Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>On January 1st, we created the Asian Alpha Hedge Fund (AAHF), which returned 31.66% in the first quarter of 2025. AAHF is a simulated (paper-traded) long/short equity Asian hedge fund.</li>
<li>The fund's outperformance was attributed to high alpha generation and country allocation/positioning.  The portfolio gained from its long positions in Hong Kong and shorts in Japan.</li>
<li>On 3/31/25, we reduced long positions in HK tech and covered short positions in Japanese steel companies. At 3/31/25 AAHF had a gross position of 172% and net exposure +5.89%. </li>
</ul>


On January 1st, we created the Asian Alpha Hedge Fund (AAHF), which returned 31.66% in the first quarter of 2025. AAHF is a simulated (paper-traded) long/short equity Asian hedge fund.
The fund's outperformance was attributed to high alpha generation and country allocation/positioning.  The portfolio gained from its long positions in Hong Kong and shorts in Japan.
On 3/31/25, we reduced long positions in HK tech and covered short positions in Japanese steel companies. At 3/31/25 AAHF had a gross position of 172% and net exposure +5.89%. 


Asian Alpha Hedge Fund (AAHF): INTRODUCTION

<ul>
<li>BOJ sows confusion with hawkish and dovish statements regarding its tightening policy. On a USD-basis the Japan market failed again to break its long-term resistance indicating a "Dead Cat Bounce".</li>
<li>Auto and Semiconductor sectors pressured by US trade policies and Trading Companies are affected by JPY strength.  US rejection of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-steel-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:961:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP)</a>merger affects Japan steel sector.</li>
<li>Higher domestic yields is a catalyst to reverse the large money flows from Japan during the Kuroda years.</li>
</ul>


BOJ sows confusion with hawkish and dovish statements regarding its tightening policy. On a USD-basis the Japan market failed again to break its long-term resistance indicating a "Dead Cat Bounce".
Auto and Semiconductor sectors pressured by US trade policies and Trading Companies are affected by JPY strength.  US rejection of Nippon Steel Corporation (5401 JP)merger affects Japan steel sector.
Higher domestic yields is a catalyst to reverse the large money flows from Japan during the Kuroda years.


JAPAN:  No Lifeguard on Duty, Swim at Your Own Risk

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 44 adds/41 deletes for the JPX Nikkei 400 Index to bring the number of index constituents back to 400. There are stocks with multiple days ADV to trade.</li>
<li>Based on the adds, deletes and capping changes, we estimate one way turnover of 7.9% and a round-trip trade of JPY 880bn (US$6bn).</li>
<li>The adds have outperformed the deletes over the last year though that has been faded over the last couple of months. Breaking with history, there could be outperformance near-term.</li>
</ul>


There are 44 adds/41 deletes for the JPX Nikkei 400 Index to bring the number of index constituents back to 400. There are stocks with multiple days ADV to trade.
Based on the adds, deletes and capping changes, we estimate one way turnover of 7.9% and a round-trip trade of JPY 880bn (US$6bn).
The adds have outperformed the deletes over the last year though that has been faded over the last couple of months. Breaking with history, there could be outperformance near-term.


JPX Nikkei 400 Index Rebalance: A Bunch of Chunky Adds & US$6bn Trade

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS. US LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. With US out, No leaders in Global Equities; European shares closed flat on thin Volumes;  China's measures to support Property market taking hold. </li>
<li>JAPAN.US Markets Off. NKY Futs vs Cash -0.1%; USDJPY 146.5; Nikkei Rebal: Mercari, Lasertec, Nitori ADDED; Nippon Sheet Glass, Mitsui E&amp;S, Matsui Sec OUT; JFE 200bn Equity/CB raising  </li>
<li>JAPAN X: JFE Holdings Plans to Raise ¥200 Billion for Carbon Emissions Reduction Efforts. Still need clarity willingness of customers to accept "green pricing".  Watch Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel. </li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS. US LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. With US out, No leaders in Global Equities; European shares closed flat on thin Volumes;  China's measures to support Property market taking hold. 
JAPAN.US Markets Off. NKY Futs vs Cash -0.1%; USDJPY 146.5; Nikkei Rebal: Mercari, Lasertec, Nitori ADDED; Nippon Sheet Glass, Mitsui E&amp;S, Matsui Sec OUT; JFE 200bn Equity/CB raising  
JAPAN X: JFE Holdings Plans to Raise ¥200 Billion for Carbon Emissions Reduction Efforts. Still need clarity willingness of customers to accept "green pricing".  Watch Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel. 


Ohayo Japan| Lack of Direction with US Closed; JAPAN X: JFE to Raise ¥200bn for Green Steel Drive

Global Special Situations & Strategy, SR Services Ltd

David Lepper

Global Special Situations & Strategy

SR Services Ltd

SR Services provides Strategic Knowledge and Solutions services for Family Offices and Corporate Business. 

We deliver this via advisory services, strategic planning, opportunity analysis/sourcing, as well as solution implementation. 

Whilst, we create intellectual discipline and operational leverage for your projects or daily activities, our ultimate objective is to empower whilst enhancing your decision making. 

Strategic Knowledge and Solutions

<ul>
<li>
Our Q3-2021 All Cap High-Risk screen of stocks produced a market-cap-weighted average price return of 2% and a simple average decline of 0.2%.</li>
<li>
Out of the 34 stocks that appeared in our Q3-2021 screen, 15 stocks saw an average share price decline of 11.5%, whilst 19 stocks appreciated on average by 14%. The two biggest declining stock  were down 25% and 19% respectively.</li>
<li>Our Q4 2021 screen, with 38 names (up from 34 seen in Q3 and Q2 2021) delivers an interesting composition this quarter, </li>
<li>
As in the previous few quarters, we anticipate the possibility of a risk of deteriorating credit metrics during the next few quarters: Q4 2021’s Altman Z score rests at 1.23, which is just up on Q3 2021’s level of 1.19.</li>
</ul>



Our Q3-2021 All Cap High-Risk screen of stocks produced a market-cap-weighted average price return of 2% and a simple average decline of 0.2%.

Out of the 34 stocks that appeared in our Q3-2021 screen, 15 stocks saw an average share price decline of 11.5%, whilst 19 stocks appreciated on average by 14%. The two biggest declining stock  were down 25% and 19% respectively.
Our Q4 2021 screen, with 38 names (up from 34 seen in Q3 and Q2 2021) delivers an interesting composition this quarter, 

As in the previous few quarters, we anticipate the possibility of a risk of deteriorating credit metrics during the next few quarters: Q4 2021’s Altman Z score rests at 1.23, which is just up on Q3 2021’s level of 1.19.


Screening the Silk Road: Q4 2021 High-Risk Names to Avoid

Japan

Kobe Steel, Ltd. is a steelmaker, as well as a supplier of aluminum and copper products.  The products include steel plates and steel rods.  The Company also operates other businesses such as welding consumables, urban infrastructure, plant engineering, and industrial & construction machinery.  Kobe Steel has operating offices in the US, Europe, and Asia.

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Kobe Steel Ltd (5406 JP)

Asian Alpha Hedge Fund (AAHF): INTRODUCTION

Asian Alpha Hedge Fund (AAHF) returned 32% in the first quarter of 2025. The fund outperformed the MSCI All Country Asia Pacific index by 28%. ...

David Mudd

JAPAN: No Lifeguard on Duty, Swim at Your Own Risk

BOJ sends mixed signals on its pace of tightening as the JPY strengthens. Auto, semi and trading company sectors continue to be under pressure. A...

David Mudd

JPX Nikkei 400 Index Rebalance: A Bunch of Chunky Adds & US$6bn Trade

There are 44 adds/41 deletes for the JPX Nikkei 400 Index resulting in a one-way turnover of 7.9% and a round-trip trade of JPY 880bn (US$6bn)....

Brian Freitas

Ohayo Japan| Lack of Direction with US Closed; JAPAN X: JFE to Raise ¥200bn for Green Steel Drive

US Markets Off. NKY Futs vs Cash -0.1%; USDJPY 146.5; Nikkei Rebal: Mercari, Lasertec, Nitori ADDED; Nippon Sheet Glass, Mitsui E&S, Matsui Sec...

Mark Chadwick

Screening the Silk Road: Q4 2021 High-Risk Names to Avoid

As we move through into Q1 2022, we expect to see volatility around highly priced & leveraged names. This screen is a key starting point towards...

David Lepper

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