Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
Market Reaction: The announcement of US reciprocal tariffs caused significant declines across Asia-Pacific markets. Although initial losses were partially recovered during the day, most markets closed substantially lower.</li>
<li>
Impact on South Korea: South Korea faces a 25% tariff. This led to a 1.5% drop in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX).</a> </li>
<li>
Volatility Increase: The Kospi 200 VIX index rose to a high of 28.64 before retreating to 26.05, indicating the 99th percentile of implied volatility.</li>
</ul>



Market Reaction: The announcement of US reciprocal tariffs caused significant declines across Asia-Pacific markets. Although initial losses were partially recovered during the day, most markets closed substantially lower.

Impact on South Korea: South Korea faces a 25% tariff. This led to a 1.5% drop in the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 Index (KOSPI2 INDEX). 

Volatility Increase: The Kospi 200 VIX index rose to a high of 28.64 before retreating to 26.05, indicating the 99th percentile of implied volatility.


KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 Index) Hits 99th Percentile Implied Volatility Amid US Tariff Impact

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>Short notional ticked higher on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets and is expected to continue increasing over the next few months.</li>
<li>Since the resumption of short selling, foreign holdings of Korean equities have increased from 29.26% to 29.3%.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX)</a> ratio has stayed stable over the last 3 trading days.</li>
</ul>


Short notional ticked higher on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets and is expected to continue increasing over the next few months.
Since the resumption of short selling, foreign holdings of Korean equities have increased from 29.26% to 29.3%.
The Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) to KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX) ratio has stayed stable over the last 3 trading days.


Korea Short Selling: What Happened on Day 1?

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Mar 28th which has an aggregated holding worth USD490.5bn.</li>
<li>We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD1,292mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.</li>
<li>We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, Kia.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Mar 28th which has an aggregated holding worth USD490.5bn.
We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD1,292mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.
We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, Kia.


KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Mar 28th): Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix

Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist, Clifton Derivatives

John Ley

Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist

Clifton Derivatives

Independent derivative and volatility research firm focusing on events/catalysts, earnings, relative value and cross asset volatility strategies.

<ul>
<li>A weekly recap of volatility and price metrics, including option volumes, volatility trends, the spot/implied relationship, and open interest statistics.</li>
<li>Implied vol held firm despite price swings, with the spread between 1M implied and historic vol continuing to widen.</li>
<li>We suggest a tactical hedge given implied vol dynamics and uncertain political environment.</li>
</ul>


A weekly recap of volatility and price metrics, including option volumes, volatility trends, the spot/implied relationship, and open interest statistics.
Implied vol held firm despite price swings, with the spread between 1M implied and historic vol continuing to widen.
We suggest a tactical hedge given implied vol dynamics and uncertain political environment.


Kospi Index Options Weekly (Mar 24 – 28): Volatility Dynamics and Tariff Uncertainty Support Hedging

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In the past week, one of the biggest stories in Korea has been the Hyundai Motor Group's mega $21 billion investment in the United States.</li>
<li>There is a real concern that Hyundai Motor may need to raise external capital to fund its US investments/share buybacks/dividends in 2027/2028.</li>
<li>Hyundai Motor (005380 KS) remains one of the most undervalued global auto companies. It is trading at P/E of 4.7x in 2025 and 4.5x in 20026. </li>
</ul>


In the past week, one of the biggest stories in Korea has been the Hyundai Motor Group's mega $21 billion investment in the United States.
There is a real concern that Hyundai Motor may need to raise external capital to fund its US investments/share buybacks/dividends in 2027/2028.
Hyundai Motor (005380 KS) remains one of the most undervalued global auto companies. It is trading at P/E of 4.7x in 2025 and 4.5x in 20026. 


Hyundai Motor Group - $21 Billion Investment in the US [Where Will the Money Come From?]

South Korea

Kia Corporation manufactures, sells, and exports passenger cars, mini-buses, trucks and commercial vehicles. The Company also manufactures auto-parts and tools using hybrid electric and fuel cell technology. Kia markets its products worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Kia Corp (000270 KS)

KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 Index) Hits 99th Percentile Implied Volatility Amid US Tariff Impact

US reciprocal tariffs announcement caused significant declines in Asia-Pacific markets, impacting South Korea with the KOSPI 200 implied...

Gaudenz Schneider

Korea Short Selling: What Happened on Day 1?

Short notional has increased as has foreign ownership of Korean equities. Stock selection will become increasingly important. The forecast index...

Brian Freitas

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Mar 28th): Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix

We analyzed KRX foreign holding data for the past week and highlighted foreign holding changes in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Kospi Index Options Weekly (Mar 24 – 28): Volatility Dynamics and Tariff Uncertainty Support Hedging

Weekly recap: Implied volatility remains steady amid price swings, suggesting a tactical hedge in uncertain political climate.

John Ley

Hyundai Motor Group - $21 Billion Investment in the US [Where Will the Money Come From?]

In the past week, one of the biggest stories in Korea has been the Hyundai Motor Group's mega $21 billion investment in the United States.

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 Index) Hits 99th Percentile Implied Volatility Amid US Tariff Impact

​US reciprocal tariffs announcement caused significant declines in Asia-Pacific markets, impacting South Korea with the KOSPI 200 implied...

Gaudenz Schneider

Korea Short Selling: What Happened on Day 1?

Short notional has increased as has foreign ownership of Korean equities. Stock selection will become increasingly important. The forecast index...

Brian Freitas

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Mar 28th): Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix

We analyzed KRX foreign holding data for the past week and highlighted foreign holding changes in Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, SK Hynix,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Kospi Index Options Weekly (Mar 24 – 28): Volatility Dynamics and Tariff Uncertainty Support Hedging

​Weekly recap: Implied volatility remains steady amid price swings, suggesting a tactical hedge in uncertain political climate.

John Ley

Hyundai Motor Group - $21 Billion Investment in the US [Where Will the Money Come From?]

In the past week, one of the biggest stories in Korea has been the Hyundai Motor Group's mega $21 billion investment in the United States.

Douglas Kim

US reciprocal tariffs announcement caused significant declines in Asia-Pacific markets, impacting South Korea with the KOSPI 200 implied...

Weekly recap: Implied volatility remains steady amid price swings, suggesting a tactical hedge in uncertain political climate.