Temasek and Kookmin choose their timing well

The sell-off in Asian markets yesterday following Friday’s disappointing employment data in the US and signs of slowing domestic demand in China made the timing of last week’s sell-downs in the financial sector seem even more prescient. However, it is likely that the sellers were much more concerned about getting ahead of a large pipeline of deals in the sector than the effect that a deteriorating economy might have on the region’s banks.

With the possibility of billions of dollars worth of financial sector shares hitting the market in the second half of the year, the slight rebound in share prices and the return of risk appetite among investors during...