Head of Research, Steno Research

Emil Moller

Head of Research

Macro and Geopolitical Research House

Steno Research

Steno Research is a new macro and geopolitical research house. We are based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, but have an international team and a strong network of sources and partners around the world. The team is lead by Andreas Steno, previous global head of strategy at Nordea Bank, and Mikkel Rosenvold, former chief consultant in the Danish Ministry of Finance.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul><li>As we move beyond the final Fed decision of the year, we can speculate on how the EM space may respond to Powell’s press conference tonight.</li><li>Before diving into that, let’s discuss some recent developments that have occurred in China since our last update on the situation in Beijing.</li><li>While the market and all the mainstream news outlets have been awaiting the third plenum to take place in vain,  China’s Central Economic Work Conference was held the past two days.</li></ul>

As we move beyond the final Fed decision of the year, we can speculate on how the EM space may respond to Powell’s press conference tonight.Before diving into that, let’s discuss some recent developments that have occurred in China since our last update on the situation in Beijing.While the market and all the mainstream news outlets have been awaiting the third plenum to take place in vain,  China’s Central Economic Work Conference was held the past two days.

EM by EM #34: Xi’s Whip and Powell’s Kneeling

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

<ul>
<li>The coming week has a lot of review periods ending - <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-inde" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">CSI 300</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csi-smallcap-500-index-shang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35347:1" rel="noopener">CSI 500</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-stock-exchange-sse-50-a-share-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31073:1" rel="noopener">SSE50</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">STAR50</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chinext-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25483:1" rel="noopener">ChiNext</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-bse-sensex-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31494:1" rel="noopener">SENSEX</a>, among others.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-stock-exchange-tokyo-price-index-topix" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22910:1" rel="noopener">TOPIX</a> rebalance will be implemented on Monday while the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/global-x-lithium-battery-tech-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32745:1" rel="noopener">Global X Lithium &amp; Battery Tech ETF (LIT US)</a> and IDX indices will rebalance at the close on Tuesday.</li>
<li>There were outflows from Emerging Market ETFs including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-msci-emerging-markets" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:438:1" rel="noopener">iShares Emerging Markets (EEM)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-core-msci-emerging-mar" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32967:1" rel="noopener">iShares Core Emerging Mar (IEMG),</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/schwab-emerging-markets-equi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32879:1" rel="noopener">Schwab Emerging Markets Equi (SCHE)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-edge-msci-min-vol-emerging-markets-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:725:1" rel="noopener">IShares Edge Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF (EEMV)</a>.</li>
</ul>


The coming week has a lot of review periods ending - KOSPI 200, KOSDAQ 150, CSI 300, CSI 500, SSE50, STAR50, ChiNext and SENSEX, among others.
The TOPIX rebalance will be implemented on Monday while the Global X Lithium &amp; Battery Tech ETF (LIT US) and IDX indices will rebalance at the close on Tuesday.
There were outflows from Emerging Market ETFs including iShares Emerging Markets (EEM), iShares Core Emerging Mar (IEMG), Schwab Emerging Markets Equi (SCHE) and IShares Edge Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF (EEMV).


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: KS200, KQ150, Yuanta Div+, LIT, HSCI, IDX, Japan Positioning

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/stock-exchange-of-thailand-set-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31493:1" rel="noopener">Stock Exchange of Thailand SET 50 Index (SET50 INDEX)</a> rebalance was implemented at the close on Friday and there were a bunch of review cutoffs on the same day.</li>
<li>Passive Hang Seng trackers need to sell <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan-dianping" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan (3690 HK)</a> at the close on 4 January following <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> in-specie distribution.</li>
<li>We take a look at flows to Asian focused ETFs over the course of 2022. A lot of winners in terms of AUM, but a few losers too.</li>
</ul>


The Stock Exchange of Thailand SET 50 Index (SET50 INDEX) rebalance was implemented at the close on Friday and there were a bunch of review cutoffs on the same day.
Passive Hang Seng trackers need to sell Meituan (3690 HK) at the close on 4 January following Tencent (700 HK) in-specie distribution.
We take a look at flows to Asian focused ETFs over the course of 2022. A lot of winners in terms of AUM, but a few losers too.


Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: Meituan, S&P/ASX All Tech, 2022 ETF Flows

Emerging Market Economist, Emerginomics

Tatiana Orlova

Emerging Market Economist

Emerginomics

<div class="content-highlight">
<p>The Democrats’ success in the elections for the Lower House may have implications for a number of emerging market economies. We view it as negative for Russia as it increases the likelihood of a tougher version of new sanctions against Russia passing through the Congress. The Democratic victory cannot stop the trade war with China. Moreover, it may result in new Republican allegations of Chinese interference in the mid-term elections, and further complicate the relationship between the two superpowers. </p>
</div>


The Democrats’ success in the elections for the Lower House may have implications for a number of emerging market economies. We view it as negative for Russia as it increases the likelihood of a tougher version of new sanctions against Russia passing through the Congress. The Democratic victory cannot stop the trade war with China. Moreover, it may result in new Republican allegations of Chinese interference in the mid-term elections, and further complicate the relationship between the two superpowers. 


Geopolitical Comment: What US Election Results Mean for Emerging Markets

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<div class="content-highlight">
<p>In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/gloves-come-off-in-fight-for-global-energy-markets-it-is-a-dangerous-game" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:20638">Gloves Come Off in Fight for Global Energy Markets. It Is a Dangerous Game</a> we explored how the energy policy conducted by the new US Administration was affecting the geopolitical landscape. It has been a few months since then. <strong>Policies pursued by President Trump's administration are rapidly changing the world, leading to events no one has expected to happen, to the creation of alliances which a short while ago no one dared to imagine, prompting sworn enemies to shake hands and make peace.</strong> In the current note, we summarise the recent geopolitical events which we find interesting or even extraordinary. Some of them have already moved the markets, some have reduced "tail risks", some may pave way for important developments in the future.</p>
</div>


In Gloves Come Off in Fight for Global Energy Markets. It Is a Dangerous Game we explored how the energy policy conducted by the new US Administration was affecting the geopolitical landscape. It has been a few months since then. Policies pursued by President Trump's administration are rapidly changing the world, leading to events no one has expected to happen, to the creation of alliances which a short while ago no one dared to imagine, prompting sworn enemies to shake hands and make peace. In the current note, we summarise the recent geopolitical events which we find interesting or even extraordinary. Some of them have already moved the markets, some have reduced "tail risks", some may pave way for important developments in the future.


Gloves Come Off In Response to Trump Administration's Policies

United States

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of emerging market equities that, in the aggregate, have lower volatility characteristics relative to the broader emerging equity markets.

IShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF (EEMV US)

IShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF

IShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF (EEMV US)

EM by EM #34: Xi’s Whip and Powell’s Kneeling

Despite aiming for growth, China won’t employ potent fiscal or monetary policies; instead, the focus is on boosting confidence and shaping a...

Steno Research

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: KS200, KQ150, Yuanta Div+, LIT, HSCI, IDX, Japan Positioning

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A driven changes). We also highlight...

Brian Freitas

Index Rebalance & ETF Flow Recap: Meituan, S&P/ASX All Tech, 2022 ETF Flows

This recap highlights Insights covering Asian index rebalances (announcements/ forecasts/ IPO Fast Entry/ M&A changes). We also highlight large...

Brian Freitas

Geopolitical Comment: What US Election Results Mean for Emerging Markets

The Democrats’ success in the elections for the Lower House may have implications for a number of emerging market economies. We view it as...

Tatiana Orlova

Gloves Come Off In Response to Trump Administration's Policies

In Gloves Come Off in Fight for Global Energy Markets. It Is a Dangerous Game we explored how the energy policy conducted by the new US...

Tatiana Orlova