Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Douglas Research Advisory

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Short selling balance in the Korean stock market was 62.4 trillion won as of 21 March 2025, up significantly from 47.2 trillion won three months ago.</li>
<li>Among the stocks in KOSPI with high short selling balance and high lending balance ratios include Posco Future M, Yuhan Corp, LG Energy Solution, and Hanwha Aerospace. </li>
<li>Among the stocks in KOSDAQ with high short selling balance and high lending balance ratios include Ecopro BM, Ecopro Co, HLB, and Eo Technics. </li>
</ul>


Short selling balance in the Korean stock market was 62.4 trillion won as of 21 March 2025, up significantly from 47.2 trillion won three months ago.
Among the stocks in KOSPI with high short selling balance and high lending balance ratios include Posco Future M, Yuhan Corp, LG Energy Solution, and Hanwha Aerospace. 
Among the stocks in KOSDAQ with high short selling balance and high lending balance ratios include Ecopro BM, Ecopro Co, HLB, and Eo Technics. 


Short Selling Resuming on 31 March in Korea - Stocks With Highest Short Selling Lending Balance

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

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Since short selling was banned in November 2023, short interest has plunged in Korea as shorts were covered. Markets have not done much over the last 16 months though. </li>
<li>Foreign investor holdings have dropped from 32.05% in July to 28.57%. The top 25 stocks bought by foreign investors outperformed the top 25 stocks sold by 128% in 16 months.</li>
<li>There will be trade opportunities across indices, pref/ords, index migrations and deletions, potential market upgrades and overvalued stocks being sold.</li>
</ul>


Since short selling was banned in November 2023, short interest has plunged in Korea as shorts were covered. Markets have not done much over the last 16 months though. 
Foreign investor holdings have dropped from 32.05% in July to 28.57%. The top 25 stocks bought by foreign investors outperformed the top 25 stocks sold by 128% in 16 months.
There will be trade opportunities across indices, pref/ords, index migrations and deletions, potential market upgrades and overvalued stocks being sold.


Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The review period for the September rebalance ends 31 July, the changes will be announced in the first week of September and implemented at the close of trading 12 September.</li>
<li>There are changes expected for each of the Secondary Battery, Bio, Internet, Game and BBIG indices. The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shift-up-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36232:1" rel="noopener">Shift Up (462870 KS)</a> listing should result in more changes.</li>
<li>The largest flows will be in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/posco-future-m-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12421:1" rel="noopener">Posco Future M</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ecopro-bm-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27873:1" rel="noopener">Ecopro BM</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-biopharmaceuticals-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28966:1" rel="noopener">SK Biopharmaceuticals</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alteogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15886:1" rel="noopener">Alteogen</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/douzone-bizon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20161:1" rel="noopener">Douzone Bizon</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/skc-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3970:1" rel="noopener">SKC Co</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakao-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15002:1" rel="noopener">Kakao Corp</a>.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the September rebalance ends 31 July, the changes will be announced in the first week of September and implemented at the close of trading 12 September.
There are changes expected for each of the Secondary Battery, Bio, Internet, Game and BBIG indices. The Shift Up (462870 KS) listing should result in more changes.
The largest flows will be in Posco Future M, Ecopro BM, SK Biopharmaceuticals, Alteogen, Douzone Bizon, SKC Co and Kakao Corp.


KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Lots of Change; Shift Up Listing Adds to It

<ul>
<li>Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, 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</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.</li>
<li>A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.</li>
<li>Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.</li>
</ul>


Following the short sell ban announced on the weekend, the KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 opened higher on Monday and rallied through the day.
A lot of the intraday gains on Monday have been given up over the next two trading days. Surprisingly, KRX data indicates that not a lot of shorts have covered.
Foreigners have been net cash buyers since Monday (could indicate covering of offshore borrow) while retail were big sellers on Monday.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

<ul>
<li>Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kosdaq-150-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31077:1" rel="noopener">KOSDAQ 150</a> index constituents in May 2021.</li>
<li>News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.</li>
<li>There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.</li>
</ul>


Korea banned all short selling in March 2020 and resumed short selling only on KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 index constituents in May 2021.
News reports indicate that there could be another short sell ban as soon as the coming week. Indications are that the ban could last 6 months.
There are many implications of a total short sell ban including futures backwardation, market manipulation, and no emerging to developed market promotion.


Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

South Korea

Posco Future M Co., Ltd. manufactures and distributes energy materials. The Company produces battery materials, advanced chemical materials, basic industrial materials, and other related products. Posco Future M also produces lime chemical and refractory products.

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Posco Future M (003670 KS)

Short Selling Resuming on 31 March in Korea - Stocks With Highest Short Selling Lending Balance

Among the stocks in KOSPI with high short selling balance and high lending balance ratios include Posco Future M, Yuhan Corp, LG Energy Solution,...

Douglas Kim

Korea: Short Selling Is Back in March; Trade Ideas

Short selling in Korea commences from Monday. There will be a lot of interest in shorting stocks/sectors depending on how they have performed since...

Brian Freitas

KRX New Deal Index Rebalance Preview: Lots of Change; Shift Up Listing Adds to It

There should be 1 change for each of the Battery, Bio and Game indices plus 2 changes for each of the Internet and BBIG indices. The Shift Up...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Not a Lot Covered on Monday; Shorts Holding On?

Not a lot of shorts were covered on Monday. There could be more covering in the near term as the market drifts lower. KOSPI200 underperformed...

Brian Freitas

Korea Short Sell Ban: Background, Manipulation, Holdings, Flows, Short Interest, Implications

Media reports indicate that there could be a temporary short sell ban in Korea. This could lead to futures backwardation, market manipulation and a...

Brian Freitas

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