Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>One of the big thematic events on the Korean stock market has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean popular culture (Hallyu) as early as May 2025. </li>
<li>China's President Xi recently stated "Cultural exchanges are a valuable part of our bilateral relations [between China and Korea]. We should avoid any problems occurring in handling such matters.” 
</li>
<li>We provide a list of 40 stocks in Korea that could most benefit from the end of lifting ban of Korean popular culture. </li>
</ul>


One of the big thematic events on the Korean stock market has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean popular culture (Hallyu) as early as May 2025. 
China's President Xi recently stated "Cultural exchanges are a valuable part of our bilateral relations [between China and Korea]. We should avoid any problems occurring in handling such matters.” 

We provide a list of 40 stocks in Korea that could most benefit from the end of lifting ban of Korean popular culture. 


China Could Lift Ban on Korean Popular Culture (Hallyu) As Early As May 2025

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 ended on 31 January, changes will be announced first week of March and implemented at the close of trading on 13 March.</li>
<li>We forecast two changes for the Bio Index and one change for the Internet Index. Plus there will be capping changes for all indices.</li>
<li>The largest flows will be in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-sdi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:503:1" rel="noopener">Samsung SDI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-energy-solution" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33464:1" rel="noopener">LG Energy Solution</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:208:1" rel="noopener">POSCO Holdings</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alteogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15886:1" rel="noopener">Alteogen</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/naver-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16029:1" rel="noopener">Naver Corp</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/legochem-biosciences-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19803:1" rel="noopener">Legochem Biosciences</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netmarble-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22839:1" rel="noopener">Netmarble</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/celltrion-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:991:1" rel="noopener">Celltrion Inc</a>.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the March rebalance ended on 31 January, changes will be announced first week of March and implemented at the close of trading on 13 March.
We forecast two changes for the Bio Index and one change for the Internet Index. Plus there will be capping changes for all indices.
The largest flows will be in Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, POSCO Holdings, Alteogen, Naver Corp, Legochem Biosciences, Netmarble and Celltrion Inc.


KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Smaller Deal Than Usual

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), Daishin Securities

Daishin Securities

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Founded in 1962, Daishin Securities is a leading financial services provider in Korea. Daishin securities does its best to provide high quality financial service and to satisfy the various needs of investors. Content available is external broker reports authored by a third party outside the Smartkarma network and has been aggregated by an online aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed by Smartkarma in this format for user's convenience and general informational purposes only. Content does not constitute investment or financial advice and Smartkarma makes no representation or warranty regarding its accuracy or contents. Original third party author retains all copyright and other proprietary rights in the content. Access or use of third party links not controlled by Smartkarma are at the user's own risk.

<ul><li>Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platforms</li><li>PUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a typical high-ARPU period) on the back of traffic growth</li><li>2025’s first new title, inZOI, to hit the market with expectations likely to be priced into the stock</li></ul>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platformsPUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a typical high-ARPU period) on the back of traffic growth2025’s first new title, inZOI, to hit the market with expectations likely to be priced into the stockContent is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

<ul>
<li>Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platforms</li>
<li>PUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a typical high-ARPU period) on the back of traffic growth</li>
<li>2025’s first new title, inZOI, to hit the market with expectations likely to be priced into the stock</li>
</ul>
Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.


Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platforms
PUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a typical high-ARPU period) on the back of traffic growth
2025’s first new title, inZOI, to hit the market with expectations likely to be priced into the stock

Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Krafton: Earnings and New Title Both Worth Anticipating

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Dec 27th which has an aggregated holding worth USD452.8bn.</li>
<li>We estimate that foreign flows to be outflows of USD840mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.</li>
<li>We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, KIA.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Dec 27th which has an aggregated holding worth USD452.8bn.
We estimate that foreign flows to be outflows of USD840mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.
We highlight changes of foreign holdings in Samsung Electronics, KIA.


KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Dec 27th): Samsung Electronics, KIA

South Korea

Krafton, Inc. operates as a game development company. The Company develops console games, mobile games, computer games, and other related products. Krafton markets its products throughout South Korea.

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Krafton (259960 KS)

China Could Lift Ban on Korean Popular Culture (Hallyu) As Early As May 2025

One of the big thematic events that have impacted the Korean stock market this week has been the expectation that China could lift ban on Korean...

Douglas Kim

KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Smaller Deal Than Usual

Indications are for a smaller rebalance than usual as index performance suffers and AUM continues to shrink. There are some constituent changes...

Brian Freitas

Krafton (KS 259960 Jan 6, 2025)

Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platforms. PUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a...

Daishin Securities

Krafton: Earnings and New Title Both Worth Anticipating

Consensus beat expected for 4Q24 OP; PUBG traffic continues to trend up across all platforms. PUBG forecasted to post record earnings in 1Q25 (a...

Daishin Securities

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Dec 27th): Samsung Electronics, KIA

We analyzed KRX foreign holding data for the past week and highlighted foreign holding changes in Samsung Electronics, KIA.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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