Brian Freitas

Highly experienced ex-Delta One trader with 17 years of experience trading arbitrage and related strategies across Asian markets.

Exempt Financial Adviser (EFA) under CrossASEAN Research Pte Ltd.

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/Events/Delta One

Hard catalysts (M&As, spin-offs, demergers) & discount arbitrage (holdco, share-class)

Event-Driven

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is an exchange traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI Korea 25-50 USD Index. The fund holds companies of all market caps which are primarily traded on the Korean exchange. The ETF's holdings are primarily focused in the consumer discretionary, financial and information technology sectors.

<ul>
<li>MSCI had announced the results of the 2022 Global Market Accessibility Review earlier this month. Based on that, no changes were expected at the Market Classification Review.</li>
<li>Earlier this morning, MSCI announced the results of the Market Classification Review and there are no changes for Asia.</li>
<li>Korea has not been placed on the watchlist for an upgrade from Emerging to Developed Market. The earliest that Korea could be reclassified from EM to DM is now 2025.</li>
</ul>

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.

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (ETF)

MSCI Annual Market Classification Review: Korea Doesn't Make It to the Watchlist