Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
Context: Analysis of <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's (9988 HK)</a> implied volatility surface as of June 20, 2025, examining implied volatility patterns, skew structures, and open interest distribution across various expiry dates.</li>
<li>
Highlights: One-month implied volatility at 31.6% is trading at historically cheap levels (13th percentile), while the skew shows a pronounced volatility smile favoring spreads.</li>
<li>
Why Read: Essential for options traders and volatility strategists looking to capitalize on the historical cheapness of current implied volatility levels, particularly given the favorable skew structure for spread strategies.</li>
</ul>



Context: Analysis of Alibaba's (9988 HK) implied volatility surface as of June 20, 2025, examining implied volatility patterns, skew structures, and open interest distribution across various expiry dates.

Highlights: One-month implied volatility at 31.6% is trading at historically cheap levels (13th percentile), while the skew shows a pronounced volatility smile favoring spreads.

Why Read: Essential for options traders and volatility strategists looking to capitalize on the historical cheapness of current implied volatility levels, particularly given the favorable skew structure for spread strategies.


Alibaba (9988 HK) Options Insights: Navigating Contango and Skew for Profitable Trades

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

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/foshan-haitian-flavouring-food-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15577:1" rel="noopener">Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH)</a>'s global offering opens today and the raise could reach up to US$1.5bn if the offer-size adjustment option and the overallotment option are exercised.</li>
<li>There is a large allocation to cornerstone investors. The discount of around 22% to the A-shares is attractive given the recent trend for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/midea-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43993:1" rel="noopener">Midea (300 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/contemporary-amperex-technology-catl-co-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45179:1" rel="noopener">CATL (3750 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>The H-shares could be added to a global index and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ishares-china-large-cap-etf" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:766:1" rel="noopener">FXI ETF</a> in December. Inclusion in the HSCI should be in September and Southbound Stock Connect in July. </li>
</ul>



Foshan Haitian Flavouring &amp; Food (603288 CH)'s global offering opens today and the raise could reach up to US$1.5bn if the offer-size adjustment option and the overallotment option are exercised.
There is a large allocation to cornerstone investors. The discount of around 22% to the A-shares is attractive given the recent trend for Midea (300 HK) and CATL (3750 HK). 
The H-shares could be added to a global index and the FXI ETF in December. Inclusion in the HSCI should be in September and Southbound Stock Connect in July. 


Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food (3288 HK): Offering Details & Index Inclusion

<ul>
<li>Over the past five trading days, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK)</a> multi-leg option strategies showcased a variety of approaches. Strategy highlights are provided.</li>
<li>Popular Strategies: Diagonal Spreads account for 27%of all strategies. This versatile strategy allows for many different profiles in terms of upfront premium (positive or negative), and time horizon.</li>
<li>This Insight of complex option strategies sheds light on market sentiment and positioning. Detailed examples provide actionable insights that could inspire similar strategies.</li>
</ul>


Over the past five trading days, Xiaomi Corp (1810 HK) multi-leg option strategies showcased a variety of approaches. Strategy highlights are provided.
Popular Strategies: Diagonal Spreads account for 27%of all strategies. This versatile strategy allows for many different profiles in terms of upfront premium (positive or negative), and time horizon.
This Insight of complex option strategies sheds light on market sentiment and positioning. Detailed examples provide actionable insights that could inspire similar strategies.


Xiaomi (1810 HK): Strategic Insights and Top Option Trades

<ul>
<li>
Be inspired by sophisticated, live, multi-leg options strategies on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>, executed over the period from 9 to 13 June.</li>
<li>
Highlights: Discover a range of noteworthy strategies, for example a self-financing Diagonal Put Spread using weekly options, or a Diagonal Call Spread generating 3.9% upfront yield.</li>
<li>
Why read: This breakdown of complex option strategies sheds light on market sentiment and positioning. Detailed examples provide actionable insights that could inspire similar strategies,</li>
</ul>



Be inspired by sophisticated, live, multi-leg options strategies on HKEX (388 HK), executed over the period from 9 to 13 June.

Highlights: Discover a range of noteworthy strategies, for example a self-financing Diagonal Put Spread using weekly options, or a Diagonal Call Spread generating 3.9% upfront yield.

Why read: This breakdown of complex option strategies sheds light on market sentiment and positioning. Detailed examples provide actionable insights that could inspire similar strategies,


HKEX (388 HK) Options: Unpacking the Top Trades of the Week

Quantitative Researcher, MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Quantitative Researcher

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

<ul>
<li>A quick look at the tactical forecast models for some key markets impacted by the Israeli attack to Iran on June 13th.</li>
<li>We analyze: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/crude-oil" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22869:1" rel="noopener">Crude Oil Futures (CL1 COM COMDTY)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gold" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22870:1" rel="noopener">Gold Futures (GOLD COMDTY)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nasdaq-100-stock-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26197:1" rel="noopener">Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 Index</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index</a> </li>
<li>Keep in mind that high volatility can push easily a market into the model's tails, and forecasts in tails area rely on less data (i.e. less accurate). </li>
</ul>


A quick look at the tactical forecast models for some key markets impacted by the Israeli attack to Iran on June 13th.
We analyze: Crude Oil Futures (CL1 COM COMDTY) , Gold Futures (GOLD COMDTY) , Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) , Nikkei 225 Index, Hang Seng Index and NIFTY Index 
Keep in mind that high volatility can push easily a market into the model's tails, and forecasts in tails area rely on less data (i.e. less accurate). 


Key Markets Tactical Outlooks After Israel Strike on Iran

Hong Kong

The Hang Seng Index is a free-float capitalization-weighted index of a selection of companies from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. The components of the index are divided into four subindices: Commerce and Industry, Finance, Utilities, and Properties. The index was developed with a base level of 100 as of July 31, 1964.

Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)

Alibaba (9988 HK) Options Insights: Navigating Contango and Skew for Profitable Trades

Analysis of Alibaba's implied volatility surface shows historically cheap implied volatility and favorable skew structure for spread strategies.

Gaudenz Schneider

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food (3288 HK): Offering Details & Index Inclusion

Foshan Haitian lists today after raising close to US$1.5bn (including the overallotment option). The raise at HK$36.3/share is a 17.35% discount to...

Brian Freitas

Xiaomi (1810 HK): Strategic Insights and Top Option Trades

Xiaomi Corp's multi-leg option strategies offer diverse approaches, with Diagonal Spreads being popular. Insights into complex strategies reveal...

Gaudenz Schneider

HKEX (388 HK) Options: Unpacking the Top Trades of the Week

Discover sophisticated multi-leg options strategies on HKEX (388 HK) executed from 9 to 13 June, offering insights on market sentiment and...

Gaudenz Schneider

Key Markets Tactical Outlooks After Israel Strike on Iran

Analysis of tactical forecast models for key markets impacted by Israeli attack on Iran. We analyze: Crude Oil, Gold, Nasdsaq100 Index, Nikkei...

Nico Rosti

Alibaba (9988 HK) Options Insights: Navigating Contango and Skew for Profitable Trades

​Analysis of Alibaba's implied volatility surface shows historically cheap implied volatility and favorable skew structure for spread strategies.

Gaudenz Schneider

Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food (3288 HK): Offering Details & Index Inclusion

Foshan Haitian lists today after raising close to US$1.5bn (including the overallotment option). The raise at HK$36.3/share is a 17.35% discount to...

Brian Freitas

Xiaomi (1810 HK): Strategic Insights and Top Option Trades

​Xiaomi Corp's multi-leg option strategies offer diverse approaches, with Diagonal Spreads being popular. Insights into complex strategies reveal...

Gaudenz Schneider

HKEX (388 HK) Options: Unpacking the Top Trades of the Week

​Discover sophisticated multi-leg options strategies on HKEX (388 HK) executed from 9 to 13 June, offering insights on market sentiment and...

Gaudenz Schneider

Key Markets Tactical Outlooks After Israel Strike on Iran

​Analysis of tactical forecast models for key markets impacted by Israeli attack on Iran. We analyze: Crude Oil, Gold, Nasdsaq100 Index, Nikkei...

Nico Rosti

Analysis of Alibaba's implied volatility surface shows historically cheap implied volatility and favorable skew structure for spread strategies.

Xiaomi Corp's multi-leg option strategies offer diverse approaches, with Diagonal Spreads being popular. Insights into complex strategies reveal...

Discover sophisticated multi-leg options strategies on HKEX (388 HK) executed from 9 to 13 June, offering insights on market sentiment and...

Analysis of tactical forecast models for key markets impacted by Israeli attack on Iran. We analyze: Crude Oil, Gold, Nasdsaq100 Index, Nikkei...