Director, Head of Research, Smartkarma

Pranav Rao

Director, Head of Research

Smartkarma

Smartkarma unites the fragmented investment industry, connecting institutional investors, independent research providers, and corporates within a single network.

Research Reinvented

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Welcome to Curator’s Cut - a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,600+ insights shared on Smartkarma.</li>
<li>In this cut, we go looking for value in Korea beyond memory, weigh SHEIN's long-awaited IPO, and trace how TOPIX's reshuffle could lift small-cap Japanese banks.</li>
<li>Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you'd like to see highlighted next.</li>
</ul>


Welcome to Curator’s Cut - a fortnightly roundup of standout themes from the 1,600+ insights shared on Smartkarma.
In this cut, we go looking for value in Korea beyond memory, weigh SHEIN's long-awaited IPO, and trace how TOPIX's reshuffle could lift small-cap Japanese banks.
Want to dig deeper? Comment or message with the themes you'd like to see highlighted next.


Curator's Cut: Korea Beyond Memory, SHEIN's Hong Kong Bow & TOPIX's Tailwind for Banks

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
Context: Korea’s new 2x single-stock ETFs on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix attracted strong early inflows, but performance since launch has been disappointing.</li>
<li>
Mechanics: Daily leveraged ETFs rebalance exposure each day, creating a pro-cyclical pattern: they buy after gains and sell after losses to maintain the 2x target.</li>
<li>
Implication: The structure can enhance returns in trending markets, but choppy conditions can rapidly erode value — making these products best suited to short-term tactical momentum exposure.</li>
</ul>



Context: Korea’s new 2x single-stock ETFs on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix attracted strong early inflows, but performance since launch has been disappointing.

Mechanics: Daily leveraged ETFs rebalance exposure each day, creating a pro-cyclical pattern: they buy after gains and sell after losses to maintain the 2x target.

Implication: The structure can enhance returns in trending markets, but choppy conditions can rapidly erode value — making these products best suited to short-term tactical momentum exposure.


Samsung Elec (005930 KS) & SK Hynix (000660 KS): New 2x Leveraged ETFs Face First Reality Check

Pan-Asia Tactical Market Calls (Quant-Driven), MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Pan-Asia Tactical Market Calls (Quant-Driven)

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Equity Derivatives

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 (KOSPI2 INDEX EQUITY)

<ul>
<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 (KOSPI2)</a> sold off -8.52% on Monday. It's down -17% from its peak last week.</li>
<li>If the AI/semis narrative is true, this is the best possible opportunity to buy/add positions in the KOSPI 200 at discounted prices.</li>
<li>Our model sees a very oversold condition based on analysis of similar past trend patterns, suggesting this is a good time to initiate accumulation.</li>
</ul>


The KOSPI 200 INDEX (KOSPI2) sold off -8.52% on Monday. It's down -17% from its peak last week.
If the AI/semis narrative is true, this is the best possible opportunity to buy/add positions in the KOSPI 200 at discounted prices.
Our model sees a very oversold condition based on analysis of similar past trend patterns, suggesting this is a good time to initiate accumulation.


KOSPI 200 Tactical View: Is Now A Good Time to BUY The Dip?

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> gained 3.3% in September and its 2x Leveraged Index rose 4.6%, while combined long-ETF AUM remained broadly steady, declining 0.9%.</li>
<li>All seven long-leveraged ETFs recorded unit redemptions, with net outflows reaching KRW 200bn in September and continuing in early October.</li>
<li>In contrast, the inverse ETF’s unit count rose 90% and AUM increased 62%, despite the product losing 14.7% in September.</li>
</ul>



Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) gained 3.3% in September and its 2x Leveraged Index rose 4.6%, while combined long-ETF AUM remained broadly steady, declining 0.9%.
All seven long-leveraged ETFs recorded unit redemptions, with net outflows reaching KRW 200bn in September and continuing in early October.
In contrast, the inverse ETF’s unit count rose 90% and AUM increased 62%, despite the product losing 14.7% in September.


Samsung Elec (005930 KS): Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist as Inverse Product Attracts Assets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK hynix (000660 KS)</a> gained 6.1% in September and its 2x Leveraged Index rose 9.6%, yet combined long-ETF AUM declined 2.7%.</li>
<li>All seven long-leveraged ETFs recorded reductions in units outstanding, while September net outflows reached KRW 514bn and daily flow activity remained subdued.</li>
<li>In contrast, the inverse ETF’s units outstanding more than doubled and its market capitalisation increased 68%, despite the product losing 17.0% during September.</li>
</ul>



SK hynix (000660 KS) gained 6.1% in September and its 2x Leveraged Index rose 9.6%, yet combined long-ETF AUM declined 2.7%.
All seven long-leveraged ETFs recorded reductions in units outstanding, while September net outflows reached KRW 514bn and daily flow activity remained subdued.
In contrast, the inverse ETF’s units outstanding more than doubled and its market capitalisation increased 68%, despite the product losing 17.0% during September.


SK Hynix (000660 KS): Inverse 2x ETF Units Double as Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist

Mini Kospi 200 Futures (KMS1 INDEX)

Curator's Cut: Korea Beyond Memory, SHEIN's Hong Kong Bow & TOPIX's Tailwind for Banks

Discover names outside memory in Korea, review SHEIN's IPO, and understand TOPIX's impact on small-cap Japanese banks in this fortnightly...

Pranav Rao

Samsung Elec (005930 KS) & SK Hynix (000660 KS): New 2x Leveraged ETFs Face First Reality Check

Yesterday’s double-digit drop in Samsung Elec and SK Hynix sent their leveraged ETFs down roughly 25%. To regain 22 June levels, the ETFs would...

Gaudenz Schneider

KOSPI 200 Tactical View: Is Now A Good Time to BUY The Dip?

The KOSPI 200 INDEX dropped -8.52% on Monday, down -17% from its all time highs. We evaluate if this is a BUY opportunity at discounted prices.

Nico Rosti

Samsung Elec (005930 KS): Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist as Inverse Product Attracts Assets

Positive performance kept long 2x leveraged ETF assets broadly steady despite continued redemptions, while the inverse product attracted...

Gaudenz Schneider

SK Hynix (000660 KS): Inverse 2x ETF Units Double as Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist

September gains failed to reverse outflows from SK hynix (000660 KS) long 2x leveraged ETFs, while investors added inverse exposure despite the...

Gaudenz Schneider

Curator's Cut: Korea Beyond Memory, SHEIN's Hong Kong Bow & TOPIX's Tailwind for Banks

​Discover names outside memory in Korea, review SHEIN's IPO, and understand TOPIX's impact on small-cap Japanese banks in this fortnightly...

Pranav Rao

Samsung Elec (005930 KS) & SK Hynix (000660 KS): New 2x Leveraged ETFs Face First Reality Check

Yesterday’s double-digit drop in Samsung Elec and SK Hynix sent their leveraged ETFs down roughly 25%. To regain 22 June levels, the ETFs would...

Gaudenz Schneider

KOSPI 200 Tactical View: Is Now A Good Time to BUY The Dip?

The ​KOSPI 200 INDEX dropped -8.52% on Monday, down -17% from its all time highs. We evaluate if this is a BUY opportunity at discounted prices.

Nico Rosti

Samsung Elec (005930 KS): Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist as Inverse Product Attracts Assets

Positive performance kept long 2x leveraged ETF assets broadly steady despite continued redemptions, while the inverse product attracted...

Gaudenz Schneider

SK Hynix (000660 KS): Inverse 2x ETF Units Double as Long 2x ETF Outflows Persist

September gains failed to reverse outflows from SK hynix (000660 KS) long 2x leveraged ETFs, while investors added inverse exposure despite the...

Gaudenz Schneider

Discover names outside memory in Korea, review SHEIN's IPO, and understand TOPIX's impact on small-cap Japanese banks in this fortnightly...

The KOSPI 200 INDEX dropped -8.52% on Monday, down -17% from its all time highs. We evaluate if this is a BUY opportunity at discounted prices.