Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>Central Bank Focus: Nine Central banks decide on monetary policy next week. Among them the BoJ, the BoE, the SNB, and the Fed.</li>
<li>Earnings Wave: major Hong Kong stocks reporting, including Tencent, Xiaomi, China Mobile, and Meituan.</li>
<li>Triple Witching: Quarterly derivatives expiration hits multiple markets - Australia, Taiwan , and the US - alongside index rebalancing in both Australia and the US.</li>
</ul>


Central Bank Focus: Nine Central banks decide on monetary policy next week. Among them the BoJ, the BoE, the SNB, and the Fed.
Earnings Wave: major Hong Kong stocks reporting, including Tencent, Xiaomi, China Mobile, and Meituan.
Triple Witching: Quarterly derivatives expiration hits multiple markets - Australia, Taiwan , and the US - alongside index rebalancing in both Australia and the US.


Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (March 17-21)

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.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>The SP500 has enjoyed a prolonged period of outperformance against its international peers.</li>
<li>This year’s political shift and new policy actions could challenge long-held investment assumptions.</li>
<li>We examine the SP500’s performance relative to a range of international indexes and assets.</li>
</ul>


The SP500 has enjoyed a prolonged period of outperformance against its international peers.
This year’s political shift and new policy actions could challenge long-held investment assumptions.
We examine the SP500’s performance relative to a range of international indexes and assets.


USA Against ROW: Trends in Global Market Leadership

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>At the upcoming AGM, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto Ltd</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22114:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto PLC</a> shareholders will vote on the company commencing a review on the benefits vs costs of Unification.</li>
<li>Palliser Capital has been pushing for Unification while the Rio Tinto Board has recommended that shareholders vote against Resolution 21/24 citing tax costs among other reasons.</li>
<li>If the Unification completes, S&amp;P/ASX trackers will need to buy <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> while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ftse-100-index-ukx" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22904:1" rel="noopener">UKX Index (UKX INDEX)</a> trackers will sell <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rio-tinto-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22114:1" rel="noopener">Rio Tinto PLC (RIO LN)</a>. Net positive.</li>
</ul>


At the upcoming AGM, Rio Tinto Ltd and Rio Tinto PLC shareholders will vote on the company commencing a review on the benefits vs costs of Unification.
Palliser Capital has been pushing for Unification while the Rio Tinto Board has recommended that shareholders vote against Resolution 21/24 citing tax costs among other reasons.
If the Unification completes, S&amp;P/ASX trackers will need to buy Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO AU) while UKX Index (UKX INDEX) trackers will sell Rio Tinto PLC (RIO LN). Net positive.


Rio Tinto (RIO AU/RIO LN): Unification Index Flows

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>We look at the performance of the index rebalance strategy over the year using weekly forecasts. In short, it has been a mixed bag for Asia.</li>
<li>India and China have been among the worst performing markets in the region while Australia and Korea have been among the better performers.</li>
<li>A lot of the outperformance appears to be front loaded, so getting the forecasts right early in the review period is of paramount importance.</li>
</ul>


We look at the performance of the index rebalance strategy over the year using weekly forecasts. In short, it has been a mixed bag for Asia.
India and China have been among the worst performing markets in the region while Australia and Korea have been among the better performers.
A lot of the outperformance appears to be front loaded, so getting the forecasts right early in the review period is of paramount importance.


Index Rebalance Strategy YTD Performance: Not Many Places to Hide in Asia

<ul>
<li>There are 2 changes for the S&amp;P/ASX50 Index, 2 changes for the S&amp;P/ASX100 Index, 7 changes 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/ASX200 Index</a> and 11 adds/ 7 deletes for the S&amp;P/ASX300 Index.</li>
<li>There is a huge increase in the number of index shares for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sigma-healthcare-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15966:1" rel="noopener">Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU)</a>, triggering passive buying of nearly A$1.4bn at the close on 21 March.</li>
<li>The adds have outperformed the deletes across all indices. Positioning varies across stocks and there could be some big movers over the next few days.</li>
</ul>


There are 2 changes for the S&amp;P/ASX50 Index, 2 changes for the S&amp;P/ASX100 Index, 7 changes for the S&amp;P/ASX200 Index and 11 adds/ 7 deletes for the S&amp;P/ASX300 Index.
There is a huge increase in the number of index shares for Sigma Healthcare (SIG AU), triggering passive buying of nearly A$1.4bn at the close on 21 March.
The adds have outperformed the deletes across all indices. Positioning varies across stocks and there could be some big movers over the next few days.


S&P/​​​​ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2025): SIG Is the BIG One; Changes Galore Across Indices

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)

Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (March 17-21)

Central banks to decide on monetary policy, Hong Kong stocks results, and quarterly derivatives expiration hitting multiple markets.

Gaudenz Schneider

USA Against ROW: Trends in Global Market Leadership

The SP500's outperformance may face challenges due to political shifts and new policies, prompting a reevaluation of investment assumptions.

John Ley

Rio Tinto (RIO AU/RIO LN): Unification Index Flows

Palliser Capital is pushing for Unification of RIO AU/ RIO LN. We are still a long way away from possible completion. There will be big index flows...

Brian Freitas

Index Rebalance Strategy YTD Performance: Not Many Places to Hide in Asia

A positive start to the year for Asia index rebals has turned negative as the momentum/ value unwind began a few weeks ago. Higher volatility and a...

Brian Freitas

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2025): SIG Is the BIG One; Changes Galore Across Indices

There are 40 constituent changes across the indices. SIG is an add to 2 indices and also an upweight in 2 others - so big buying. The adds have...

Brian Freitas

Market Movers: Key Dates at a Glance (March 17-21)

​Central banks to decide on monetary policy, Hong Kong stocks results, and quarterly derivatives expiration hitting multiple markets.

Gaudenz Schneider

USA Against ROW: Trends in Global Market Leadership

​The SP500's outperformance may face challenges due to political shifts and new policies, prompting a reevaluation of investment assumptions.

John Ley

Rio Tinto (RIO AU/RIO LN): Unification Index Flows

Palliser Capital is pushing for Unification of RIO AU/ RIO LN. We are still a long way away from possible completion. There will be big index flows...

Brian Freitas

Index Rebalance Strategy YTD Performance: Not Many Places to Hide in Asia

A positive start to the year for Asia index rebals has turned negative as the momentum/ value unwind began a few weeks ago. Higher volatility and a...

Brian Freitas

S&P/​​​​ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2025): SIG Is the BIG One; Changes Galore Across Indices

There are 40 constituent changes across the indices. SIG is an add to 2 indices and also an upweight in 2 others - so big buying. The adds have...

Brian Freitas

Central banks to decide on monetary policy, Hong Kong stocks results, and quarterly derivatives expiration hitting multiple markets.

The SP500's outperformance may face challenges due to political shifts and new policies, prompting a reevaluation of investment assumptions.

S&P/ASX Index Rebalance (Mar 2025): SIG Is the BIG One; Changes Galore Across Indices