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>All markets surveyed here tend to see price weakness along with increased volatility in the second half of February. </li>
<li>SP500 was the only market for which realized vol in January was greater than implied at the end of December.</li>
<li>Gold, SP500 and SPASX200 have all gone over 450 days without a 10% correction. Nifty moving in opposite direction, 127 days without a 10% rally.</li>
</ul>


All markets surveyed here tend to see price weakness along with increased volatility in the second half of February. 
SP500 was the only market for which realized vol in January was greater than implied at the end of December.
Gold, SP500 and SPASX200 have all gone over 450 days without a 10% correction. Nifty moving in opposite direction, 127 days without a 10% rally.


EQD | February Macro Vol Roadmap – Stay Alert to Trend Change in 2nd Half of Month

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>This Insight presents intraday data to illustrate regional volatility moves over the past one and a half trading days. </li>
<li>Sunday’s US tariff announcement led to a global decline in equities and a spike in volatility on Monday. Asian indices began to recover today with a slight decrease in volatility.</li>
<li>Market reaction to Sunday's announcement was short-lived, so far, and the impact on implied volatility muted. The risk of a renewed volatility spike to or above Monday's intraday high's remains.</li>
</ul>


This Insight presents intraday data to illustrate regional volatility moves over the past one and a half trading days. 
Sunday’s US tariff announcement led to a global decline in equities and a spike in volatility on Monday. Asian indices began to recover today with a slight decrease in volatility.
Market reaction to Sunday's announcement was short-lived, so far, and the impact on implied volatility muted. The risk of a renewed volatility spike to or above Monday's intraday high's remains.


EQD Intraday | Tariff Tantrum Impact on Intraday Volatility

<ul>
<li>Global option markets present a diverse picture, offering a broad opportunity set.</li>
<li>Several markets make for good hedging-candidates after a strong January and amid cheap options.</li>
<li>Although several Indian indices show high implied volatility, contextual analysis indicates volatility may be fairly priced relative to their bear trends.</li>
</ul>


Global option markets present a diverse picture, offering a broad opportunity set.
Several markets make for good hedging-candidates after a strong January and amid cheap options.
Although several Indian indices show high implied volatility, contextual analysis indicates volatility may be fairly priced relative to their bear trends.


EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Option Opportunities Across the Regions

<ul>
<li>Information technology very strong with AAC Tech, Sunny Optical, Kingdee Int’l and Byd Elec all posting &gt; 10% weekly gains.</li>
<li>Gains were positive with helpful seasonals but not as widespread as last week with fewer singles stocks and Sectors participating in the rally.</li>
<li>China Vanke has big increase in option trading, in particular Calls, with implied vols also rising. </li>
</ul>


Information technology very strong with AAC Tech, Sunny Optical, Kingdee Int’l and Byd Elec all posting &gt; 10% weekly gains.
Gains were positive with helpful seasonals but not as widespread as last week with fewer singles stocks and Sectors participating in the rally.
China Vanke has big increase in option trading, in particular Calls, with implied vols also rising. 


EQD | Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (January 20 – 24): Rally Continues on Less Participation

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

<ul>
<li>With improved liquidity, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zto-express-cayman-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33488:1" rel="noopener">ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK)</a> could be added to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">HSCEI INDEX</a> early March and then to a global index a couple of weeks later.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zto-express-cayman-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33488:1" rel="noopener">ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK)</a> is a lower probability inclusion to the <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 (HSI INDEX)</a> given the index committee discretion. Inclusion would further increase the impact.</li>
<li>The stock has had a big drawdown recently and the potential index inclusion and passive demand provide a low-risk entry point into the stock, especially hedged with its peers.</li>
</ul>


With improved liquidity, ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) could be added to the HSCEI INDEX early March and then to a global index a couple of weeks later.

ZTO Express Cayman (2057 HK) is a lower probability inclusion to the Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) given the index committee discretion. Inclusion would further increase the impact.
The stock has had a big drawdown recently and the potential index inclusion and passive demand provide a low-risk entry point into the stock, especially hedged with its peers.


ZTO Express (2057 HK): On Track for Double (Maybe Triple) Index Inclusion

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)

EQD | February Macro Vol Roadmap – Stay Alert to Trend Change in 2nd Half of Month

Markets show price weakness and increased volatility in late February. Gold, SP500, and SPASX200 have gone > 450 days without 10% corrections,...

John Ley

EQD Intraday | Tariff Tantrum Impact on Intraday Volatility

The Tariff Tantrum triggered a universal equity decline and spike in volatility. Intra-day data shows that market reaction was short-lived, but...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Option Opportunities Across the Regions

Global option markets offer a wide range of opportunities for hedging, while some indices show high implied volatility but potentially fair...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (January 20 – 24): Rally Continues on Less Participation

Strong gains in information technology stocks AAC Tech, Sunny Optical, Kingdee Int’l, and Byd Elec, but rally not as widespread as last week.

John Ley

ZTO Express (2057 HK): On Track for Double (Maybe Triple) Index Inclusion

There should be 2, possibly 3, index inclusions for ZTO Express in March. There will be a lot to buy from passives and the stock has underperformed...

Brian Freitas

EQD | February Macro Vol Roadmap – Stay Alert to Trend Change in 2nd Half of Month

​Markets show price weakness and increased volatility in late February. Gold, SP500, and SPASX200 have gone > 450 days without 10% corrections,...

John Ley

EQD Intraday | Tariff Tantrum Impact on Intraday Volatility

The Tariff Tantrum ​triggered a universal equity decline and spike in volatility. Intra-day data shows that market reaction was short-lived, but...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Option Opportunities Across the Regions

​Global option markets offer a wide range of opportunities for hedging, while some indices show high implied volatility but potentially fair...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly (January 20 – 24): Rally Continues on Less Participation

​Strong gains in information technology stocks AAC Tech, Sunny Optical, Kingdee Int’l, and Byd Elec, but rally not as widespread as last week.

John Ley

ZTO Express (2057 HK): On Track for Double (Maybe Triple) Index Inclusion

There should be 2, possibly 3, index inclusions for ZTO Express in March. There will be a lot to buy from passives and the stock has underperformed...

Brian Freitas

Markets show price weakness and increased volatility in late February. Gold, SP500, and SPASX200 have gone > 450 days without 10% corrections,...

The Tariff Tantrum triggered a universal equity decline and spike in volatility. Intra-day data shows that market reaction was short-lived, but...

Global option markets offer a wide range of opportunities for hedging, while some indices show high implied volatility but potentially fair...

Strong gains in information technology stocks AAC Tech, Sunny Optical, Kingdee Int’l, and Byd Elec, but rally not as widespread as last week.