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>Seasonal patterns shift in August, with weaker average returns and greater downside skew supporting a case for selective hedging.</li>
<li>Most markets are at or near 52-week highs, further strengthening the argument for protective positioning.</li>
<li>Unlike July’s consistent vol-selling setup, August presents a more mixed environment for volatility strategies.</li>
</ul>


Seasonal patterns shift in August, with weaker average returns and greater downside skew supporting a case for selective hedging.
Most markets are at or near 52-week highs, further strengthening the argument for protective positioning.
Unlike July’s consistent vol-selling setup, August presents a more mixed environment for volatility strategies.


Global Macro Outlook (Aug): Risk Builds Amid Uneven Macro Picture

<ul>
<li>Common perception is that Trump = Volatility. We look at average monthly historic volatility and returns across 2017-2020 and compare with prior 19 years.</li>
<li>Trumps term in office included "Volmageddon", the Christmas Massacre and Covid but we still find that the returns and historic volatility were not out of line.</li>
<li>Although a small sample size, we see a pattern to how historic volatility deviated from the average over his last term in office. </li>
</ul>


Common perception is that Trump = Volatility. We look at average monthly historic volatility and returns across 2017-2020 and compare with prior 19 years.
Trumps term in office included "Volmageddon", the Christmas Massacre and Covid but we still find that the returns and historic volatility were not out of line.
Although a small sample size, we see a pattern to how historic volatility deviated from the average over his last term in office. 


EQD| SPX Volatility During the Trump Years (2017-2020)

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a>  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.</li>
<li>Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.</li>
</ul>



Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX), Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY) and Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.

NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) , S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) and S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.
Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.


EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Co-Founder & CEO, Newmark Risk

Nicholas Pezolano

Co-Founder & CEO

Option analytics for institutional investors

Newmark Risk

Fin-tech company focused on providing option derived analytics for institutional investors.

We handle the complexity of options data so you don't have to.

- Data and Analytics available all in one place so you can focus on Strategy Development
- Custom Solutions for your data and/or portfolio needs
- Advisory services to lend our expertise

Knowledge is something that was meant to be shared and we provide insights to our clients and to the community via posting about our research findings.

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Equity Derivatives

<ul><li>A cross-country study on the post earning announcement drift effect.</li><li>We explore the use of various options-implied analytics to systematically view returns around earnings announcements.  </li><li>Options-Implied Analytics can provide empowering information to better inform investment decisions.</li></ul>

A cross-country study on the post earning announcement drift effect.We explore the use of various options-implied analytics to systematically view returns around earnings announcements.  Options-Implied Analytics can provide empowering information to better inform investment decisions.

EQD | A Systematic Look at the Post Earnings Announcement Drift Across Asia

Cross-Asset Liquidity Strategist, CrossBorder Capital

Michael J. Howell

Cross-Asset Liquidity Strategist

Implementing Research Using Alt Data & AI

CrossBorder Capital

CrossBorder Capital is a London-based independent investment advisory firm. Founded in 1996, it exploits a gap in the investment arena by focusing on Central bank liquidity. 

It specialises in the monitoring and analysis of global liquidity flows - an important determinant of asset prices, from currencies through to bonds, equities and real estate.

CrossBorder Capital implements its investment strategy and currently manages over US$ 350m.


Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>
 QT is effectively dead. We have believed this since the US gilt crisis in 2022, but the SVB issue now confirms it. Game over. QE is back
</li>
<li>2023 will still be volatile. The major markets will range trade, but unlike 2022, investors will enjoy large absolute gains in areas like commodities, EM and cyclicals</li>
<li>Other Central Banks will follow the US Fed. The US Fed is de facto following a bifurcated monetary policy: high rates for inflation and the Fed B/S for financial stability 
</li>
</ul>



 QT is effectively dead. We have believed this since the US gilt crisis in 2022, but the SVB issue now confirms it. Game over. QE is back

2023 will still be volatile. The major markets will range trade, but unlike 2022, investors will enjoy large absolute gains in areas like commodities, EM and cyclicals
Other Central Banks will follow the US Fed. The US Fed is de facto following a bifurcated monetary policy: high rates for inflation and the Fed B/S for financial stability 



The Fed & Global Liquidity After SVB: Climate Change!

United States

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

S&P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)

Global Macro Outlook (Aug): Risk Builds Amid Uneven Macro Picture

August brings a shift in seasonal patterns, with weaker returns and greater downside risk, making a case for selective hedging with markets near...

John Ley

EQD| SPX Volatility During the Trump Years (2017-2020)

Despite common perception, Trump's term in office did not result in significantly higher historic volatility or returns compared to the prior 19...

John Ley

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

EQD | A Systematic Look at the Post Earnings Announcement Drift Across Asia

We leverage a few analytics from NewMark Risk's proprietary Options Implied Analytics library to enhance common strategies to trade earnings...

Nicholas Pezolano

The Fed & Global Liquidity After SVB: Climate Change!

Global Liquidity has bottomed and is likely to rise through 2023. Silicon Valley Bank makes this more certain. QT is effectively dead: QE is back

Michael J. Howell

Global Macro Outlook (Aug): Risk Builds Amid Uneven Macro Picture

​August brings a shift in seasonal patterns, with weaker returns and greater downside risk, making a case for selective hedging with markets near...

John Ley

EQD| SPX Volatility During the Trump Years (2017-2020)

​Despite common perception, Trump's term in office did not result in significantly higher historic volatility or returns compared to the prior 19...

John Ley

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

​Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

EQD | A Systematic Look at the Post Earnings Announcement Drift Across Asia

We leverage a few analytics from NewMark Risk's proprietary Options Implied Analytics library to enhance common strategies to trade earnings...

Nicholas Pezolano

The Fed & Global Liquidity After SVB: Climate Change!

Global Liquidity has bottomed and is likely to rise through 2023. Silicon Valley Bank makes this more certain. QT is effectively dead: QE is back

Michael J. Howell

August brings a shift in seasonal patterns, with weaker returns and greater downside risk, making a case for selective hedging with markets near...

Despite common perception, Trump's term in office did not result in significantly higher historic volatility or returns compared to the prior 19...

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...