The average daily value of securities out on loan across Asia nearly hit $150bn over the past twelve months.

Stats from DataLend – which tracks securities lending and borrowing activity – recorded a midpoint figure of $147.54bn across equities and fixed income from February 2015 onwards. 

That’s out of a total inventory of $1.34trn.

Across the continent the average fee to borrow - the daily fee borrowers paid to agent lenders - was 97bps, or 0.97%.

South Korean stocks registered the highest average fees of 297bps, with Australia one of the cheapest markets to borrow with average fees of 36bps.

In terms of sectors, the average cost to borrow Asia-listed healthcare stocks was 260bps, 186bps for IT and 130bps for energy companies.

Financials were at the cheaper end of the fee scale, 78bps, along with utilities at 59 bps.

Hong Kong-listed and Guangzhou-based real estate firm Evergrande turned out to be one of the most profitable stocks for lenders in the region. Shares in the firm are up 62% in the past twelve months.

Meanwhile well-known Japanese electronics group SHARP, whose shares have fallen over 40% in the past year, was also a decent revenue generator.

Last year proved to be a record year for Asia’s securities lending market, with DataLend recording $1.45bn in revenue for beneficial owners and agent lenders across the region.

Every major market across the region saw an increase in demand, according to another data provider Markit, with volatile Chinese markets offering ample opportunities for Asian short sellers.