Today's new ETF listings from around the world.
Seoul
Every Korean issuer lists a KRX300 ETF at the same time…
Korea's major ETF providers have all listed KRX300 ETFs, all of which go live on Monday.
The listings come two months after Korea Exchange unveiled the new KRX300 index. The new index forms part of a broader government-led initiative to drive up investment in Korean firms. As part of that effort, the government has told the KRX to relax listing rules in order to boost the presence of startups and small companies on Korean stock markets.
On the investment side, the Korean government has brought in tax incentives for firms investing in smaller companies. The new listings are:
KB KBSTAR KRX300 ETF (292050)
HI FOCUS KRX300 ETF (292730)
Samsung KODEX KRX300 ETF (292190)
MIRAE ASSET TIGER KRX300 ETF (292160)
Hanwha ARIRANG KRX300 ETF (292750)
The only difference between these ETFs that we can see is that some are cheaper than others. At five basis points, the two cheapest are KBStar and Kodex's funds. The most expensive is Mirae's, which costs 16 bps.
Analysis - quick Korean primer
The Korean ETF market, like many other corners of the Korean economy, is dominated by the 'chaebols'—giant business conglomerates that double up as political kingmakers. Of the above-listed ETFs, all but Mirae's is owned by a chaebol. (Samsung owns Kodex; Hanwha owns both Arirang and Hi Focus; Kookmin Bank owns KBStar) KRX is the only securities exchange in South Korea and has closer ties with the government than securities exchanges in the US.
