Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> one-month implied volatility has decreased from recent peaks but remains above the 70th percentile, while realized volatility exceeds 80% (96th percentile).</li>
<li>A relatively flat term structure and skew render Calendar and Diagonal Spreads interesting strategies.</li>
<li>Open interest extends to March 2026, with balanced call and put interest across all expiries.</li>
</ul>



Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) one-month implied volatility has decreased from recent peaks but remains above the 70th percentile, while realized volatility exceeds 80% (96th percentile).
A relatively flat term structure and skew render Calendar and Diagonal Spreads interesting strategies.
Open interest extends to March 2026, with balanced call and put interest across all expiries.


Alibaba (9988 HK): Volatility Surface Favoring Diagonal and Calendar Spreads

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Q1 saw record quarterly inflows by SOUTHBOUND investors at HK$435bn, beating the previous record of Q1 2021 by more than HK$100bn. The first three weeks in April were HK$168bn.</li>
<li>Gross and net flows this week subsided quite substantially compared to previous weeks. </li>
<li>We are in a post-tariff breather as the US says the ball is in China's court and China looks like it will wait things out. Port volumes are telling.</li>
</ul>


Q1 saw record quarterly inflows by SOUTHBOUND investors at HK$435bn, beating the previous record of Q1 2021 by more than HK$100bn. The first three weeks in April were HK$168bn.
Gross and net flows this week subsided quite substantially compared to previous weeks. 
We are in a post-tariff breather as the US says the ball is in China's court and China looks like it will wait things out. Port volumes are telling.


HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 18 Apr 2025); Buying of Internet, SOEs, and ETFs Previously Sold

<ul>
<li>This Insight analyses <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> multi-leg option strategies traded over the last five trading days on the Hong Kong Exchange. Strategy highlights and volatility context are provided.</li>
<li>These traders tailor structures to risk budgets and take calculated bets. With implied volatility below its median and below realized volatility, all strategies reviewed are long volatility.</li>
<li>Almost 20% of all strategies are Calendar or Diagonal Spreads. Diagonal spreads can even earn premium in the current volatility environment. A live strategy is examined.</li>
</ul>


This Insight analyses Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) multi-leg option strategies traded over the last five trading days on the Hong Kong Exchange. Strategy highlights and volatility context are provided.
These traders tailor structures to risk budgets and take calculated bets. With implied volatility below its median and below realized volatility, all strategies reviewed are long volatility.
Almost 20% of all strategies are Calendar or Diagonal Spreads. Diagonal spreads can even earn premium in the current volatility environment. A live strategy is examined.


Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades - Strategies That Stand Out.

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>China exposure among GEM funds has rebounded to 26%, up from the 2024 low, but still far below the 37.5% peak. India has eased while Taiwan allocations hit new highs.</li>
<li>China remains a major EM underweight at -3.09% vs. benchmark, despite rising allocations. High Active funds stay the most underweight</li>
<li>Industrials see the strongest buying, while Utilities and Consumer sectors decline. Tencent and Alibaba dominate ownership, but many new names are entering the picture.</li>
</ul>


China exposure among GEM funds has rebounded to 26%, up from the 2024 low, but still far below the 37.5% peak. India has eased while Taiwan allocations hit new highs.
China remains a major EM underweight at -3.09% vs. benchmark, despite rising allocations. High Active funds stay the most underweight
Industrials see the strongest buying, while Utilities and Consumer sectors decline. Tencent and Alibaba dominate ownership, but many new names are entering the picture.


China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Tesla has strengthened ties with Baidu amid the US-Sino tech crossfire, showcasing the complex dynamics between the two countries.</li><li>China achieves a breakthrough in semiconductor technology with EUV, while lawmakers propose anonymous semiconductor purchases to secure the industry.</li><li>VCI Global's plan to establish India's first semiconductor wire plant in Chennai marks a significant milestone for the tech industry in the country, with Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen aiming to revolutionize China's AI.</li></ul>

Tesla has strengthened ties with Baidu amid the US-Sino tech crossfire, showcasing the complex dynamics between the two countries.China achieves a breakthrough in semiconductor technology with EUV, while lawmakers propose anonymous semiconductor purchases to secure the industry.VCI Global's plan to establish India's first semiconductor wire plant in Chennai marks a significant milestone for the tech industry in the country, with Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen aiming to revolutionize China's AI.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (18-Mar-2025): Tesla strengthens ties with Baidu amid US-China tech tensions.

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.

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Alibaba (BABA US)

Alibaba (9988 HK): Volatility Surface Favoring Diagonal and Calendar Spreads

Alibaba's volatility remains high, making Calendar and Diagonal Spreads attractive strategies. Open interest extends to 2026 with balanced call...

Gaudenz Schneider

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 18 Apr 2025); Buying of Internet, SOEs, and ETFs Previously Sold

SOUTHBOUND gross flows were super slow for the week comparatively speaking, but they were still a net buy. BABA and Tencent and Meituan were buys....

Travis Lundy

Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades - Strategies That Stand Out.

Analysis of Alibaba's multi-leg option strategies on the HK Exchange shows traders taking calculated bets with long volatility strategies,...

Gaudenz Schneider

China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

China & HK allocations are recovering, yet remain a major EM underweight. Rotation is active but cautious—Industrial inflows rise, while high...

Steven Holden

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (18-Mar-2025): Tesla strengthens ties with Baidu amid US-China tech tensions.

Weekly news roundup: Tesla strengthens ties with Baidu amid US-Sino tech tensions, China makes EUV breakthrough in semiconductors, lawmakers...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Alibaba (9988 HK): Volatility Surface Favoring Diagonal and Calendar Spreads

​Alibaba's volatility remains high, making Calendar and Diagonal Spreads attractive strategies. Open interest extends to 2026 with balanced call...

Gaudenz Schneider

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 18 Apr 2025); Buying of Internet, SOEs, and ETFs Previously Sold

SOUTHBOUND gross flows were super slow for the week comparatively speaking, but they were still a net buy. BABA and Tencent and Meituan were buys....

Travis Lundy

Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades - Strategies That Stand Out.

​Analysis of Alibaba's multi-leg option strategies on the HK Exchange shows traders taking calculated bets with long volatility strategies,...

Gaudenz Schneider

China & HK: Rebuild Slows Amid Heavy Sector and Stock Rotation

China & HK allocations are recovering, yet remain a major EM underweight. Rotation is active but cautious—Industrial inflows rise, while high...

Steven Holden

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (18-Mar-2025): Tesla strengthens ties with Baidu amid US-China tech tensions.

Weekly news roundup: Tesla strengthens ties with Baidu amid US-Sino tech tensions, China makes EUV breakthrough in semiconductors, lawmakers...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Alibaba's volatility remains high, making Calendar and Diagonal Spreads attractive strategies. Open interest extends to 2026 with balanced call...

Analysis of Alibaba's multi-leg option strategies on the HK Exchange shows traders taking calculated bets with long volatility strategies,...