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>Monthly deep-dive into price and vol metrics across Asian indexes as well as macro assets.</li>
<li>Provides an in-depth look at the current state of the markets as well as how volatility and price are likely to unfold for March.</li>
<li>HSI, Nifty, SP500, SPASX200 and Gold are all highlighted as having tradeable patterns in March.</li>
</ul>


Monthly deep-dive into price and vol metrics across Asian indexes as well as macro assets.
Provides an in-depth look at the current state of the markets as well as how volatility and price are likely to unfold for March.
HSI, Nifty, SP500, SPASX200 and Gold are all highlighted as having tradeable patterns in March.


Macro Vol Monthly - March:  Weakness Could Continue into Mid-March

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

Rikki Malik

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook</li>
<li>Is the OpenAI NVIDIA Artificial Intelligence driven bull market over?</li>
<li>The Japanese and Taiwanese stock markets are most at risk</li>
</ul>


A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook
Is the OpenAI NVIDIA Artificial Intelligence driven bull market over?
The Japanese and Taiwanese stock markets are most at risk


Overview #17 – Buckle Up, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore!

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Event-Driven

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.</li>
<li>Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.</li>
<li>Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.</li>
</ul>


Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.
Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.
Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.


March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

Quantitative Researcher, MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Quantitative Researcher

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>One month ago, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/nikkei-225-started-to-trend-up-where-to-buy-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a previous insight</a> we theorized that the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> may have started a rally in September 2024, and could reach &gt; 40398. </li>
<li>However the index continued its yo-yo dance roughly between the 37800 and 40200 boundaries - it's not rallying, it did rally in August and September, but that was it.</li>
<li>The question is at this point is: can the index go higher? if the index pulls back, where would it be a good price area to buy?</li>
</ul>


One month ago, in a previous insight we theorized that the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) may have started a rally in September 2024, and could reach &gt; 40398. 
However the index continued its yo-yo dance roughly between the 37800 and 40200 boundaries - it's not rallying, it did rally in August and September, but that was it.
The question is at this point is: can the index go higher? if the index pulls back, where would it be a good price area to buy?


The Nikkei 225 Walks a Tightrope—More Upside or the End of the Run?

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The United States' tariff against Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, 2025, could disrupt global markets, with potential volatility spikes similar to early February's events.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ftse-100-index-ukx" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22904:1" rel="noopener">FTSE 100</a>: low implied volatility offers opportunities for protective puts, </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a>: an volatility premium suggests a relative value volatility arbitrage play. </li>
</ul>


The United States' tariff against Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, 2025, could disrupt global markets, with potential volatility spikes similar to early February's events.

S&amp;P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100: low implied volatility offers opportunities for protective puts, 

KOSPI 200 and Nikkei 225: an volatility premium suggests a relative value volatility arbitrage play. 


Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

Japan

The Nikkei-225 Stock Average is a price-weighted average of 225 top-rated Japanese companies listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Nikkei Stock Average was first published on May 16, 1949, where the average price was ¥176.21 with a divisor of 225. 

Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)

Macro Vol Monthly - March: Weakness Could Continue into Mid-March

March market outlook for price and volatility across Asian indexes and macro assets, highlighting tradeable patterns in HSI, Nifty, SP500,...

John Ley

Overview #17 – Buckle Up, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore!

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We examine some implications of a peaking in the AI narrative-driven...

Rikki Malik

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

The Nikkei 225 Walks a Tightrope—More Upside or the End of the Run?

The Nikkei 225 has been pulling back for 2 weeks, now testing the key support zone we initially marked as a BUY area. Revisit our insight to spot...

Nico Rosti

Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.

Gaudenz Schneider

Macro Vol Monthly - March: Weakness Could Continue into Mid-March

​March market outlook for price and volatility across Asian indexes and macro assets, highlighting tradeable patterns in HSI, Nifty, SP500,...

John Ley

Overview #17 – Buckle Up, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore!

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We examine some implications of a peaking in the AI narrative-driven...

Rikki Malik

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

​March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

The Nikkei 225 Walks a Tightrope—More Upside or the End of the Run?

The Nikkei 225 has been pulling back for 2 weeks, now testing the key support zone we initially marked as a BUY area. Revisit our insight to spot...

Nico Rosti

Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

​US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.

Gaudenz Schneider

March market outlook for price and volatility across Asian indexes and macro assets, highlighting tradeable patterns in HSI, Nifty, SP500,...

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.