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

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX EQUITY)

<ul>
<li>Since short selling was banned in November 2023, short interest has plunged in Korea as shorts were covered. Markets have not done much over the last 16 months though. </li>
<li>Foreign investor holdings have dropped from 32.05% in July to 28.57%. The top 25 stocks bought by foreign investors outperformed the top 25 stocks sold by 128% in 16 months.</li>
<li>There will be trade opportunities across indices, pref/ords, index migrations and deletions, potential market upgrades and overvalued stocks being sold.</li>
</ul>


Since short selling was banned in November 2023, short interest has plunged in Korea as shorts were covered. Markets have not done much over the last 16 months though. 
Foreign investor holdings have dropped from 32.05% in July to 28.57%. The top 25 stocks bought by foreign investors outperformed the top 25 stocks sold by 128% in 16 months.
There will be trade opportunities across indices, pref/ords, index migrations and deletions, potential market upgrades and overvalued stocks being sold.


Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

Global Materials | Industrials | Commodities

Rahul Jain

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Zinc market tone for 2025 is cautious, with most producers guiding flat to lower volumes as concentrate supply remains tight and benchmark TCs hit 50-year lows.</li>
<li>Glencore, Teck, and South32 are dialing back output, while Korea Zinc is facing margin compression. Boliden is raising output via acquisitions and restarts, but still faces integration and cost risks.</li>
<li>Hindustan Zinc stands apart—delivering growth, industry-best 53% EBITDA margins, and sub-$1,000/t cost targets, making it a margin fortress in a soft market. </li>
</ul>


Zinc market tone for 2025 is cautious, with most producers guiding flat to lower volumes as concentrate supply remains tight and benchmark TCs hit 50-year lows.
Glencore, Teck, and South32 are dialing back output, while Korea Zinc is facing margin compression. Boliden is raising output via acquisitions and restarts, but still faces integration and cost risks.
Hindustan Zinc stands apart—delivering growth, industry-best 53% EBITDA margins, and sub-$1,000/t cost targets, making it a margin fortress in a soft market. 


Zinc’s Cycle Turns: Will Supply Outpace Demand?

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Capital Markets

KT&G Corporation / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>On 14 October, FCP Capital sent a proposal to KT&amp;G to purchase Korea Ginseng Corp for 1.9 trillion won. </li>
<li>Although KT&amp;G stated that it has no intentions to sell Korea Ginseng Corp, this proposal highlights the ongoing pressure by FCP Capital to improve further value in KT&amp;G.</li>
<li>The 1.9 trillion won in proposed purchase price is higher than the 1.2 trillion won to 1.3 trillion won that KT&amp;G revealed as the intrinsic value of Korea Ginseng Corp.</li>
</ul>


On 14 October, FCP Capital sent a proposal to KT&amp;G to purchase Korea Ginseng Corp for 1.9 trillion won. 
Although KT&amp;G stated that it has no intentions to sell Korea Ginseng Corp, this proposal highlights the ongoing pressure by FCP Capital to improve further value in KT&amp;G.
The 1.9 trillion won in proposed purchase price is higher than the 1.2 trillion won to 1.3 trillion won that KT&amp;G revealed as the intrinsic value of Korea Ginseng Corp.


FCP Capital Sends a Proposal to KT&G to Buy Korea Ginseng Corp for 1.9 Trillion Won

<ul>
<li>Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on <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> index constituents in May 2021.</li>
<li>News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.</li>
<li>There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.</li>
</ul>


Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 index constituents in May 2021.
News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.
There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

<ul>
<li>Korea Zinc announced that at its upcoming AGM agenda, it will include several measures (several of which have been recommended by MBK/Young Poong alliance) to improve corporate governance.</li>
<li>There have been some resistance on implementing these measures in the past year by Korea Zinc. Therefore, the approval of these measures are likely to positively impact Korea Zinc.</li>
<li>Korea Zinc plans to cancel half of its treasury shares and use the remainder for employee performance compensation over the next 10 years.</li>
</ul>


Korea Zinc announced that at its upcoming AGM agenda, it will include several measures (several of which have been recommended by MBK/Young Poong alliance) to improve corporate governance.
There have been some resistance on implementing these measures in the past year by Korea Zinc. Therefore, the approval of these measures are likely to positively impact Korea Zinc.
Korea Zinc plans to cancel half of its treasury shares and use the remainder for employee performance compensation over the next 10 years.


Korea Zinc's Plans to Improve Corporate Governance at AGM

South Korea

Korea Zinc Co., Ltd. specializes in non-ferrous metal smelting industry.  The Company manufactures zinc ingots, electrolytic gold, silver, lead, sulfuric acid, and copper.  Korea Zinc provides its products to domestic and overseas markets.

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Korea Zinc (010130 KS)

Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

Short selling in Korea commences from Monday. There will be a lot of interest in shorting stocks/sectors depending on how they have performed since...

Brian Freitas

Zinc’s Cycle Turns: Will Supply Outpace Demand?

2025 zinc market cautious as producers cut output due to tight supply and low benchmark TCs, Hindustan Zinc stands out with strong growth and...

Rahul Jain

FCP Capital Sends a Proposal to KT&G to Buy Korea Ginseng Corp for 1.9 Trillion Won

On 14 October, an activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners (FCP) sent a proposal to KT&G Corporation (033780 KS) to purchase Korea Ginseng Corp...

Douglas Kim

Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

Media reports indicate that there could be a temporary short sell ban in Korea. This could lead to futures backwardation, market manipulation and a...

Brian Freitas

Korea Zinc's Plans to Improve Corporate Governance at AGM

Korea Zinc announced that at its upcoming AGM agenda, it will include several measures (several of which have been recommended by MBK/Young Poong...

Douglas Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

Short selling in Korea commences from Monday. There will be a lot of interest in shorting stocks/sectors depending on how they have performed since...

Brian Freitas

Zinc’s Cycle Turns: Will Supply Outpace Demand?

​2025 zinc market cautious as producers cut output due to tight supply and low benchmark TCs, Hindustan Zinc stands out with strong growth and...

Rahul Jain

FCP Capital Sends a Proposal to KT&G to Buy Korea Ginseng Corp for 1.9 Trillion Won

On 14 October, an activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners (FCP) sent a proposal to KT&G Corporation (033780 KS) to purchase Korea Ginseng Corp...

Douglas Kim

Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

Media reports indicate that there could be a temporary short sell ban in Korea. This could lead to futures backwardation, market manipulation and a...

Brian Freitas

Korea Zinc's Plans to Improve Corporate Governance at AGM

Korea Zinc announced that at its upcoming AGM agenda, it will include several measures (several of which have been recommended by MBK/Young Poong...

Douglas Kim

2025 zinc market cautious as producers cut output due to tight supply and low benchmark TCs, Hindustan Zinc stands out with strong growth and...