Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
Implied Volatility Trends: One-month implied volatility for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent (700 HK)</a> has declined from recent peaks, aligning near its 3-year median, indicating a potential stabilization in market expectations.</li>
<li>
Skew and Term Structure Dynamics: The term structure is largely flat with a slight uplift due to the upcoming earnings on 14 May 2025. A pronounced volatility smile favors spreads.</li>
<li>
Open Interest Distribution: Liquidity is concentrated in near-term (April, May) and quarterly expiries, with call open interest slightly outweighing puts (48-60%).</li>
</ul>



Implied Volatility Trends: One-month implied volatility for Tencent (700 HK) has declined from recent peaks, aligning near its 3-year median, indicating a potential stabilization in market expectations.

Skew and Term Structure Dynamics: The term structure is largely flat with a slight uplift due to the upcoming earnings on 14 May 2025. A pronounced volatility smile favors spreads.

Open Interest Distribution: Liquidity is concentrated in near-term (April, May) and quarterly expiries, with call open interest slightly outweighing puts (48-60%).


Tencent (700 HK): Volatility Smile Signals Strategic Opportunities in Options Trading

<ul>
<li>Over the past five trading days, <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 showcased a variety of approaches. Strategy highlights are provided.</li>
<li>Diagonal Spreads account for nearly 30% of all strategies. Many of these strategies sell short term risk to finance longer term protection.</li>
<li>Several structures hedge against low probability tail events. One such strategy traded 100 contracts.</li>
</ul>


Over the past five trading days, Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) multi-leg option strategies showcased a variety of approaches. Strategy highlights are provided.
Diagonal Spreads account for nearly 30% of all strategies. Many of these strategies sell short term risk to finance longer term protection.
Several structures hedge against low probability tail events. One such strategy traded 100 contracts.


Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades and Strategic Insights from HKEX Options Trading

<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

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.

<ul>
<li>HSBC has rallied 19.8% from the April low and is up &gt; 13% year-to-date. Against this backdrop we analyze implied vol, implied jump and post-earning price patterns. </li>
<li>Q1 is typically HSBC’s least volatile earnings quarter, with most moves falling short of current jump expectations.</li>
<li>We suggest a short-vega hedge structure that benefits from elevated implied vol.</li>
</ul>


HSBC has rallied 19.8% from the April low and is up &gt; 13% year-to-date. Against this backdrop we analyze implied vol, implied jump and post-earning price patterns. 
Q1 is typically HSBC’s least volatile earnings quarter, with most moves falling short of current jump expectations.
We suggest a short-vega hedge structure that benefits from elevated implied vol.


HSBC (5.HK) Q1 Earnings: Big Move, Rich Vol, Hedge Opportunity Emerges

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>On average, companies under our coverage are forecast to see a 47.3% YoY growth in net profit in 1Q25. Their results should be a pointer for the outlook in 2025. </li>
<li>Good results are expected at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-electric-group-company-limited-d542164d-4d5a-4ce0-b33e-5fe6bc34722c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8777:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Electric Group (2727 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anhui-conch-cement-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:159:1" rel="noopener">Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-cosco-holdings-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:286:1" rel="noopener">COSCO Shipping Hldgs (1919 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (753 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-national-building-ma-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:184:1" rel="noopener">CNBM (3323 HK)</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shenzhen-expressway-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2875:1" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Expressway (548 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xinhua-winshare-publishing-media-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15072:1" rel="noopener">Xinhua Winshare (811 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cosco-shipping-energy-tran-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:646:1" rel="noopener">Cosco Shipping Energy Transp. (1138 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-longyuan-power-group-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14215:1" rel="noopener">China Longyuan Power (916 HK)</a> will see weaker 1Q25.</li>
</ul>


On average, companies under our coverage are forecast to see a 47.3% YoY growth in net profit in 1Q25. Their results should be a pointer for the outlook in 2025. 
Good results are expected at Shanghai Electric Group (2727 HK), Anhui Conch Cement (914 HK), COSCO Shipping Hldgs (1919 HK), Air China Ltd (753 HK), and CNBM (3323 HK). 

Shenzhen Expressway (548 HK), Trip.com Group (9961 HK), Xinhua Winshare (811 HK), Cosco Shipping Energy Transp. (1138 HK), and China Longyuan Power (916 HK) will see weaker 1Q25.


China & HK Strategy: 1Q25 Preview - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

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)

Tencent (700 HK): Volatility Smile Signals Strategic Opportunities in Options Trading

Implied volatility for Tencent stabilizes, term structure flat with upcoming earnings, call open interest slightly outweighs puts.

Gaudenz Schneider

Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades and Strategic Insights from HKEX Options Trading

Alibaba's recent live option strategies feature Diagonal Spreads and protection against low probability tail events, with one strategy trading 100...

Gaudenz Schneider

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

HSBC (5.HK) Q1 Earnings: Big Move, Rich Vol, Hedge Opportunity Emerges

HSBC's stock has surged this year, we present analysis focusing on implied volatility and implied jump expectations, A short-vega hedge structure...

John Ley

China & HK Strategy: 1Q25 Preview - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Earnings for the companies under our coverage are expected to grow by 47.3% in 1Q25, with Shanghai Electric Group, Anhui Conch, COSCO Shipping...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Tencent (700 HK): Volatility Smile Signals Strategic Opportunities in Options Trading

​Implied volatility for Tencent stabilizes, term structure flat with upcoming earnings, call open interest slightly outweighs puts.

Gaudenz Schneider

Alibaba (9988 HK): Top Trades and Strategic Insights from HKEX Options Trading

​Alibaba's recent live option strategies feature Diagonal Spreads and protection against low probability tail events, with one strategy trading 100...

Gaudenz Schneider

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

HSBC (5.HK) Q1 Earnings: Big Move, Rich Vol, Hedge Opportunity Emerges

​HSBC's stock has surged this year, we present analysis focusing on implied volatility and implied jump expectations, A short-vega hedge structure...

John Ley

China & HK Strategy: 1Q25 Preview - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Earnings for the companies under our coverage are expected to grow by 47.3% in 1Q25, with Shanghai Electric Group, Anhui Conch, COSCO Shipping...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Implied volatility for Tencent stabilizes, term structure flat with upcoming earnings, call open interest slightly outweighs puts.

Alibaba's recent live option strategies feature Diagonal Spreads and protection against low probability tail events, with one strategy trading 100...

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

HSBC's stock has surged this year, we present analysis focusing on implied volatility and implied jump expectations, A short-vega hedge structure...