Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
Market Reaction: The announcement of US reciprocal tariffs led to significantly lower market open throughout Asia-Pacific. In the US, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500</a> futures dropped -3.5%, with the VIX spiking to 23.45.</li>
<li>
Impact on Japan: Japan faces a 24% tariff, with specific sectors like automobiles hit with 25%. This led to a 4.5% drop in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a>, stabilizing at 34,600 (-3.2%).</li>
<li>
Volatility Increase: The Nikkei 225 VIX index jumped from previous levels in the low 20's to rise above 38 before retreating to 32.8, indicating the 99th percentile of implied volatility.</li>
</ul>



Market Reaction: The announcement of US reciprocal tariffs led to significantly lower market open throughout Asia-Pacific. In the US, S&amp;P 500 futures dropped -3.5%, with the VIX spiking to 23.45.

Impact on Japan: Japan faces a 24% tariff, with specific sectors like automobiles hit with 25%. This led to a 4.5% drop in the Nikkei 225, stabilizing at 34,600 (-3.2%).

Volatility Increase: The Nikkei 225 VIX index jumped from previous levels in the low 20's to rise above 38 before retreating to 32.8, indicating the 99th percentile of implied volatility.


Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) Drops Amid US Tariffs: Implied Volatility Hits Extreme Levels

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/global-x-nikkei-225-covered-call-etf-option-premium-reinvestment-type" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44483:1" rel="noopener">Global X Nikkei 225 Covered Call ETF (2858 JP)</a> has outperformed the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> year-to-date with a 4.5% advantage, demonstrating strength in sideways and moderately declining markets.</li>
<li>The covered call strategy can be deployed as a tactical standalone in sideways markets or as a relative value approach against a Nikkei 225 short.</li>
<li>For investors anticipating a continuation of the sideways or declining market, the option roll-over on the open of March 14 offers timely entry.</li>
</ul>


The Global X Nikkei 225 Covered Call ETF (2858 JP) has outperformed the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) year-to-date with a 4.5% advantage, demonstrating strength in sideways and moderately declining markets.
The covered call strategy can be deployed as a tactical standalone in sideways markets or as a relative value approach against a Nikkei 225 short.
For investors anticipating a continuation of the sideways or declining market, the option roll-over on the open of March 14 offers timely entry.


The Right Time for This Quantitative Strategy Outperforming the Nikkei Year to Date.

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>We screen for Japanese companies at the extreme ends of their positioning or momentum ranges among active Japan equity funds.</li>
<li>Low Positioning coupled with Negative Momentum: Nissan Motor Corp and Misumi Group</li>
<li>High Positioning coupled with High Momentum: ASICS Corp and Kyushu Railway</li>
</ul>


We screen for Japanese companies at the extreme ends of their positioning or momentum ranges among active Japan equity funds.
Low Positioning coupled with Negative Momentum: Nissan Motor Corp and Misumi Group
High Positioning coupled with High Momentum: ASICS Corp and Kyushu Railway


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> volatility is trading at historically high levels, and the skew is steep.</li>
<li>National, regional and global catalysts provide the potential for further near-term market turbulence. Downside risk persists.</li>
<li>The current vol environment lends itself to tactical option trades, such as put spreads or risk reversals.</li>
</ul>



Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) volatility is trading at historically high levels, and the skew is steep.
National, regional and global catalysts provide the potential for further near-term market turbulence. Downside risk persists.
The current vol environment lends itself to tactical option trades, such as put spreads or risk reversals.


EQD | Nikkei 225 - Persistent Volatility Amid Election Uncertainty: Tactical Opportunities Explored

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>With its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/danaher-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8243:1" rel="noopener">Danaher Corp (DHR US)</a> heritage, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/veralto-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40472:1" rel="noopener">Veralto (VLTO US)</a> has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.</li>
<li>Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.</li>
<li>Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .</li>
</ul>


With its Danaher Corp (DHR US) heritage, Veralto (VLTO US) has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.
Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.
Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .


Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Japan

KEYENCE CORPORATION develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and measuring instruments used for factory automation (FA) and high technology hobby products. The Company's products include fiber optic sensors, photoelectric sensors, programmable logic controllers (PLC), laser scan micrometers, bar code readers, and radio-controlled model cars.

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Keyence Corp (6861 JP)

Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) Drops Amid US Tariffs: Implied Volatility Hits Extreme Levels

US reciprocal tariffs announcement led to lower market open in Asia-Pacific, with Japan facing a 24% tariff causing a drop in Nikkei 225 and a...

Gaudenz Schneider

The Right Time for This Quantitative Strategy Outperforming the Nikkei Year to Date.

This Nikkei 225 Covered Call ETF has outperformed the market by 7.9% over the past six months. March 14 provides a timely entry point for either a...

Gaudenz Schneider

Japan Funds: Extreme Stocks

We screen for Japanese companies at the extreme ends of their positioning or momentum ranges among active Japan equity funds.

Steven Holden

EQD | Nikkei 225 - Persistent Volatility Amid Election Uncertainty: Tactical Opportunities Explored

Nikkei 225 volatility is high with steep skew. Potential for more turbulence due to various catalysts. Tactical option trades recommended.

Gaudenz Schneider

Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Veralto's products and services are typically low cost but critical leading to high recurring sales, solid profitability and a leadership position...

Pyari Menon

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) Drops Amid US Tariffs: Implied Volatility Hits Extreme Levels

​US reciprocal tariffs announcement led to lower market open in Asia-Pacific, with Japan facing a 24% tariff causing a drop in Nikkei 225 and a...

Gaudenz Schneider

The Right Time for This Quantitative Strategy Outperforming the Nikkei Year to Date.

​This Nikkei 225 Covered Call ETF has outperformed the market by 7.9% over the past six months. March 14 provides a timely entry point for either a...

Gaudenz Schneider

Japan Funds: Extreme Stocks

We screen for Japanese companies at the extreme ends of their positioning or momentum ranges among active Japan equity funds.

Steven Holden

EQD | Nikkei 225 - Persistent Volatility Amid Election Uncertainty: Tactical Opportunities Explored

​Nikkei 225 volatility is high with steep skew. Potential for more turbulence due to various catalysts. Tactical option trades recommended.

Gaudenz Schneider

Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Veralto's products and services are typically low cost but critical leading to high recurring sales, solid profitability and a leadership position...

Pyari Menon

US reciprocal tariffs announcement led to lower market open in Asia-Pacific, with Japan facing a 24% tariff causing a drop in Nikkei 225 and a...

This Nikkei 225 Covered Call ETF has outperformed the market by 7.9% over the past six months. March 14 provides a timely entry point for either a...

Nikkei 225 volatility is high with steep skew. Potential for more turbulence due to various catalysts. Tactical option trades recommended.