Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Bottom-Up

National Australia Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
Context: The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-australia-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15:1" rel="noopener">National Australia Bank (NAB AU)</a> vs. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac (WBC AU)</a> price ratio has deviated more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.</li>
<li>
Highlights: Going long <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/national-australia-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15:1" rel="noopener">National Australia Bank (NAB AU)</a> and short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac Banking (WBC AU)</a> targets a 5% return.</li>
<li>
Why Read: Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion opportunities, with detailed execution framework, risk management protocols, and historical simulation showing the statistical basis for this relative value play.</li>
</ul>



Context: The National Australia Bank (NAB AU) vs. Westpac (WBC AU) price ratio has deviated more than two standard deviations from its one-year average, presenting a potential relative value opportunity.

Highlights: Going long National Australia Bank (NAB AU) and short Westpac Banking (WBC AU) targets a 5% return.

Why Read: Essential for quantitative traders seeking mean-reversion opportunities, with detailed execution framework, risk management protocols, and historical simulation showing the statistical basis for this relative value play.


NAB (NAB AU) Vs Westpac (WBC AU): Peer Bank Spread Hits Stat Arb Trigger

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 5th October, published on the 9th October.</li>
<li>The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$0.7bn into "Metals &amp; Mining"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.03bn out of "Coal". Net shorts increased A$2.5bn week-on-week.</li>
<li>Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wesfarmers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1104:1" rel="noopener">Wesfarmers (WES AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/northern-star-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4243:1" rel="noopener">Northern Star Resources (NST AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pinnacle-investment-management" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20624:1" rel="noopener">Pinnacle Investment Management (PNI AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alcoa-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45100:1" rel="noopener">Alcoa Corporation (AAI AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lynas-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20374:1" rel="noopener">Lynas Corp (LYC AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day. Data in this insight is up to 5th October, published on the 9th October.
The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$0.7bn into "Metals &amp; Mining"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.03bn out of "Coal". Net shorts increased A$2.5bn week-on-week.
Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Wesfarmers (WES AU), Northern Star Resources (NST AU), Pinnacle Investment Management (PNI AU), Alcoa Corporation (AAI AU), and Lynas Corp (LYC AU).


Aussie Shorts [5th Oct 2026]: Wesfarmers , Northern Star Res., Pinnacle Investment, Alcoa, Lynas

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

Shenton Research

Shenton 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 short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 2nd (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD50.5bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Northern Star Resources, Alcoa, Wesfarmers, Brambles, Suncorp.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 2nd (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD50.5bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Northern Star Resources, Alcoa, Wesfarmers, Brambles, Suncorp.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 2nd): Northern Star Resources, Alcoa, Wesfarmers, Brambles, Suncorp

Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The RBA raised its cash rate target to 4.60% on 29 September, its fourth 25bp increase this year.</li>
<li>Australian banks underperformed the broader market over 20 trading days following both the March and May hikes.</li>
<li>Following the latest hike, the Big Four have already underperformed the market, consistent with the pattern following the two preceding increases.</li>
</ul>


The RBA raised its cash rate target to 4.60% on 29 September, its fourth 25bp increase this year.
Australian banks underperformed the broader market over 20 trading days following both the March and May hikes.
Following the latest hike, the Big Four have already underperformed the market, consistent with the pattern following the two preceding increases.


Aussie Banks: Underperformance May Have Further to Run After Rate Hike

<ul>
<li>We know that Bain knew that their mid-September overbid for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakaku-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7408:1" rel="noopener">Kakaku.com Inc (2371 JP)</a> did not meet the so-called KDDI Threshold, yet they made that bid anyway (¥3,720 vs EQT's ¥3,680).</li>
<li>IF <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sankei-real-estate-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35239:1" rel="noopener">Sankei Real Estate (2972 JP)</a> trades wide, consider going long the arb, but generally, need to participate unless it does trade wide. There're other more interesting deals out there.</li>
<li>Despite the lower-than-expected bid optics compared to prior negotiations, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renew-energy-global-plc-class-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:37038:1" rel="noopener">ReNew Energy Global (RNW US)</a>'s Offer looks done. All ducks are lined up. Just a question of timing on regulatory approvals.</li>
</ul>


We know that Bain knew that their mid-September overbid for Kakaku.com Inc (2371 JP) did not meet the so-called KDDI Threshold, yet they made that bid anyway (¥3,720 vs EQT's ¥3,680).
IF Sankei Real Estate (2972 JP) trades wide, consider going long the arb, but generally, need to participate unless it does trade wide. There're other more interesting deals out there.
Despite the lower-than-expected bid optics compared to prior negotiations, ReNew Energy Global (RNW US)'s Offer looks done. All ducks are lined up. Just a question of timing on regulatory approvals.


Last Week In Event SPACE: Kakaku.com, Sankei Real Estate, ReNew Energy Global, Korea Aerospace Ind

Australia

National Australia Bank Limited is an international banking group which operates in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the United States.  The Group offers banking services, credit and access card facilities, leasing, housing and general finance, international and investment banking, wealth and funds management, life insurance and custodian, trustee and nominee services.

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National Australia Bank (NAB AU)

NAB (NAB AU) Vs Westpac (WBC AU): Peer Bank Spread Hits Stat Arb Trigger

The peer bank spread moves beyond a two-standard-deviation threshold, creating a statistical arbitrage pair trade opportunity between closely...

Gaudenz Schneider

Aussie Shorts [5th Oct 2026]: Wesfarmers , Northern Star Res., Pinnacle Investment, Alcoa, Lynas

The largest industry net increase in the past week was A$0.7bn into "Metals & Mining"; the largest industry net decrease was A$0.03bn out of...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 2nd): Northern Star Resources, Alcoa, Wesfarmers, Brambles, Suncorp

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in Northern Star Resources, Alcoa, Wesfarmers,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Aussie Banks: Underperformance May Have Further to Run After Rate Hike

Aussie banks have underperformed since the latest RBA hike. Following similar patterns after the March and May hikes, the weakness may have further...

Gaudenz Schneider

Last Week In Event SPACE: Kakaku.com, Sankei Real Estate, ReNew Energy Global, Korea Aerospace Ind

It’s Sunday! Pour yourself a coffee, grab a comfortable seat, and sift through a brief summary of insights on various events discussed during the...

David Blennerhassett

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