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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a>  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.</li>
<li>Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.</li>
</ul>



Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX), Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY) and Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.

NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) , S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) and S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.
Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.


EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Government stabilisation measures kick in as tariff war starts to bite</li>
<li>Can the HK and China markets continue their bull run as markets dislocate?</li>
<li>Is it time to selectively get back into the Chinese tech sector?</li>
</ul>


Government stabilisation measures kick in as tariff war starts to bite
Can the HK and China markets continue their bull run as markets dislocate?
Is it time to selectively get back into the Chinese tech sector?


Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

<ul>
<li>Major markets are in a waiting game with vols not monetizing yet implied holding up with US FOMC and the election this week. </li>
<li>Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) , Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY) and Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) have elevated implied vols vs average historical observations for November.</li>
<li>November typically sees strong price performance, particularly in the 3rd week, leading to softer historic vols in that time frame. </li>
</ul>


Major markets are in a waiting game with vols not monetizing yet implied holding up with US FOMC and the election this week. 
Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) , Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY) and Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) have elevated implied vols vs average historical observations for November.
November typically sees strong price performance, particularly in the 3rd week, leading to softer historic vols in that time frame. 


EQD | Asia November Vol Roadmap - The Waiting Game

Insurance & Central Asia-focused Analyst, KT Capital Group

Alec Tseung

Insurance & Central Asia-focused Analyst

KT Capital Group

Principal investments and advisory firm that focuses on connecting the CIS countries with East Asia.

Principal investments and advisory firm

Equity Bottom-Up

China Merchants China Direct Investments / Equity Bottom-Up

China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK)

<ul>
<li>ASM is a hedge fund with a strong track record of investor activism in taking over distressed assets and closed-end funds. </li>
<li>Lazard, the second largest CMCDI shareholder, bought shares last week at a multi-year high sending a strong message to the market.</li>
<li>CMCDI can also explore announcing a discount management program besides agreeing to ASM's claim to sell assets to pay dividends and offer a share buyback to reduce the NAV discount.</li>
</ul>


ASM is a hedge fund with a strong track record of investor activism in taking over distressed assets and closed-end funds. 
Lazard, the second largest CMCDI shareholder, bought shares last week at a multi-year high sending a strong message to the market.
CMCDI can also explore announcing a discount management program besides agreeing to ASM's claim to sell assets to pay dividends and offer a share buyback to reduce the NAV discount.


The Battle of CMCDI: What Is the Endgame?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

China Merchants China Direct Investments / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Activist Argyle Street's approach to closed-end investment company <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-china-direct-investments" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6862:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK)</a> (CMCDI) has a certain David Webb-like quality.</li>
<li>Apart from the deep value angle, the analysis of director Elizabeth Kan's potential conflict of interest is particularly insightful. Argle will vote against Kan's re-election at the 20th June AGM</li>
<li>Given this upcoming vote, as I've done with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/giordano-international-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13899:1" rel="noopener">Giordano (709 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a> previously, it's useful to investigate the lesser-known shareholder register, a byproduct of investigative disclosure reports.</li>
</ul>


Activist Argyle Street's approach to closed-end investment company China Merchants China Direct Investments (133 HK) (CMCDI) has a certain David Webb-like quality.
Apart from the deep value angle, the analysis of director Elizabeth Kan's potential conflict of interest is particularly insightful. Argle will vote against Kan's re-election at the 20th June AGM
Given this upcoming vote, as I've done with Giordano (709 HK) and L'Occitane (973 HK) previously, it's useful to investigate the lesser-known shareholder register, a byproduct of investigative disclosure reports.


CMCDI (133 HK): AGM Outcome May Provide Another Leg-Up

China

China Merchants Bank is a joint-stock commercial bank offering comprehensive financial services, including corporate and retail banking, investment banking, wealth management, and insurance. It provides products such as deposits, loans, credit cards, and online banking services. The bank was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

Price Gauge
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China Merchants Bank (3968 HK)

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

$769 has lagged other rare earth plays but it is now up 100% in two days. We would look to sell half and keep the rest as a free ride. Hard...

Rikki Malik

EQD | Asia November Vol Roadmap - The Waiting Game

Major markets are not monetizing, with US FOMC and election impacting implied vols. Hang Seng, Shanghai Shenzhen, and Nikkei 225 have elevated...

John Ley

The Battle of CMCDI: What Is the Endgame?

CMCDI's AGM was held yesterday, where Elizabeth Kan survived the vote with a razor-thin margin. The outcome demonstrated ASM's ability to mobilize...

Alec Tseung

CMCDI (133 HK): AGM Outcome May Provide Another Leg-Up

CMCDI is cheap. If small, illiquid names, with a activism angle are your thing, pick up shares here. Keep an eye on the AGM. If Kan is booted, this...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

​Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

Hong Kong Market Strategy - Trade and Portfolio Ideas Amidst the Volatility

$769 has lagged other rare earth plays but it is now up 100% in two days. We would look to sell half and keep the rest as a free ride. Hard...

Rikki Malik

EQD | Asia November Vol Roadmap - The Waiting Game

​Major markets are not monetizing, with US FOMC and election impacting implied vols. Hang Seng, Shanghai Shenzhen, and Nikkei 225 have elevated...

John Ley

The Battle of CMCDI: What Is the Endgame?

CMCDI's AGM was held yesterday, where Elizabeth Kan survived the vote with a razor-thin margin. The outcome demonstrated ASM's ability to mobilize...

Alec Tseung

CMCDI (133 HK): AGM Outcome May Provide Another Leg-Up

CMCDI is cheap. If small, illiquid names, with a activism angle are your thing, pick up shares here. Keep an eye on the AGM. If Kan is booted, this...

David Blennerhassett

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

Major markets are not monetizing, with US FOMC and election impacting implied vols. Hang Seng, Shanghai Shenzhen, and Nikkei 225 have elevated...