Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The KOSPI Index has done well in recent weeks, months, but financials are hardly participating</li>
<li>There are vast differences amongst the financial in Korea, not only large Chaebol-like banks</li>
<li>Kakaobank, one of few listed internet banks in the world, is unique with ROA expansion</li>
</ul>


The KOSPI Index has done well in recent weeks, months, but financials are hardly participating
There are vast differences amongst the financial in Korea, not only large Chaebol-like banks
Kakaobank, one of few listed internet banks in the world, is unique with ROA expansion


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 review period for the March rebalance of the KOSPI Size Indices will commence on 1 December and will end on 28 February.</li>
<li>Nearing the start of the averaging period, we forecast 34 migrating stocks. Among new listings, 1 stock could be added to LargeCap, 2 to MidCap and 2 to SmallCap.</li>
<li>The upward migrations have outperformed the downward migrations by a lot over the last 3 months. The gap in returns versus the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> is a lot smaller.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance of the KOSPI Size Indices will commence on 1 December and will end on 28 February.
Nearing the start of the averaging period, we forecast 34 migrating stocks. Among new listings, 1 stock could be added to LargeCap, 2 to MidCap and 2 to SmallCap.
The upward migrations have outperformed the downward migrations by a lot over the last 3 months. The gap in returns versus the KOSPI2 INDEX is a lot smaller.


KOSPI Size Indices: Lots of Change as Averaging Starts

<ul>
<li>With the review period complete, there could be 7 changes for 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> in December.</li>
<li>There may not be any intra-review changes following the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-heavy-industries-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33808:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Heavy Industries</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hd-hyundai-mipo" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2755:1" rel="noopener">Hyundai Mipo</a> merger due to timing and also due to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-biologics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22932:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Biologics</a>' spinoff being added to the index.</li>
<li>The forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI2 INDEX</a> over the last few months and in the short-term too.</li>
</ul>


With the review period complete, there could be 7 changes for the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX) in December.
There may not be any intra-review changes following the Hyundai Heavy Industries/ Hyundai Mipo merger due to timing and also due to Samsung Biologics' spinoff being added to the index.
The forecast adds have outperformed the forecast deletes and the KOSPI2 INDEX over the last few months and in the short-term too.


KOSPI200 Index Rebalance Preview: 7 Changes a Side for December

Chief Economist, Aletheia Capital

Dr. Jim Walker

Chief Economist

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>China: Monetary &amp; Trade Indicators Strengthen: September data show broad-based monetary growth</li>
<li>Korea: Early Signs of Trade Softness: The first 10 days of October show exports down 15% YoY, imports down 22.8%.</li>
<li>India: Inflation Trends Favor Rate Cuts: Wholesale prices up just 0.1% YoY in September — a stark contrast to &gt;10% in 2022 and flat in 2023.</li>
</ul>


China: Monetary &amp; Trade Indicators Strengthen: September data show broad-based monetary growth
Korea: Early Signs of Trade Softness: The first 10 days of October show exports down 15% YoY, imports down 22.8%.
India: Inflation Trends Favor Rate Cuts: Wholesale prices up just 0.1% YoY in September — a stark contrast to &gt;10% in 2022 and flat in 2023.


Walker’s Weekly: Dr. Jim's Summary of Key Global Macro Developments - 17 October 2025

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

Rikki Malik

Commodities

<ul>
<li>A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook</li>
<li>Negotiations between the US and China are not going well, to say the least!</li>
<li>We review the short-term outlook for some of the sectors we focus on.</li>
</ul>


A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook
Negotiations between the US and China are not going well, to say the least!
We review the short-term outlook for some of the sectors we focus on.


OV #37 – From Chips to Ships: Markets Rattle as Trade War Escalates

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)

KOSPI Index - Banks Hardly Participating

KOSPI index has done well, but banks are hardly participating. Kakaobank may be most interesting given its ROA expansion and size, while Woori may...

Daniel Tabbush

KOSPI Size Indices: Lots of Change as Averaging Starts

There could be 34 migrations for the KOSPI Size Indices in March. Among new listings, there could be 1 LargeCap add, 2 MidCap adds and 2 SmallCap...

Brian Freitas

KOSPI200 Index Rebalance Preview: 7 Changes a Side for December

If the merger offsets the spinoff, there could be 7 index changes in Dec. Passive impact on the stock varies between 0.7-21x ADV. Adds have...

Brian Freitas

Walker’s Weekly: Dr. Jim's Summary of Key Global Macro Developments - 17 October 2025

China: Monetary & Trade Indicators Strengthen: September data show broad-based monetary growth Korea: Early Signs of Trade Softness: The first...

Dr. Jim Walker

OV #37 – From Chips to Ships: Markets Rattle as Trade War Escalates

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We look at the fallout from the recent escalation of the trade war

Rikki Malik