Overview
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund is geographically focused on South Korean companies. The Company invests primarily in listed preferred shares issued by companies incorporated in South Korea, which in many cases are currently trading at a discount to the corresponding common shares of the same companies. The company says that “In South Korea, the term “preferred share” is a misnomer and Korean preferred shares are misunderstood by many Western investors. Korean preferred shares are more similar to non-voting common shares than the preferred shares in many other countries. In general, Korean preferred shares do not have a fixed dividend or a maturity date. Instead, the typical contractual terms of preferred shares state that their dividends will be incrementally higher than the dividends of their corresponding common shares. Hence, those preferred shares fully participate in dividend growth of the issuer. In spite of this, many Korean preferred shares trade at significant discounts to their corresponding common shares. For example, LG Electronics ordinary shares closed at 74,300 on 30 June 2014 while the preferred shares closed that day at 37,000 (roughly half the price of the ordinary shares). As a result of this anomaly, typically preferred shares’ price-to-earnings ratios are substantially lower, and their dividend yields are higher than their corresponding common shares.”
- Our update note – On the front foot – was published on 21 October 2021. It discussed why the board feels now is a good time to expand the company
- We published our initiation note – “A remarkable success story” – on 9 March 2021. This explains the workings of the fund.
You can access the fund’s website here
Fundamentals
Price
Research History
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06 Oct 2022 111 min read
QuotedData’s Economic and Political Monthly Roundup October 2022
Economic and Political Monthly Roundup Investment companies | Monthly | October 2022 A collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairs and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to […]
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21 Oct 2021 10 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – On the front foot
On the front foot Weiss Korea Opportunities (WKOF)’s returns continue to be well-ahead of those of comparable indices. From its launch in May 2013 to the end of September 2021, shareholders saw returns of almost 190%, more than double those of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index. Nevertheless, the board and the manager feel that the […]
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10 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – On the front foot
On the front foot Weiss Korea Opportunities (WKOF)’s share price and net asset value (NAV) returns continue to be well-ahead of those of comparable indices. From its launch in May 2013 to the end of September 2021, shareholders saw returns of almost 190%, more than double those of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (the trust’s […]
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10 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – On the front foot
On the front foot Weiss Korea Opportunities (WKOF)’s returns continue to be well-ahead of those of comparable indices. From its launch in May 2013 to the end of September 2021, shareholders saw returns of almost 190%, more than double those of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index. Nevertheless, the board and the manager feel that the […]
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09 Mar 2021 13 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – A remarkable success story
A remarkable success story Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) was one of the best-performing of all London-listed investment companies last year, and since its 2013 launch it has delivered more than twice the return of its benchmark. WKOF has a unique investment approach within the investment company sector. Not only is it the only UK-listed […]
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13 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – A remarkable success story
A remarkable success story Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) was one of the best-performing of all London-listed investment companies last year, and since its 2013 launch it has delivered more than twice the return of its performance benchmark index, the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index (see page 4). WKOF has a unique investment approach within the […]
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12 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund – A remarkable success story
A remarkable success story Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) was one of the best-performing of all London-listed investment companies last year, and since its 2013 launch it has delivered more than twice the return of its benchmark. WKOF has a unique investment approach within the investment company sector. Not only is it the only UK-listed […]
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18 Feb 2021 2 min read
QuotedData’s Round the World Webinar series – Asia day playback
On 10th February 2021, QuotedData hosted the penultimate Round the World webinar from our series. This webinar was focused on Asia and included presentations and Q&As from 4 investment companies’ managers, covering markets across Asia. We would like to thank all of our speakers and attendees for joining us. Click on the links below to watch […]
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14 Jul 2020 9 min read
QuotedData’s Investment Companies Quarterly Review – Second Quarter 2020
Investment Companies Quarterly Roundup Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford and Aberdeen Standard Investments Table of contents In this issue Performance data Positive movers Negative movers Discounts and premiums Getting more expensive Getting cheaper Money in and out Money in Money out Major news stories Upcoming Events New research Guide The legal bit When the going gets […]
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07 Jul 2020 7 min read
QuotedData’s Investment Companies Roundup – July 2020
Investment Companies Roundup Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford and Aberdeen Standard Investments Table of contents New research Performance data Discounts and premiums Money in and out Major news stories Income Events Guide Appendix – Performance by sector full list New research Here is a list of research we published over June: CQS New City High Yield – […]
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10 Mar 2020 7 min read
QuotedData’s Investment Companies Roundup – March 2020
Investment Companies Roundup Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford and Aberdeen Standard Investments Table of contents New research In this issue Performance data Discounts and premiums Money in and out Major news stories Income Events Guide New research Here is a list of research we published over February: An initiation note on Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Trust (MTU) […]
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07 Oct 2019 5 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – October 2019
Investment Companies Roundup Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford New research Over September, we published notes on India Capital Growth, Jupiter Emerging & Frontier, International Biotechnology Trust, JPMorgan Russian Securities, Civitas Social Housing, Montanaro European Smaller Companies and JLEN Environmental Assets. We also launched a monthly real estate roundup, beginning with reviews of August and September. In […]
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6 min read
QuotedData’s economic roundup – October 2019
Economic & Political Roundup Kindly sponsored by Polar Capital and Allianz A collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you […]
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07 Aug 2019 3 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – August 2019
Investment Companies Roundup New research Over July, we published notes on CQS New City High Yield, BlackRock Throgmorton, Strategic Equity Capital, Seneca Global Income & Growth, CG Asset Management, Standard Life Investments Property Income and Aberdeen New Dawn. You can read all these notes by clicking on the links above or by visiting www.quoteddata.com. In this issue Performance data – appetite […]
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05 Jul 2019 3 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – July 2019
Investment Companies Roundup New research Over June, we published notes on CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income, Standard Life Private Equity and Shires Income. You can read all these notes by clicking on the links above or by visiting www.quoteddata.com. In this issue Performance data – there was a greater appetite for risk in June as […]
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07 Jun 2019 3 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – June 2019
Investment Companies Roundup New research Over May, we published notes on Shires Income, Standard Life Private Equity and The North American Income Trust. You can read all these notes by clicking on the links above or by visiting www.quoteddata.com. In this issue Performance data – it was notable that risk appetite was down in May as renewed […]
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08 May 2019 4 min read
QuotedData’s economic roundup – May 2019
Economic & Political Roundup A collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or sell any of the […]
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12 Oct 2018 1 min read
QuotedData’s Economic round up – October 2018
QuotedData’s Economic round up – October 2018 is a collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or […]
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15 Aug 2018 1 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – August 2018
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – August 2018 is our latest roundup of news; price, NAV and discount movements; flows in and out of the sector and report on full year dividends announced over the month of July 2018. Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford. Money raised and returned in July Tritax EuroBox raised its maximum target of £300 million in an […]
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11 Jul 2018 1 min read
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – July 2018
QuotedData’s investment companies roundup – July 2018 is our latest roundup of news; price, NAV and discount movements; flows in and out of the sector and report on full year dividends announced over the month of June 2018. Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford. July Investment Companies Roundup Money raised and returned in June Newcomer to the market, Yew Grove […]
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11 Jun 2018 1 min read
Aberdeen Emerging Markets – 10.6% a year for 20 years
Aberdeen Emerging Markets – 10.6% a year for 20 years Aberdeen Emerging Markets (AEMC) will be 20 years old on 22 June 2018. This is no small feat; it has survived numerous crises in emerging markets (EM), the distortions of ‘hot money’ (where investors flood into, and later out of, whichever market or sector happens […]
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1 min read
Aberdeen Emerging Markets – 10.6% a year for 20 years
Aberdeen Emerging Markets – 10.6% a year for 20 years Aberdeen Emerging Markets (AEMC) will be 20 years old on 22 June 2018. This is no small feat; it has survived numerous crises in emerging markets (EM), the distortions of ‘hot money’ (where investors flood into, and later out of, whichever market or sector happens to […]
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11 May 2018 1 min read
QuotedData’s Economic round up – May 2018
QuotedData’s economic round up – May 2018 is a collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or […]
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25 Apr 2018 1 min read
Quarterly investment companies roundup – First quarter 2018
Quarterly investment companies roundup – First quarter 2018 Quarterly investment companies roundup – First quarter 2018 – Global equity markets declined in the first quarter of 2018. Concerns about US interest rate rises were the feature of the first half of the quarter. However, worries about global trade took over in the second part, particularly […]
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18 Apr 2018 1 min read
QuotedData’s Economic round up – April 2018
QuotedData’s economic round up – April 2018 is a collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or sell […]
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19 Oct 2017 1 min read
Quarterly investment companies roundup – Third quarter 2017
Quarterly investment companies roundup – Third quarter 2017 – Markets moved up a little over the course of the three months ended 30 September 2017. Regionally, emerging markets did well. The pound strengthened a bit relative to the US dollar but was flat against the euro. The oil price rose by more than 20%. In […]
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12 Oct 2017 1 min read
QuotedData’s economic round up – October 2017
QuotedData’s economic round up – October 2017 – is a collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or […]
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14 Jun 2017 1 min read
QuotedData investment companies roundup – June 2017
QuotedData investment companies roundup – June 2017 – is our latest roundup of news; price, NAV and discount movements; flows in and out of the sector and report on full year dividends announced over the month of May 2017. Kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford. June Investment Companies Roundup Japan was one of the best places to be […]
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16 May 2017 1 min read
QuotedData’s economic round up – May 2017
QuotedData’s economic round up – May 2017 is a collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from the comments made by chairmen and investment managers of investment companies – have a read and make your own minds up. Please remember that nothing in this note is designed to encourage you to buy or sell […]
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13 Oct 2016 1 min read
QuotedData’s round up of views on the global economy – October 2016
QuotedData’s collation of recent insights on markets and economies taken from comments made by chairman and managers of investment companies. october-economic-and-political-roundup
News
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08 Nov 2024 1 min read
QuotedData’s weekly news show 8th November 2024
Thank you to everyone that listened in today on our YouTube channel. In this week’s show, Matthew Read covered the week’s top stories: JPMorgan Global Core Real Assets (01:57) Weiss Korea Opportunity (05:38) Atrato Onsite Energy (08:59) HH2E administration – HydrogenOne Capital Growth and Foresight Environmental Infrastructure (10:31) Supermarket Income REIT (12:25) This week’s interview was with […]
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04 Nov 2024 1 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity launches strategic review
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund’s (WKOF’s) manager has told the board that it believes that “the opportunity set and strategy for the fund continuing in its current form is less attractive than it has been in the past”, including at WKOF’s launch inception in 2013, “and that it does not think this change in circumstances is […]
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03 May 2024 5 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity underperforms by over 20 percentage points
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) has announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023. During the year, WKOF provided an NAV total return of -5.5% while, in comparison, its reference index, the MSCI South Korea 25/50 Net Total Return Index, appreciated by 14.8% (all in sterling equivalent terms). This underperformance amounts to […]
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16 Jan 2024 1 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 16 January 2024 – CORD, WKOF
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 16 January 2024: Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD) announced that Belgian foreign direct investment approval has been granted and the acquisition of Norkring België for total consideration of €6.2 million from Telenor Communication II AS and Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen NV has completed. Norkring operates 25 communication and broadcast towers in Belgium. Weiss […]
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19 Sep 2023 2 min read
Optimism despite challenging period for Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) announced its half year results for the period ended 30 June 2023. The company’s share price return was flat over the 6 months while NAV return was -3.4%, trailing the reference MSCI South Korea 25/50 Net Total Return Index which appreciated by 6.7% in GBP. Chairman Krishna Shanmuganathan noted that […]
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16 Jun 2023 3 min read
QD view – Emerging Asia, much more than India and China
Increasingly, investing in Asia has become a story of India and China. These twin behemoths account for over half of the MSCI Asia ex Japan index[1] and define the narrative for the region. However, some of Asia’s most interesting growth ideas – including China plus one, financial inclusion, and rising technology innovation – can be […]
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24 May 2023 2 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 24 May 2023
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 24 May 2023: Weiss Korea Opportunities Fund (WKOF) has announced that, due to the very limited number of elections received for the realisation opportunity (the results of which were announced on 10 May 2023), all of the realisation shares will be compulsory redeemed utilising WKOF’s existing cash reserves. The redemption price […]
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11 May 2023 1 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 11 May 2023
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 11 May 2023: Krishna Shanmuganathan is to replace Norman Crighton as chair of Weiss Korea Opportunity (WKOF) when Norman steps down from the board at the AGM on 20 July 2023. Separately, holders of just 41,496 shares elected to take advantge of the company’s latest realisation opportunity. Ecofin Advisors, LLC has […]
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14 Mar 2023 1 min read
Weiss Korea gives details of latest realisation opportunity
Weiss Korea has published a circular in connection with its latest realisation opportunity. When the company was launched in 2013, it committed to offer shareholders the opportunity to elect to realise all or a part of their shareholding on or prior to the fourth anniversary of its admission to AIM and every two years thereafter. […]
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06 May 2022 1 min read
QuotedData’s weekly news show 6th May 2022
Thank you to everyone that listened in today, whether you watched the Zoom live, on Facebook or on YouTube. In this week’s show, James Carthew and Andrew McHattie covered the week’s top stories: Weiss Korea Witan Apax Global Alpha Greencoat UK Wind EP Global Opportunities abrdn China This week’s interview was with Gary Moglione of […]
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03 May 2022 1 min read
Weiss Korea holds up relatively well in falling market
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund has published results for 2021 that show the trust’s NAV falling far less than its benchmark – the trust’s NAV total return was -1.4%, which compares to -6.1% for the MSCI Korea 25/50 Net Total Return Index. In addition, the shares moved from trading at a discount of 2.8% to a […]
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08 Sep 2021 3 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 8 September 2021
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 8 September 2021: Vietnam Enterprise (VEIL) has posted its interim report for the six months to 30 June 2021, during which time it delivered 42%, outperforming its benchmark, the VN-Index Total Return in US dollar terms by 13.3%. There is no dividend for the period. The strong performance delivered by VEIL in […]
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23 Jun 2021 1 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 23 June 2021
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 23 June 2021 – Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) said that further to its announcement of 9 June 2021, it has made good progress with the sale of assets in the realisation pool and announced the first compulsory redemption of realisation shares representing approximately 76.7% of realisation shares in issue. Standard Life […]
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12 Apr 2021 4 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity has a great year
Weiss Korea Opportunity’s (WKOF’s) annual results to 31 December 2020 saw it deliver a total NAV return of 63.7%, which was well above the reference MSCI Korea 25/50 net total return index, which increased by 36.4% in sterling terms. WKOF’s outperformance continued following the period end. As at 31 March 2021, the NAV had increased by […]
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15 Mar 2021 2 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 15 March 2021
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 15 March 2021 – International Biotechnology Trust’s (IBT’s) board and its manager, SV Health Investors, announced that Carl Harald Janson has decided to step back from his role as lead manager after seven at the helm. Lead responsibility for portfolio management will transition to Ailsa Craig and Marek Poszepczynski and the board […]
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26 Feb 2021 3 min read
QD view – the rewards of truly patient capital
One of this week’s highlights was Herald’s (HRI’s) annual results for the year ended 31 December 2020. The performance numbers are impressive, a 37% return on NAV and a 51% return for shareholders, helped by some discount narrowing. Herald also celebrated another milestone, you may remember that back in 2017, we published a note – […]
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04 Sep 2020 1 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 4 September 2020
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 4 September 2020: Weiss Korea Opportunity (WKOF) has announced interim results for the half-year ended 30 June 2020. During the period, WKOF provided an NAV total return of 11.3%, outperforming its reference index, the MSCI Korea 25/50 Net Total Return Index, which decreased 1.7% (all figures in sterling total return terms). Capital […]
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30 Apr 2020 1 min read
QuotedData’s morning briefing 30 April 2020
In QuotedData’s morning briefing 30 April 2020, as Shell cuts its dividend for the first time since the Second World War: Yellow Cake has extended its $2m buyback programme to 21 July. $985,868 has been deployed so far – about half. Urban Logistics REIT has spent £47m of the £136m it raised in March buying seven […]
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01 Feb 2019 4 min read
Aberdeen Emerging: underlying managers struggled in 2018
Aberdeen Emerging: underlying managers struggled in 2018 – Aberdeen Emerging Markets underperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over the year to the end of October 2018, returning -12.4% in NAV terms against -9.0% for the benchmark. The discount widened, leaving shareholders with a return of -15.7%. total dividends of 21p were paid in accordance with the […]
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20 Mar 2017 1 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund announces realisation opportunity
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF) has published a circular containing details of a ‘realisation opportunity’. When WKOF was launched in 2013 it committed to offer Shareholders a realisation opportunity on or prior to the fourth anniversary of the WKOF’s admission. WKOF also committed to offer similar opportunities every two years thereafter unless it has already […]
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31 Jan 2017 1 min read
Aberdeen Emerging marginally behind benchmark
Aberdeen Emerging has reported results for the year ended 31 October 2016. In an otherwise good year, the fund was marginally behind its benchmark. The net asset value total return for the year was 36.4%, slightly behind the total return of 37.7% from the benchmark index, the MSCI Emerging Markets Net Total Return Index (in […]
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07 Sep 2016 1 min read
Weiss Korea lags benchmark in H1
During the six month period from 31 December 2015 to 30 June 2016, Weiss Korea Opportunity’s NAV increased by 10.94%, underperforming the reference MSCI Korea 25/50 Capped Index, which returned 14.81% in pounds sterling. The Company paid a dividend of 2.2416 pence per share on 28 June 2016. Shareholders have an opportunity to realise all or part […]
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28 Jun 2016 1 min read
Aberdeen Emerging’s Asian exposure works in its favour
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Investment Company beat its benchmark over the six months ended 30 April 2016. The company’s net asset value total return for the period was 6.1%, comparing favourably with a return of 5.6% from the benchmark index, the MSCI Emerging Markets Net Total Return Index (in sterling terms). The share price total return […]
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13 Apr 2016 2 min read
Weiss Korea Opportunity benefits from Samsung buy-backs
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund says, during the period from 31 December 2014 to 31 December 2015, the company’s NAV per share increased by 11.70%, outperforming the reference MSCI Korea 25/50 Capped Index, which returned -1.1% in Sterling terms. The company paid a dividend of 1.8580 pence per share on 26 June 2015. The Directors intend to return […]
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04 Sep 2015 1 min read
Weiss Korea reports outperformance in H1
Weiss Korea reports an increase in its NAV from 120.4p to 125.27p over the first half of 2015. Including dividends, the Company’s NAV increased by 5.4%, outperforming the reference MSCI Korea 25/50 Capped Index, which returned -0.03%. They paid a dividend of 1.858p during the period. There is no performance attribution information in the announcement. […]
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17 Apr 2015 1 min read
Weiss Korea has good year despite Hyundai Motor
Weiss Korea Opportunity results for 2014 have been published. The NAV per Share increased from 108.5p to 120.4p (11.0%) over the year. They compare their performance to the MSCI Korea 25/50 Capped Index, this fell by 5.2% so the fund did very well in 2014. They also paid a dividend of 1.4413p in the year […]
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04 Sep 2014 1 min read
Weiss Korea considering share buy-back in closed periods
WKOF : Weiss Korea considering share buy-back in closed periods Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund has published its interim figures covering the first six months of 2014. Over that time its net asset value increased from 106.98p to 131.83p and since then the NAV has appreciated further to 147.65p on 4 September. They also paid their […]
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07 Mar 2014 1 min read
Crystal Amber : CRS – requisition of LEAF
Crystal Amber, managed by Richard Bernstein (pictured), hold 10% of Leaf Clean Energy Company : LEAF and has decided to requisition an Extraordinary General Meeting to change LEAF’s Board and its investment strategy. Crystal Amber say LEAF has three problems: visibility of the underlying values of Leaf’s investments (LEAF uses a DCF method to value its investment even though most of them […]
Upcoming Events
Videos
In The Press
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17 May 2022 1 min read
Asian trusts succeeding despite China
James Carthew for Investment Week, 16 May 2022: Most Asian funds have had a tough time recently, dragged down by their Chinese exposure. Government intervention in a range of sectors unnerved investors, but now the country has embarked on a new phase of stringent lockdowns in a bid to maintain its zero-Covid policy. Funds dedicated […]
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17 May 2021 1 min read
There is more to emerging markets than China
DIY Investor, 6 May 2021 James Carthew, head of investment trusts, QuotedData Markets are trying to get to grips with the long term effects of COVID-19 on the global economy, but the prognosis is hard to call. That has led to some volatility this year, which may be a feature of markets for a while […]
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29 Mar 2021 2 min read
Searching for value in emerging markets
Searching for value in emerging markets The Adventurous Investor, David Stevenson, 10 March 2021 Time for some honesty today. So far, my hope that emerging market equities might be well-positioned to outperform US equities has been totally wrong. EM equities are having a tough time despite a weaker dollar, with most investors worried by the […]
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24 Aug 2020 2 min read
Investment trust insider on Weiss Korea
Investment trust insider on Weiss Korea – James Carthew: Korean trust proves a coronavirus winner One of this year’s winners has been Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund (WKOF), whose shares are up 20% this year. The fund’s benchmark is the MSCI South Korea 25/50 Index. Within the index, exposure to the largest stock is capped at 25% […]