Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX EQUITY)

<ul>
<li>According to market information confirmed so far, the resumption is set for July 1st, and short selling will be restricted to the constituents of KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150.</li>
<li>The surge in trading volume likely stemmed from the return of long-short positions post-short-selling ban, leading to an overall market volume increase.</li>
<li>Another critical factor is the buying pressure on value-up stocks resuming in early July. We should aim at the price impacts of intersecting long-short flows and value-up stock purchases.</li>
</ul>


According to market information confirmed so far, the resumption is set for July 1st, and short selling will be restricted to the constituents of KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150.
The surge in trading volume likely stemmed from the return of long-short positions post-short-selling ban, leading to an overall market volume increase.
Another critical factor is the buying pressure on value-up stocks resuming in early July. We should aim at the price impacts of intersecting long-short flows and value-up stock purchases.


July Short Selling Resumption in Korea: Local Market Info & Trading Considerations

<ul>
<li>Lee Bok-hyun hopes for short selling to resume by late June. Given his influence on the Value-up policy, it's likely to happen.</li>
<li>Lee expects key tax incentives for the value-up program to be included in the July tax reform bill, showing a market-friendly stance.</li>
<li>Yesterday's New York event had a very positive atmosphere with more attendees than expected, showing genuine investor interest, likely ensuring sustained interest in Korea's Value-up program.</li>
</ul>


Lee Bok-hyun hopes for short selling to resume by late June. Given his influence on the Value-up policy, it's likely to happen.
Lee expects key tax incentives for the value-up program to be included in the July tax reform bill, showing a market-friendly stance.
Yesterday's New York event had a very positive atmosphere with more attendees than expected, showing genuine investor interest, likely ensuring sustained interest in Korea's Value-up program.


FSS Head's Aggressive Remarks for Value-Up at NY Event, Incl. Short Selling Resumption Late June

<ul>
<li>The Feb 26th announcement introduces the Corporate Value Up Program and unveils the Korea Premium Index direction. Methodology finalization expected by mid-March; ETFs launch by mid-May.</li>
<li>Similar to JPX Prime 150, KRX aims to target enhancing equity spread and PBR trends (+1.0x) while also integrating dividend growth rate. KOSDAQ stocks may be omitted.</li>
<li>NPS's role is vital for the Korea Premium Index, yet aligning its passive strategy with this index faces challenges. Ongoing discussions aim to adjust regulations for this index investment.</li>
</ul>


The Feb 26th announcement introduces the Corporate Value Up Program and unveils the Korea Premium Index direction. Methodology finalization expected by mid-March; ETFs launch by mid-May.
Similar to JPX Prime 150, KRX aims to target enhancing equity spread and PBR trends (+1.0x) while also integrating dividend growth rate. KOSDAQ stocks may be omitted.
NPS's role is vital for the Korea Premium Index, yet aligning its passive strategy with this index faces challenges. Ongoing discussions aim to adjust regulations for this index investment.


What We've Gathered Thus Far Regarding KOREA PREMIUM INDEX: Schedule, Methodology, & NPS

<ul>
<li>There is a prevailing sentiment in the local market that short selling by market makers (MM) and liquidity providers (LP) will effectively be prohibited very shortly.</li>
<li>The widening of the futures basis extends the influence of futures on the spot market prices. This is precisely where trading opportunities that we should be keenly observing may arise.</li>
<li>It also leads to a significant widening of ETF tracking errors due to the direct sell-off of underlying shares. We must capitalize on extreme spreads in ETFs.</li>
</ul>


There is a prevailing sentiment in the local market that short selling by market makers (MM) and liquidity providers (LP) will effectively be prohibited very shortly.
The widening of the futures basis extends the influence of futures on the spot market prices. This is precisely where trading opportunities that we should be keenly observing may arise.
It also leads to a significant widening of ETF tracking errors due to the direct sell-off of underlying shares. We must capitalize on extreme spreads in ETFs.


New Phase in Korean Short Selling: Immediate Impact of MM and LP Short Selling Ban

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

<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?

South Korea

The KOSPI 200 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 200 Korean stocks which make up 93% of the total market value of the Korea Stock Exchange. The index was developed with a base value of 100 as of January 3, 1990.

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Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX EQUITY)

July Short Selling Resumption in Korea: Local Market Info & Trading Considerations

This post provides information circulating in Korea's local market about the resumption of short selling in July and its potential trading...

Sanghyun Park

FSS Head's Aggressive Remarks for Value-Up at NY Event, Incl. Short Selling Resumption Late June

This post delivers Korea FSS Head (Lee Bok-hyun)'s very aggressive remarks for the Value-up program at yesterday's investors meeting in New York....

Sanghyun Park

What We've Gathered Thus Far Regarding KOREA PREMIUM INDEX: Schedule, Methodology, & NPS

This post summarizes what the market has gathered thus far regarding the KOREA PREMIUM INDEX: schedule, methodology, and NPS participation.

Sanghyun Park

New Phase in Korean Short Selling: Immediate Impact of MM and LP Short Selling Ban

This post explores the immediate market impact resulting from the potential prohibition of short selling by Market Makers (MM) and Liquidity...

Sanghyun Park

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

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)