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 short interest of KRX stocks as of Aug 8th. The aggregated short interest was USD10.0bn.</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 Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX stocks as of Aug 8th. The aggregated short interest was USD10.0bn.
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 Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 8th): Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Korea surpassed France as the top exporter of cosmetics to the USA in 2024. Korea exported $1.7 billion worth of cosmetics to the USA in 2024, up 54.2% YoY.</li>
<li>CJ Olive Young's online cosmetic sales to overseas markets soared 70% YoY in 1H 2025, fueled largely by the explosive demand from the United States.</li>
<li>We have raised our NAV valuation of CJ Corp to 207,713 won per share (up 28%). We raised the valuation of CJ Olive Young to 7 trillion won. </li>
</ul>


Korea surpassed France as the top exporter of cosmetics to the USA in 2024. Korea exported $1.7 billion worth of cosmetics to the USA in 2024, up 54.2% YoY.
CJ Olive Young's online cosmetic sales to overseas markets soared 70% YoY in 1H 2025, fueled largely by the explosive demand from the United States.
We have raised our NAV valuation of CJ Corp to 207,713 won per share (up 28%). We raised the valuation of CJ Olive Young to 7 trillion won. 


Korea Surpasses France as Top Exporter of Cosmetics to the USA [CJ Olive Young - Key Beneficiary]

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Insiders have been selling at Silicon2 (257720 KS). The company's CEO Kim Seong-Woon and other related parties sold 0.37 million shares (0.6% stake) in June 2025.</li>
<li>Overall, we are concerned about this recent insider selling at Silicon2. We are lowering our rating on Silicon2 to Negative over the next 6-12 months. </li>
<li><em><strong> Silicon2 needs to introduce new cosmetic brands such as Joseon Beauty, Round Lab, and Anua that could become very popular on a regular basis. However, that could be a challenge.  </strong></em></li>
</ul>


Insiders have been selling at Silicon2 (257720 KS). The company's CEO Kim Seong-Woon and other related parties sold 0.37 million shares (0.6% stake) in June 2025.
Overall, we are concerned about this recent insider selling at Silicon2. We are lowering our rating on Silicon2 to Negative over the next 6-12 months. 
 Silicon2 needs to introduce new cosmetic brands such as Joseon Beauty, Round Lab, and Anua that could become very popular on a regular basis. However, that could be a challenge.  


Insiders Selling at Silicon2: Negative Impact on Share Price

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Aug 16th which has an aggregated holding worth USD550.5bn.</li>
<li>We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD260mln. 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 foreign changes in Samsung Electronics, Sk Hynix, Naver.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in foreign holdings of KRX stocks as of Aug 16th which has an aggregated holding worth USD550.5bn.
We estimate that foreign flows to be inflows of USD260mln. We tabulate the league table for top changes by value for 1W/4W/1Y and top stocks held by foreign institutions.
We highlight foreign changes in Samsung Electronics, Sk Hynix, Naver.


KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Aug 16th): Samsung Electronics, Sk Hynix, Naver

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>There are 13 inclusions and 13 exclusions for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX)</a> at the June rebalance to be implemented at the close on 13 June.</li>
<li>For the second consecutive review, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fadu-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:39896:1" rel="noopener">Fadu (440110 KS)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinsung-delta-tech-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4976:1" rel="noopener">Shinsung DeltaTech (065350 KS)</a> have been kept out of the index. Not sure what the index committee's beef with them is.</li>
<li>The adds have outperformed the deletes and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ150</a> since the start of the review period. This has been helped, in no small, part by the ban on short selling.</li>
</ul>


There are 13 inclusions and 13 exclusions for the KOSDAQ 150 Index (KOSDQ150 INDEX) at the June rebalance to be implemented at the close on 13 June.
For the second consecutive review, Fadu (440110 KS) and Shinsung DeltaTech (065350 KS) have been kept out of the index. Not sure what the index committee's beef with them is.
The adds have outperformed the deletes and the KOSDAQ150 since the start of the review period. This has been helped, in no small, part by the ban on short selling.


KOSDAQ150 Index Rebalance: Short Sell Ban Definitely Helping

South Korea

Silicon2 operates e-commerce business. The Company wholesales daily necessities, packaged food, makeup products, and other products. SIlicon2 also provides brand planning advertising and marketing services.

Price Gauge
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Silicon2 (257720 KS)

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 8th): Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Korea Surpasses France as Top Exporter of Cosmetics to the USA [CJ Olive Young - Key Beneficiary]

Korea surpassed France as the top exporter of cosmetics to the USA in 2024. We have raised our NAV valuation of CJ Corp to 207,713 won per share...

Douglas Kim

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Aug 16th): Samsung Electronics, Sk Hynix, Naver

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

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

KOSDAQ150 Index Rebalance: Short Sell Ban Definitely Helping

There are 13 changes a side for the KOSDAQ150 in June. Most of the changes were forecast. Fadu and Shinsung Delta Tech have been ignored again. The...

Brian Freitas

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Aug 8th): Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Silicon2, NAVER, LG Chem, KakaoBank, POSCO FUTURE M.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Korea Surpasses France as Top Exporter of Cosmetics to the USA [CJ Olive Young - Key Beneficiary]

Korea surpassed France as the top exporter of cosmetics to the USA in 2024. We have raised our NAV valuation of CJ Corp to 207,713 won per share...

Douglas Kim

Insiders Selling at Silicon2: Negative Impact on Share Price

Insiders have been selling at Silicon2 (257720 KS). The company's CEO Kim Seong-Woon and other related parties sold 0.37 million shares (0.6%...

Douglas Kim

KRX Foreign Holding Weekly (Aug 16th): Samsung Electronics, Sk Hynix, Naver

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

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

KOSDAQ150 Index Rebalance: Short Sell Ban Definitely Helping

There are 13 changes a side for the KOSDAQ150 in June. Most of the changes were forecast. Fadu and Shinsung Delta Tech have been ignored again. The...

Brian Freitas