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>HSI has surged past SPX, but past instances of strong outperformance have often preceded reversals. We examine key historical trends.</li>
<li>The YTD divergence between HSI and SPX calls into question whether this is another temporary rally or the start of a new trend.</li>
<li>We highlight some key hedging strategies to manage risk in this evolving market dynamic.</li>
</ul>


HSI has surged past SPX, but past instances of strong outperformance have often preceded reversals. We examine key historical trends.
The YTD divergence between HSI and SPX calls into question whether this is another temporary rally or the start of a new trend.
We highlight some key hedging strategies to manage risk in this evolving market dynamic.


HSI Outpaces SPX — Structural Break or Head Fake? Strategies for Hedging

Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>US headline inflation was lower than consensus but in line with our view that Trump's policies will be disinflationary. Core CPI inflation (3.1%YoY in Feb'25) was at a 46-month low. </li>
<li>Trump has kept crude oil prices well contained (near US$70/bbl, down 17%YoY), an important factor helping to lower headline and core inflation. DOGE impact on spending/job cuts will flow in. </li>
<li>Inflationary impact of import-tariff hikes will be modest (imports are only 20% of GDP), with greater disinflation from oil and DOGE. We expect FedFunds to fall to 3.5% by end-2025. </li>
</ul>


US headline inflation was lower than consensus but in line with our view that Trump's policies will be disinflationary. Core CPI inflation (3.1%YoY in Feb'25) was at a 46-month low. 
Trump has kept crude oil prices well contained (near US$70/bbl, down 17%YoY), an important factor helping to lower headline and core inflation. DOGE impact on spending/job cuts will flow in. 
Inflationary impact of import-tariff hikes will be modest (imports are only 20% of GDP), with greater disinflation from oil and DOGE. We expect FedFunds to fall to 3.5% by end-2025. 


US: Trump Disinflation Evident in Feb'25, Likely to Continue as DOGE Cuts Flow In

Oil and Gas, Mint Finance

Suhas Reddy

Oil and Gas

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Commodities

<ul>
<li>WTI futures fell by 3.9% for the week ending 07/Mar, marking its seventh consecutive weekly drop. Prices fell due to trade tensions, rising U.S. crude inventories, and demand concerns.</li>
<li>The U.S. rig count fell by one to 592, ending a five-week gain streak, with oil rigs unchanged at 486 and gas rigs down by one to 101.</li>
<li>WTI OI PCR fell to 0.91 on 07/Mar from 0.98 on 28/Feb. Call OI increased by 13.1% WoW, while put OI rose by 5.3%.</li>
</ul>


WTI futures fell by 3.9% for the week ending 07/Mar, marking its seventh consecutive weekly drop. Prices fell due to trade tensions, rising U.S. crude inventories, and demand concerns.
The U.S. rig count fell by one to 592, ending a five-week gain streak, with oil rigs unchanged at 486 and gas rigs down by one to 101.
WTI OI PCR fell to 0.91 on 07/Mar from 0.98 on 28/Feb. Call OI increased by 13.1% WoW, while put OI rose by 5.3%.


[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/10] WTI Extends Decline Amid Weak Demand and Trade Uncertainty

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

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Constituent changes to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P500 INDEX</a> and capping changes will result in a round-trip trade of US$16.3bn across the Select Sector indices and the S&amp;P500 Equal Weight Index.</li>
<li>The Select Sector index trackers and S&amp;P500 Equal Weight trackers will need to buy the adds to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P500 INDEX</a> and sell the deletes, further increasing flow for the stocks.</li>
<li>The flows will change over the next week as stock prices move around, and final capping is done after the close on 14 March.</li>
</ul>


Constituent changes to the S&amp;P500 INDEX and capping changes will result in a round-trip trade of US$16.3bn across the Select Sector indices and the S&amp;P500 Equal Weight Index.
The Select Sector index trackers and S&amp;P500 Equal Weight trackers will need to buy the adds to the S&amp;P500 INDEX and sell the deletes, further increasing flow for the stocks.
The flows will change over the next week as stock prices move around, and final capping is done after the close on 14 March.


Select Sector Indices and S&P Equal Weight Rebalance: US$16.3bn Trade; Big Impact for EXE, TKO

<ul>
<li>There are 4 changes for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX</a>, 6 changes for the S&amp;P Midcap400 Index and 14 changes for the S&amp;P SmallCap600 Index at the March rebalance.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/doordash-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28881:1" rel="noopener">DoorDash (DASH US)</a> was newly eligible after meeting the profitability criterion, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/applovin-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32989:1" rel="noopener">AppLovin (APP US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/coinbase-global-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32227:1" rel="noopener">Coinbase Global (COIN US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/interactive-brokers-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13335:1" rel="noopener">Interactive Brokers Group, Inc (IBKR US)</a> were overlooked again.</li>
<li>There will be more same-way flow for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> adds and deletes from the Select Sector index trackers.</li>
</ul>


There are 4 changes for the S&amp;P 500 INDEX, 6 changes for the S&amp;P Midcap400 Index and 14 changes for the S&amp;P SmallCap600 Index at the March rebalance.

DoorDash (DASH US) was newly eligible after meeting the profitability criterion, while AppLovin (APP US), Coinbase Global (COIN US) and Interactive Brokers Group, Inc (IBKR US) were overlooked again.
There will be more same-way flow for the S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) adds and deletes from the Select Sector index trackers.


S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: DASH In as Stability Trumps Volatility

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)

HSI Outpaces SPX — Structural Break or Head Fake? Strategies for Hedging

HSI outperforming SPX raises concerns of potential reversal, prompting exploration of historical trends and hedging strategies in managing...

John Ley

US: Trump Disinflation Evident in Feb'25, Likely to Continue as DOGE Cuts Flow In

US CPI inflation lower than expected, core inflation at 46-month low. Crude oil prices contained, DOGE impact on spending/job cuts to offset...

Prasenjit K. Basu

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/10] WTI Extends Decline Amid Weak Demand and Trade Uncertainty

WTI futures continue to drop for the seventh consecutive week due to trade tensions, rising inventories, and demand concerns. U.S. rig count also...

Mint Finance

Select Sector Indices and S&P Equal Weight Rebalance: US$16.3bn Trade; Big Impact for EXE, TKO

Constituent changes to the S&P500 and capping changes result in a round-trip trade of US$16.3bn for the Select Sector. ECE, DASH, AMZN, TKO, TSLA,...

Brian Freitas

S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: DASH In as Stability Trumps Volatility

There are many changes for the SnP500/400/600 indices in March. The index committee has overlooked high vol stocks. There will be more same-way...

Brian Freitas

HSI Outpaces SPX — Structural Break or Head Fake? Strategies for Hedging

​HSI outperforming SPX raises concerns of potential reversal, prompting exploration of historical trends and hedging strategies in managing...

John Ley

US: Trump Disinflation Evident in Feb'25, Likely to Continue as DOGE Cuts Flow In

​US CPI inflation lower than expected, core inflation at 46-month low. Crude oil prices contained, DOGE impact on spending/job cuts to offset...

Prasenjit K. Basu

[US Crude Oil Options Weekly 2025/10] WTI Extends Decline Amid Weak Demand and Trade Uncertainty

​WTI futures continue to drop for the seventh consecutive week due to trade tensions, rising inventories, and demand concerns. U.S. rig count also...

Mint Finance

Select Sector Indices and S&P Equal Weight Rebalance: US$16.3bn Trade; Big Impact for EXE, TKO

Constituent changes to the S&P500 and capping changes result in a round-trip trade of US$16.3bn for the Select Sector. ECE, DASH, AMZN, TKO, TSLA,...

Brian Freitas

S&P500/400/600 Index Rebalance: DASH In as Stability Trumps Volatility

There are many changes for the SnP500/400/600 indices in March. The index committee has overlooked high vol stocks. There will be more same-way...

Brian Freitas

HSI outperforming SPX raises concerns of potential reversal, prompting exploration of historical trends and hedging strategies in managing...

US CPI inflation lower than expected, core inflation at 46-month low. Crude oil prices contained, DOGE impact on spending/job cuts to offset...

WTI futures continue to drop for the seventh consecutive week due to trade tensions, rising inventories, and demand concerns. U.S. rig count also...