>
<li>Five Korean cosmetics stocks that NPS net purchased in 3Q 2023 are up on average 12.8% from end of June 2023 to as of 6 October 2023. </li>
</ul>


In this insight, we provide the major changes in NPS' stakes in 25 Korean companies in 3Q 2023.
In 3Q 2023, NPS reduced its stakes in the IT, construction, and contents related stocks. On the other hand, NPS increased its stakes in China's re-opening and cosmetics related stocks.
Five Korean cosmetics stocks that NPS net purchased in 3Q 2023 are up on average 12.8% from end of June 2023 to as of 6 October 2023. 


<ul>
<li>Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS) is likely to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the return of Chinese group tours in Korea.</li>
<li>Now that the Chinese government is allowing group tours to South Korea, this will likely lead to a sharp improvement in the company's sales and profits in 2023-2024.</li>
<li>We expect the consensus to raise sales estimates of Amorepacific Corp by about 3-5%+ and operating profit estimates by 20-30%+ in 2023 and 2024. </li>
</ul>


Amorepacific Corp (090430 KS) is likely to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the return of Chinese group tours in Korea.
Now that the Chinese government is allowing group tours to South Korea, this will likely lead to a sharp improvement in the company's sales and profits in 2023-2024.
We expect the consensus to raise sales estimates of Amorepacific Corp by about 3-5%+ and operating profit estimates by 20-30%+ in 2023 and 2024. 


Amorepacific Corp: Return of the Korean Cosmetics King With End of Ban on Chinese Group Tours

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

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.</li>
<li>A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.</li>
<li>Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.</li>
</ul>


Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.
A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.
Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> index constituents in May 2021.</li>
<li>News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.</li>
<li>There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.</li>
</ul>


Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 index constituents in May 2021.
News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.
There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

<ul>
<li>In the past several days, there have been numerous new flow that the Chinese government is likely to allow group tours to South Korea and Japan in the coming days. </li>
<li>The group tours from China to South Korea which has been banned since March 2017, are expected to resume after six years, according to the Korean Embassy in China.</li>
<li>Nikkei Asia also reported on 9 August that the Chinese government is ready to allow group tours to Japan as early as this week.</li>
</ul>


In the past several days, there have been numerous new flow that the Chinese government is likely to allow group tours to South Korea and Japan in the coming days. 
The group tours from China to South Korea which has been banned since March 2017, are expected to resume after six years, according to the Korean Embassy in China.
Nikkei Asia also reported on 9 August that the Chinese government is ready to allow group tours to Japan as early as this week.


China to Finally Allow Group Tours to Korea and Japan?

South Korea

Amorepacific Corp. develops, manufactures, and exports skin care, make-up, and fragrance products. The Company also produces and markets personal care and health-related products, such as shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, and health teas.

Amorepacific Corp (Preferred) (090435 KS)

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Amorepacific Corp (Preferred) (090435 KS)

What Did NPS Buy and Sell in 3Q 2023?

In this insight, we provide the major changes in NPS' stakes in 25 Korean companies in 3Q 2023. In 3Q 2023, NPS reduced its stakes in the IT,...

Douglas Kim

Amorepacific Corp: Return of the Korean Cosmetics King With End of Ban on Chinese Group Tours

We expect the consensus to raise sales estimates of Amorepacific Corp by about 3-5%+ and operating profit estimates by 20-30%+ in 2023 and 2024.

Douglas Kim

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

Media reports indicate that there could be a temporary short sell ban in Korea. This could lead to futures backwardation, market manipulation and a...

Brian Freitas

China to Finally Allow Group Tours to Korea and Japan?

The group tours from China to South Korea which has been banned since March 2017, are expected to resume after six years, according to the Korean...

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)