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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-cns-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35945:1" rel="noopener">LG CNS (LGCNSZ KS)</a> is looking to raise up to KRW 1,199bn (US$830m), valuing the company at KRW 6 trillion (US$4.15bn) at the top end of the IPO price range.</li>
<li>As a member of the IT sector, inclusion in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI200 Index</a> will only take place via Fast Entry (near impossible) or as a large-scale company.</li>
<li>Inclusion in global indices could commence in September 2025 and will be easier if the identity of the pre-IPO minority shareholders is disclosed or if the strategic investors sell.</li>
</ul>



LG CNS (LGCNSZ KS) is looking to raise up to KRW 1,199bn (US$830m), valuing the company at KRW 6 trillion (US$4.15bn) at the top end of the IPO price range.
As a member of the IT sector, inclusion in the KOSPI200 Index will only take place via Fast Entry (near impossible) or as a large-scale company.
Inclusion in global indices could commence in September 2025 and will be easier if the identity of the pre-IPO minority shareholders is disclosed or if the strategic investors sell.


LG CNS IPO: Limited Float Pushes Back Passive Buying

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Early in the review period, we forecast 3 changes for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the April rebalance.</li>
<li>Based on the passive assets tracking the index, there will be between 0.6-1.6x ADV to buy in the adds and between 2-4.7x ADV to sell in the deletes.</li>
<li>The forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes by a wide margin over the short-term and the medium-term. There could be more prior to the end of the review period.</li>
</ul>


Early in the review period, we forecast 3 changes for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the April rebalance.
Based on the passive assets tracking the index, there will be between 0.6-1.6x ADV to buy in the adds and between 2-4.7x ADV to sell in the deletes.
The forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes by a wide margin over the short-term and the medium-term. There could be more prior to the end of the review period.


FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index Rebalance Preview: Three Changes as Adds Rally Bigly

<ul>
<li>The review period for the March rebalance of the KOSPI Size Indices commenced on 1 December and will end on 28 February.</li>
<li>A quarter of the way through the review period, we forecast 37 migrating stocks. Among new listings, 1 could be added to LargeCap, 3 to MidCap and 2 to SmallCap.</li>
<li>Four downward migrations were deleted from a global index in November. Now, three more downward migrations could be deleted from the same global index in February.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance of the KOSPI Size Indices commenced on 1 December and will end on 28 February.
A quarter of the way through the review period, we forecast 37 migrating stocks. Among new listings, 1 could be added to LargeCap, 3 to MidCap and 2 to SmallCap.
Four downward migrations were deleted from a global index in November. Now, three more downward migrations could be deleted from the same global index in February.


KOSPI Size Indices: Overlap Between Global Passive Selling & Downward Migrations

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Risk reward favours this shift in allocation between these markets.  </li>
<li>Short to mid-term concerns on the Indian market warrant this strategic change</li>
<li>Slowing revenue growth and less government spending leading to decelerating profits which is not yet reflected in market multiples</li>
</ul>


Risk reward favours this shift in allocation between these markets.  
Short to mid-term concerns on the Indian market warrant this strategic change
Slowing revenue growth and less government spending leading to decelerating profits which is not yet reflected in market multiples


2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The impact of South Korea's political turmoil on 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 implied volatility has been limited. Implied volatility has risen, and the skew steepened but not to extreme levels.</li>
<li>The shape of the skew, in combination with the interplay between index and skew change, open up an opportunity for opportunistic option trades, in particular short otm calls and/or puts.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX)</a> risk is probably skewed to the downside favoring short calls. Choice of strike and expiry is guided by quantitative analysis, option liquidity, and risk-return potential.</li>
</ul>


The impact of South Korea's political turmoil on the KOSPI 200 and implied volatility has been limited. Implied volatility has risen, and the skew steepened but not to extreme levels.
The shape of the skew, in combination with the interplay between index and skew change, open up an opportunity for opportunistic option trades, in particular short otm calls and/or puts.

KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) risk is probably skewed to the downside favoring short calls. Choice of strike and expiry is guided by quantitative analysis, option liquidity, and risk-return potential.


EQD | Kospi 200 (KOSPI2) - Identifying Option Opportunities Amid Political Turmoil

South Korea

The KOSPI Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all common shares on the Korean Stock Exchanges. The Index was developed with a base value of 100 as of January 4, 1980. Note: The preferred shares are excluded in calculating the KOSPI Index from June 14, 2002. 

Korea Stock Exchange Kospi Index (KOSPI INDEX)

Korea Stock Exchange Kospi Index (KOSPI INDEX)

LG CNS IPO: Limited Float Pushes Back Passive Buying

The subscription period runs from 21-22 January. Shares will reportedly be offered at KRW 61900, the top end of the IPO range. Demand was said to...

Brian Freitas

FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index Rebalance Preview: Three Changes as Adds Rally Bigly

There could be 3 changes for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the April rebalance. Passives need to trade 0.6-4.7x ADV in the changes. The...

Brian Freitas

KOSPI Size Indices: Overlap Between Global Passive Selling & Downward Migrations

There could be 37 migrations for the KOSPI Size indices in March, plus 1 LargeCap and 3 MidCap inclusions. The MidCap to LargeCap migrations have...

Brian Freitas

2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...

Rikki Malik

EQD | Kospi 200 (KOSPI2) - Identifying Option Opportunities Amid Political Turmoil

South Korea's political turmoil has limited impact on KOSPI 200 and implied volatility. The current volatility skew, index dynamics, combined with...

Gaudenz Schneider

LG CNS IPO: Limited Float Pushes Back Passive Buying

The subscription period runs from 21-22 January. Shares will reportedly be offered at KRW 61900, the top end of the IPO range. Demand was said to...

Brian Freitas

FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index Rebalance Preview: Three Changes as Adds Rally Bigly

There could be 3 changes for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the April rebalance. Passives need to trade 0.6-4.7x ADV in the changes. The...

Brian Freitas

KOSPI Size Indices: Overlap Between Global Passive Selling & Downward Migrations

There could be 37 migrations for the KOSPI Size indices in March, plus 1 LargeCap and 3 MidCap inclusions. The MidCap to LargeCap migrations have...

Brian Freitas

2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

​Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...

Rikki Malik

EQD | Kospi 200 (KOSPI2) - Identifying Option Opportunities Amid Political Turmoil

​South Korea's political turmoil has limited impact on KOSPI 200 and implied volatility. The current volatility skew, index dynamics, combined with...

Gaudenz Schneider

Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...

South Korea's political turmoil has limited impact on KOSPI 200 and implied volatility. The current volatility skew, index dynamics, combined with...