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>For both HSI and HSCEI, average daily volumes were on par with prior week despite holidays.</li>
<li>Historic vols are still trending downward and are consistently uder implied vols. </li>
<li>Option volumes in both indices are being dominated by short expiries.</li>
</ul>


For both HSI and HSCEI, average daily volumes were on par with prior week despite holidays.
Historic vols are still trending downward and are consistently uder implied vols. 
Option volumes in both indices are being dominated by short expiries.


EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 23-27

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

Event-Driven

InnoScience Suzhou Technology / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innoscience-suzhou-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44185:1" rel="noopener">InnoScience Suzhou Technology (2577 HK)</a> has priced its IPO at HK$30.86/share, the low end of the range. Over half the shares have been allotted to cornerstone investors.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/innoscience-suzhou-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44185:1" rel="noopener">InnoScience Suzhou Technology (2577 HK)</a> should be added to the HSCI in March and will be added to Southbound Stock Connect early March.</li>
<li>Inclusion in global indices will take place in 2026 and there will be supply in mid- and late-2025 following lock-up expiries.</li>
</ul>



InnoScience Suzhou Technology (2577 HK) has priced its IPO at HK$30.86/share, the low end of the range. Over half the shares have been allotted to cornerstone investors.

InnoScience Suzhou Technology (2577 HK) should be added to the HSCI in March and will be added to Southbound Stock Connect early March.
Inclusion in global indices will take place in 2026 and there will be supply in mid- and late-2025 following lock-up expiries.


InnoScience (2577 HK): Prices at Low End & Lists Today; Index Inclusion Timeline

<ul>
<li>Sleepy week highlighted by small closing price ranges that were among the 3-5 quietest of the year.</li>
<li>Volumes across both indexes were down about 1/3 from the prior week.</li>
<li>Despite low volumes open interest expanded across out-of-the-money options for both Puts and Calls.</li>
</ul>


Sleepy week highlighted by small closing price ranges that were among the 3-5 quietest of the year.
Volumes across both indexes were down about 1/3 from the prior week.
Despite low volumes open interest expanded across out-of-the-money options for both Puts and Calls.


EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 16-20

<ul>
<li>Both HSI and HSCEI show characteristics of being short gamma at higher strikes highlighted by Mondays pop in spot and vol in both markets.</li>
<li>Implied vol did a complete round-trip closing virtually unchanged from last week despite spot holding on to modest gains on the week and large high – low range.</li>
<li>Up-Strike Calls look to have been added in both markets which will help maintain the positive spot vol correlation.</li>
</ul>


Both HSI and HSCEI show characteristics of being short gamma at higher strikes highlighted by Mondays pop in spot and vol in both markets.
Implied vol did a complete round-trip closing virtually unchanged from last week despite spot holding on to modest gains on the week and large high – low range.
Up-Strike Calls look to have been added in both markets which will help maintain the positive spot vol correlation.


EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 09-13

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

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Risk reward favours this shift in allocation between these markets.  </li>
<li>Short to mid-term concerns on the Indian market warrant this strategic change</li>
<li>Slowing revenue growth and less government spending leading to decelerating profits which is not yet reflected in market multiples</li>
</ul>


Risk reward favours this shift in allocation between these markets.  
Short to mid-term concerns on the Indian market warrant this strategic change
Slowing revenue growth and less government spending leading to decelerating profits which is not yet reflected in market multiples


2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

China

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index is a free-float capitalization-weighted index comprised of H-Shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index. The base value of this index is 2000 as of Jan 3, 2000. This index replaced the old HSCE index on Oct. 3, 2001.

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI INDEX)

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 23-27

Despite holidays, average daily volumes for HSI and HSCEI remain steady. Historic vols are decreasing and below implied vols, with short expiries...

John Ley

InnoScience (2577 HK): Prices at Low End & Lists Today; Index Inclusion Timeline

InnoScience raised US$180m in its IPO, valuing the company at US$3.5bn and the H-shares at US$1.95bn. Float will be 2-4% till Dec25, so no chance...

Brian Freitas

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 16-20

One of the smallest weekly ranges of the past year - if you were short volatility, it was feet on the desk; if you were long volatility, it was...

John Ley

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 09-13

Both HSI and HSCEI show signs of being short gamma at higher strikes, with implied vol being very reactive to upside price moves.

John Ley

2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...

Rikki Malik

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 23-27

​Despite holidays, average daily volumes for HSI and HSCEI remain steady. Historic vols are decreasing and below implied vols, with short expiries...

John Ley

InnoScience (2577 HK): Prices at Low End & Lists Today; Index Inclusion Timeline

InnoScience raised US$180m in its IPO, valuing the company at US$3.5bn and the H-shares at US$1.95bn. Float will be 2-4% till Dec25, so no chance...

Brian Freitas

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 16-20

One of the smallest weekly ranges of the past year - if you were short volatility, it was feet on the desk; if you were long volatility, it was...

John Ley

EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI December 09-13

​Both HSI and HSCEI show signs of being short gamma at higher strikes, with implied vol being very reactive to upside price moves.

John Ley

2025 High Conviction Idea: The Case for a Rotation Out of India into Hong Kong - Part 1

​Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...

Rikki Malik

Despite holidays, average daily volumes for HSI and HSCEI remain steady. Historic vols are decreasing and below implied vols, with short expiries...

Both HSI and HSCEI show signs of being short gamma at higher strikes, with implied vol being very reactive to upside price moves.

Shift in allocation from Indian to Chinese markets is favored due to short/mid-term concerns, including slowing revenue growth and decelerating...