Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
Context:<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> reported 1H25 results on 30 July, cutting its interim dividend by 16%.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto's</a> share price fell more than expected after earnings, exceeding both historical and implied moves. A surprise US copper tariff announcement further amplified the decline.</li>
<li>This Insight breaks down drivers of the post-earnings move and evaluates the potential outcome of a short-vol strategy — offering a practical case study for refining similar trades.</li>
</ul>



Context:Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) reported 1H25 results on 30 July, cutting its interim dividend by 16%.

Rio Tinto's share price fell more than expected after earnings, exceeding both historical and implied moves. A surprise US copper tariff announcement further amplified the decline.
This Insight breaks down drivers of the post-earnings move and evaluates the potential outcome of a short-vol strategy — offering a practical case study for refining similar trades.


Rio Tinto (RIO AU): Post-Earnings Drop Exceeds Expectations

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>S&amp;P DJI have proposed methodology changes to the S&amp;P/ASX family of indices to enhance representativeness and more quickly reflecting changing market conditions.</li>
<li>The main changes are lowering the minimum float threshold, shortening the market cap calculation period and the liquidity calculation period, and including buffers for additions and deletions.</li>
<li>We currently forecast 47 changes to the S&amp;P/ASX family of indices in September and the short market cap computation period could lead to more change over the next two months.</li>
</ul>


S&amp;P DJI have proposed methodology changes to the S&amp;P/ASX family of indices to enhance representativeness and more quickly reflecting changing market conditions.
The main changes are lowering the minimum float threshold, shortening the market cap calculation period and the liquidity calculation period, and including buffers for additions and deletions.
We currently forecast 47 changes to the S&amp;P/ASX family of indices in September and the short market cap computation period could lead to more change over the next two months.


S&P/ASX Indices: Proposed Methodology Changes & The BIG September Rebalance

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22114:1" rel="noopener">(RIO LN)</a> / <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-plc-057cb83c-c6f0-460f-976f-c58c789ef28c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28506:1" rel="noopener">(RIO US)</a> is scheduled to report its 2025 half year results on Wednesday, 30 July 2025 at 16:15 AEST.
</li>
<li>
Actionable Option Strategy: Options imply a move noticeably larger than the historical average, opening up a potential short-term yield opportunity. Trade setup discussed in detail.</li>
<li>
Why Read: The Insight outlines yield-focused short-vol strategies, the expected volatility crush, and a forecast for Rio’s interim dividend based on payout policy and timing.</li>
</ul>



Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) / (RIO LN) / (RIO US) is scheduled to report its 2025 half year results on Wednesday, 30 July 2025 at 16:15 AEST.


Actionable Option Strategy: Options imply a move noticeably larger than the historical average, opening up a potential short-term yield opportunity. Trade setup discussed in detail.

Why Read: The Insight outlines yield-focused short-vol strategies, the expected volatility crush, and a forecast for Rio’s interim dividend based on payout policy and timing.


Rio Tinto (RIO AU) 1H25 Results on 30 July: Earning Yield from Volatility Premium

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>
Context: Central Bank rate decisions, index changes and political events can move markets and affect volatility. Exchange holidays and option expiration schedules might influence liquidity on these days.</li>
<li>
Highlights: Earnings season keeps several regional markets busy through early to mid-August. Meanwhile, three central banks in the region are scheduled to hold monetary policy meetings spaced across the month.</li>
<li>
Why Read: Plan ahead and take into account known market events when making investment and trading decision.</li>
</ul>



Context: Central Bank rate decisions, index changes and political events can move markets and affect volatility. Exchange holidays and option expiration schedules might influence liquidity on these days.

Highlights: Earnings season keeps several regional markets busy through early to mid-August. Meanwhile, three central banks in the region are scheduled to hold monetary policy meetings spaced across the month.

Why Read: Plan ahead and take into account known market events when making investment and trading decision.


The Month Ahead: Key Events in August 2025

<ul>
<li>There will be an ad hoc inclusion for the <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 (AS51 INDEX)</a> at the close on 22 July following <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/spartan-resources-ltd-australi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1818:1" rel="noopener">Spartan Resources (SPR AU)</a>'s acquisition by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ramelius-resources-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5968:1" rel="noopener">Ramelius Resources (RMS AU)</a>. </li>
<li>There are a couple of stocks that are trading neck and neck on average free float market cap and one of them is likely to be added to the index.</li>
<li>Both stocks have seen a big increase in cumulative excess volume over the last few weeks, indicative of positioning in the stock.</li>
</ul>


There will be an ad hoc inclusion for the S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX) at the close on 22 July following Spartan Resources (SPR AU)'s acquisition by Ramelius Resources (RMS AU). 
There are a couple of stocks that are trading neck and neck on average free float market cap and one of them is likely to be added to the index.
Both stocks have seen a big increase in cumulative excess volume over the last few weeks, indicative of positioning in the stock.


ASX200 Index AdHoc Rebalance Preview: Potential Replacement for Spartan Resources (SPR AU)

Australia

The S&P/ASX 200 measures the performance of the 200 largest index-eligible stocks listed on the ASX by float-adjusted market capitalization. Representative liquid and tradable, it is widely considered Australia's preeminent benchmark index. The index is float-adjusted. The index was launched in April 2000.

S&P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)

Rio Tinto (RIO AU): Post-Earnings Drop Exceeds Expectations

Rio Tinto Ltd cuts dividend by 16% after 1H25 results, leading to unexpected share price drop exacerbated by surprise US copper tariff announcement.

Gaudenz Schneider

S&P/ASX Indices: Proposed Methodology Changes & The BIG September Rebalance

The market consultation ends in 2 weeks, and the conclusions should be announced soon after that. A lot of the stocks have moved significantly over...

Brian Freitas

Rio Tinto (RIO AU) 1H25 Results on 30 July: Earning Yield from Volatility Premium

Reminder: Rio Tinto (RIO AU) reports today at 16:15 AEST (Sydney) / 07:15 BST (London) / 02:15 EDT (New York). Since yesterday’s publication, the...

Gaudenz Schneider

The Month Ahead: Key Events in August 2025

Three central banks (India, Australia, South Korea) decide on rates. Earnings season continues in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and India, and is...

Gaudenz Schneider

ASX200 Index AdHoc Rebalance Preview: Potential Replacement for Spartan Resources (SPR AU)

Spartan Resources stops trading after 22 July. There will be an ad hoc inclusion to the ASX200 and there are two stocks vying for the spot. There...

Brian Freitas

Rio Tinto (RIO AU): Post-Earnings Drop Exceeds Expectations

​Rio Tinto Ltd cuts dividend by 16% after 1H25 results, leading to unexpected share price drop exacerbated by surprise US copper tariff announcement.

Gaudenz Schneider

S&P/ASX Indices: Proposed Methodology Changes & The BIG September Rebalance

The market consultation ends in 2 weeks, and the conclusions should be announced soon after that. A lot of the stocks have moved significantly over...

Brian Freitas

Rio Tinto (RIO AU) 1H25 Results on 30 July: Earning Yield from Volatility Premium

Reminder: Rio Tinto (RIO AU) reports today at 16:15 AEST (Sydney) / 07:15 BST (London) / 02:15 EDT (New York). Since yesterday’s publication, the...

Gaudenz Schneider

The Month Ahead: Key Events in August 2025

Three central banks (India, Australia, South Korea) decide on rates. Earnings season continues in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and India, and is...

Gaudenz Schneider

ASX200 Index AdHoc Rebalance Preview: Potential Replacement for Spartan Resources (SPR AU)

Spartan Resources stops trading after 22 July. There will be an ad hoc inclusion to the ASX200 and there are two stocks vying for the spot. There...

Brian Freitas

Rio Tinto Ltd cuts dividend by 16% after 1H25 results, leading to unexpected share price drop exacerbated by surprise US copper tariff announcement.