Proxy Advisory Firm, Sustinvest

SUSTINVEST

Proxy Advisory Firm

Responsible investment, Proxy advisory

Sustinvest

Sustinvest is a specialized ESG research firm that provides comprehensive analysis on company-level ESG performance, industry-level ESG issues, and ESG-related regulations. In particular, we attempt to identify investment risks and opportunities associated with events such as corporate governance changes and M&A. We also conduct company visits and fundamental analysis to discover smaller companies with sustainable business model which are usually overlooked by institutional investors. Our focus is on Korean listed companies and not limited to specific sectors.  

Korea Stock Exchange Kospi Index (KOSPI INDEX)

<ul>
<li>On April 4, 2025 (KST), South Korea's Constitutional Court formally removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office in accordance with the constitutional order.</li>
<li>This decision is expected to significantly reduce political uncertainty. However, external factors such as the U.S. government's reciprocal tariff policies will continue to have substantial impact on Korean markets.</li>
<li>June's presidential election favors government change. Global investors should watch the Democratic Party's capital market reform proposals.</li>
</ul>


On April 4, 2025 (KST), South Korea's Constitutional Court formally removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office in accordance with the constitutional order.
This decision is expected to significantly reduce political uncertainty. However, external factors such as the U.S. government's reciprocal tariff policies will continue to have substantial impact on Korean markets.
June's presidential election favors government change. Global investors should watch the Democratic Party's capital market reform proposals.


President Yoon's Impeachment: Impact on Korean Capital Markets

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 Index / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The Constitutional Court approved President Yoon’s impeachment. The PM steps in as interim president, with a new election expected by May 28, 2025, before June 3.</li>
<li>The Democratic Party is the frontrunner, and if they win, expect a "regime change trade" with policy shifts toward green energy, welfare, public stimulus, and SME-focused initiatives.</li>
<li>Big-Cap builders, nuclear stocks, and major financials may struggle if the new regime focuses on public housing, anti-nuclear policies, and pro-SME, labor-friendly initiatives.</li>
</ul>


The Constitutional Court approved President Yoon’s impeachment. The PM steps in as interim president, with a new election expected by May 28, 2025, before June 3.
The Democratic Party is the frontrunner, and if they win, expect a "regime change trade" with policy shifts toward green energy, welfare, public stimulus, and SME-focused initiatives.
Big-Cap builders, nuclear stocks, and major financials may struggle if the new regime focuses on public housing, anti-nuclear policies, and pro-SME, labor-friendly initiatives.


Yoon’s Impeachment Confirmed: Key Timeline & Regime Change Trade

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>With the averaging period for the April rebalance now complete, we forecast just 1 change for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the upcoming rebalance.</li>
<li>Based on the passive assets tracking the index, there will be between 0.8-2.2x ADV to trade in the forecast changes.</li>
<li>The resumption of short selling makes it easier to position for these events. That could also result in the shorts moving a lot ahead of implementation.</li>
</ul>


With the averaging period for the April rebalance now complete, we forecast just 1 change for the FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index at the upcoming rebalance.
Based on the passive assets tracking the index, there will be between 0.8-2.2x ADV to trade in the forecast changes.
The resumption of short selling makes it easier to position for these events. That could also result in the shorts moving a lot ahead of implementation.


FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index Rebalance Preview: Just One Change Likely

<ul>
<li>Short selling in Korea resumes in a couple of hours. Expect heightened volatility for a few days before things settle down.</li>
<li>Foreign investors have increased their holdings over the last five weeks and there could be further buying in select stocks on stock price drops.</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">KOSPI 200 INDEX</a> has outperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index</a>, and the forecast index deletes have underperformed the indices indicating that there will be positioning for the short-sell resumption.</li>
</ul>


Short selling in Korea resumes in a couple of hours. Expect heightened volatility for a few days before things settle down.
Foreign investors have increased their holdings over the last five weeks and there could be further buying in select stocks on stock price drops.
The KOSPI 200 INDEX has outperformed the KOSDAQ 150 Index, and the forecast index deletes have underperformed the indices indicating that there will be positioning for the short-sell resumption.


<ul>
<li>Today’s update clarifies which brokers are fully linked to NSDS, giving them an edge in short-selling speed and flexibility, while others face more execution constraints.</li>
<li>This leads to a clear execution risk gap, requiring traders to factor in trade efficiency differences based on their broker.</li>
<li>With lower short-selling restriction triggers, liquidity and short-covering dynamics will shift, requiring traders to reassess market impact and adjust strategies accordingly.</li>
</ul>


Today’s update clarifies which brokers are fully linked to NSDS, giving them an edge in short-selling speed and flexibility, while others face more execution constraints.
This leads to a clear execution risk gap, requiring traders to factor in trade efficiency differences based on their broker.
With lower short-selling restriction triggers, liquidity and short-covering dynamics will shift, requiring traders to reassess market impact and adjust strategies accordingly.


Korea’s FSC Just Dropped the Final Playbook on the Full Restart of Short Selling.

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)

President Yoon's Impeachment: Impact on Korean Capital Markets

South Korea's Constitutional Court removes President Yoon, cutting political uncertainty. U.S. tariffs still impact markets. June election favors...

Sustinvest

Yoon’s Impeachment Confirmed: Key Timeline & Regime Change Trade

Yoon’s impeachment confirmed: What is the immediate impact on the local stock market, and which sectors are likely to move.

Sanghyun Park

FnGuide Semiconductor Top10 Index Rebalance Preview: Just One Change Likely

Jusung Engineering could replace Wonik IPS in the index next week. Passives need to trade between 0.8-2.2x ADV in the stocks. The resumption of...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Selling: Off to the Races

Data indicates positioning in different types of trades ranging from index pairs to forecast index deletions and stocks with high forward PEs. Some...

Brian Freitas

Korea’s FSC Just Dropped the Final Playbook on the Full Restart of Short Selling.

Korea’s FSC just rolled out the final rulebook for the full-scale comeback of short selling. Here’s a breakdown of all the key details we traders...

Sanghyun Park