Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist, Clifton Derivatives

John Ley

Equity Derivatives and Volatility Specialist

Clifton Derivatives

Independent derivative and volatility research firm focusing on events/catalysts, earnings, relative value and cross asset volatility strategies.

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>Mixed bag with narrowing participation, widening distribution of returns but with the highest total option volume since November.</li>
<li>Option volumes over the past 2 weeks are 80% higher than the prior 3-month average.</li>
<li>Implied vols weaker across the board with 9 of 11 sectors seeing softer implieds.</li>
</ul>


Mixed bag with narrowing participation, widening distribution of returns but with the highest total option volume since November.
Option volumes over the past 2 weeks are 80% higher than the prior 3-month average.
Implied vols weaker across the board with 9 of 11 sectors seeing softer implieds.


Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (February 17 – 21): Option Volumes Surge as Rally Narrows

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beigene-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27352:1" rel="noopener">BeiGene (6160 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zto-express-cayman-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33488:1" rel="noopener">ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK)</a> will replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sino-biopharmaceutical" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:230:1" rel="noopener">Sino Biopharmaceutical (1177 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/li-ning-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6047:1" rel="noopener">Li Ning (2331 HK)</a> in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">HSCEI INDEX</a> at the close on 7 March.</li>
<li>Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 5% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$6.4bn (US$825m). The final capping will use the close of trading on 4 March.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zto-express-cayman-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33488:1" rel="noopener">ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK)</a> is also an inclusion to a global index with implementation scheduled for the close on 21 March.</li>
</ul>



BeiGene (6160 HK) and ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) will replace Sino Biopharmaceutical (1177 HK) and Li Ning (2331 HK) in the HSCEI INDEX at the close on 7 March.
Estimated one-way turnover at the rebalance is 5% resulting in a round-trip trade of HK$6.4bn (US$825m). The final capping will use the close of trading on 4 March.

ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) is also an inclusion to a global index with implementation scheduled for the close on 21 March.


HSCEI Index Rebalance: Beigene, ZTO Replace Sino Biopharma, Li Ning; Surprise for Some

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>HSCEI sets a new 52-week high, helped in part by the large earnings related move from Alibaba to finish the week.</li>
<li>Implied vol struggling to keep up with the rally in spot, dropping 3 points despite Friday’s furious rally.</li>
<li>We show how the relationship between spot and vol over the past month has not been the norm compared to the previous year’s activity.</li>
</ul>


HSCEI sets a new 52-week high, helped in part by the large earnings related move from Alibaba to finish the week.
Implied vol struggling to keep up with the rally in spot, dropping 3 points despite Friday’s furious rally.
We show how the relationship between spot and vol over the past month has not been the norm compared to the previous year’s activity.


HSCEI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Implied Vol Weak Despite Rally

<ul>
<li>The scorching rally continues with Alibaba saving a lackluster week with huge earnings driven move on Friday.  </li>
<li>Implied vols are in the 85th percentile and struggling to move higher with spot.</li>
<li>Third week in a row where Call volume as a percent of total slipped indicating that buying fatigue might be setting in.</li>
</ul>


The scorching rally continues with Alibaba saving a lackluster week with huge earnings driven move on Friday.  
Implied vols are in the 85th percentile and struggling to move higher with spot.
Third week in a row where Call volume as a percent of total slipped indicating that buying fatigue might be setting in.


HSI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Alibaba Reignites Momentum

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>AH Premia continue to fall with the widest spreads narrowing more than the narrowest spreads, and liquid pairs seeing more narrowing than illiquid pairs.</li>
<li>Average AH Premia are at a new 5yr low (longer, actually, but charts below only show 5yrs). The big warning sign? Rolling 52wk performance of A vs H in pairs.</li>
<li>Momentum is going to work until it does not. A new Trump EO this weekend seems to have potential to lead to more restrictions on US ownership of Chinese stocks.</li>
</ul>


AH Premia continue to fall with the widest spreads narrowing more than the narrowest spreads, and liquid pairs seeing more narrowing than illiquid pairs.
Average AH Premia are at a new 5yr low (longer, actually, but charts below only show 5yrs). The big warning sign? Rolling 52wk performance of A vs H in pairs.
Momentum is going to work until it does not. A new Trump EO this weekend seems to have potential to lead to more restrictions on US ownership of Chinese stocks.


A/H Premium Tracker (To 21 Feb 2025):  AH Premia Continue to Fall; Wider Spreads Narrow Most

China

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Alibaba (BABA US)

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (February 17 – 21): Option Volumes Surge as Rally Narrows

Option volumes have surged in recent weeks, with narrowing participation and softer implied volatility in most sectors.

John Ley

HSCEI Index Rebalance: Beigene, ZTO Replace Sino Biopharma, Li Ning; Surprise for Some

Beigene and ZTO Express replace Li Ning and Sino Biopharma in the index. Yum China misses out, so Sunny Optical stays in the index. ZTO Express is...

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Implied Vol Weak Despite Rally

HSCEI hits new high with Alibaba inspired rally on Friday but implied vol lags behind spot rally for the first time in the last 3 week.

John Ley

HSI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Alibaba Reignites Momentum

Alibaba's strong earnings give the maket a jolt as implied vols struggle to rise and Call buying declines, suggesting buying fatigue may be...

John Ley

A/H Premium Tracker (To 21 Feb 2025): AH Premia Continue to Fall; Wider Spreads Narrow Most

AH Premia are at a new 5yr low. AH rolling performance is ridiculously bad. A new Trump Executive Order over the weekend suggests VIEs may be in...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (February 17 – 21): Option Volumes Surge as Rally Narrows

​Option volumes have surged in recent weeks, with narrowing participation and softer implied volatility in most sectors.

John Ley

HSCEI Index Rebalance: Beigene, ZTO Replace Sino Biopharma, Li Ning; Surprise for Some

Beigene and ZTO Express replace Li Ning and Sino Biopharma in the index. Yum China misses out, so Sunny Optical stays in the index. ZTO Express is...

Brian Freitas

HSCEI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Implied Vol Weak Despite Rally

​HSCEI hits new high with Alibaba inspired rally on Friday but implied vol lags behind spot rally for the first time in the last 3 week.

John Ley

HSI Index Options Weekly (Feb 17-21): Alibaba Reignites Momentum

​Alibaba's strong earnings give the maket a jolt as implied vols struggle to rise and Call buying declines, suggesting buying fatigue may be...

John Ley

A/H Premium Tracker (To 21 Feb 2025): AH Premia Continue to Fall; Wider Spreads Narrow Most

AH Premia are at a new 5yr low. AH rolling performance is ridiculously bad. A new Trump Executive Order over the weekend suggests VIEs may be in...

Travis Lundy

Option volumes have surged in recent weeks, with narrowing participation and softer implied volatility in most sectors.

HSCEI hits new high with Alibaba inspired rally on Friday but implied vol lags behind spot rally for the first time in the last 3 week.

Alibaba's strong earnings give the maket a jolt as implied vols struggle to rise and Call buying declines, suggesting buying fatigue may be...