Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The US post-election rally lifted markets which run a trade deficit with the US alongside US markets. In that period, volatility decreased in all markets, regardless of performance.</li>
<li>Market Specific commentary and option opportunities for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a>, <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nasdaq-100-stock-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26197:1" rel="noopener">Nasdaq-100 (NDX INDEX)</a>, <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 (SPX INDEX),</a> and more.</li>
<li>Volatility analytics plus upcoming events and market holidays to the end of January as reference data.</li>
</ul>


The US post-election rally lifted markets which run a trade deficit with the US alongside US markets. In that period, volatility decreased in all markets, regardless of performance.
Market Specific commentary and option opportunities for NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX), S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX), Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX), Nasdaq-100 (NDX INDEX), S&amp;P 500 (SPX INDEX), and more.
Volatility analytics plus upcoming events and market holidays to the end of January as reference data.


EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in Nifty 50, Nasdaq, ASX 200, FTSE 100, SMI

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>Observing implied volatility across 16 markets plus gold provides a picture of falling implied volatility, despite dispersion in market performance.</li>
<li>Several, but not all, markets display moderation from unusual volatility levels to a more balanced implied volatility structure.</li>
<li>The realignment of implied volatility across markets presents potential relative value opportunities.</li>
</ul>


Observing implied volatility across 16 markets plus gold provides a picture of falling implied volatility, despite dispersion in market performance.
Several, but not all, markets display moderation from unusual volatility levels to a more balanced implied volatility structure.
The realignment of implied volatility across markets presents potential relative value opportunities.


EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility – Consistently Declining Volatility Amid Mixed Markets

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a> continues to exhibit high volatility. In addition, upside implied volatility trades higher than downside implied volatility.</li>
<li>The unusual structure of the skew supports the implementation of contrarian strategies.</li>
<li>Strategies with a year-end horizon benefit from high liquidity in the listed options market. Several variations of contrarian trades are presented.</li>
</ul>


The Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) continues to exhibit high volatility. In addition, upside implied volatility trades higher than downside implied volatility.
The unusual structure of the skew supports the implementation of contrarian strategies.
Strategies with a year-end horizon benefit from high liquidity in the listed options market. Several variations of contrarian trades are presented.


EQD | Hang Seng Index Option Strategy - A Contrarian View on the Skew

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

Cambricon Technologies  Lt / Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>With over 95% of the review period complete, 4 non-constituents are in inclusion zone and 6 constituents are in deletion zone.</li>
<li>We estimate one-way turnover of 6.5% at the December rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 11.95bn (US$1.7bn). Index arb balances could increase the impact on the stocks.</li>
<li>The potential adds have continued to outperform the potential deletes. There has been a big jump in the last few weeks as markets have rallied. Trim positions into strength.</li>
</ul>


With over 95% of the review period complete, 4 non-constituents are in inclusion zone and 6 constituents are in deletion zone.
We estimate one-way turnover of 6.5% at the December rebalance leading to a one-way trade of CNY 11.95bn (US$1.7bn). Index arb balances could increase the impact on the stocks.
The potential adds have continued to outperform the potential deletes. There has been a big jump in the last few weeks as markets have rallied. Trim positions into strength.


SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Potential Inclusions Continue to Outperform; Trim into Strength

KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF / Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>Nearly US$140bn has flowed into mainland China listed ETFs year to date and there have been big creations in the last few weeks as stocks have surged.</li>
<li>97% of all inflows are in ETFs benchmarked to the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906:1" rel="noopener">CSI300</a>, CSI1000, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csi-smallcap-500-index-shang" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35347:1" rel="noopener">CSI500</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-stock-exchange-sse-50-a-share-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31073:1" rel="noopener">SSE50</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chinext-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25483:1" rel="noopener">ChiNext</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sse-science-and-technology-innovation-board-50-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29279:1" rel="noopener">STAR50</a> indices. But over US$4bn has gone into other ETFs in the last week.</li>
<li>The large ETF inflows over the last few weeks has led to index rebalance strategies underperforming in China. But that should reverse from now to rebalance implementation.</li>
</ul>


Nearly US$140bn has flowed into mainland China listed ETFs year to date and there have been big creations in the last few weeks as stocks have surged.
97% of all inflows are in ETFs benchmarked to the CSI300, CSI1000, CSI500, SSE50, ChiNext and STAR50 indices. But over US$4bn has gone into other ETFs in the last week.
The large ETF inflows over the last few weeks has led to index rebalance strategies underperforming in China. But that should reverse from now to rebalance implementation.


China ETF Inflows & Implications: YTD Inflows Nearing US$150bn

China

SSE 50 Index consists of 50 most representative stocks from Shanghai security market by scientific and objective method. The objective is to reflect the complete picture of those good quality large enterprises, which are most influential in Shanghai security market.

SSE50 Index (SSE50 INDEX)

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in Nifty 50, Nasdaq, ASX 200, FTSE 100, SMI

US post-election rally lowers implied volatility across all markets. Specific commentary on NIFTY, S&P/ASX 200, Nikkei 225, Nasdaq-100, S&P 500....

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility – Consistently Declining Volatility Amid Mixed Markets

Despite varying market performances, implied volatility is generally decreasing across 16 equity markets and gold. The realignment might offer...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Hang Seng Index Option Strategy - A Contrarian View on the Skew

The Hang Seng Index shows high volatility with upside implied volatility trading higher than downside, supporting contrarian strategies for year-end.

Gaudenz Schneider

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Potential Inclusions Continue to Outperform; Trim into Strength

There could be 5 changes in Dec. Estimate 1-way turnover is 6.5% leading to a one-way trade of CNY11.95bn (US$1.7bn). The potential adds have...

Brian Freitas

China ETF Inflows & Implications: YTD Inflows Nearing US$150bn

Nearly US$150bn has flowed into mainland China ETFs year to date. 97% of that has gone into ETFs tracking headline indices, but there has been...

Brian Freitas

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in Nifty 50, Nasdaq, ASX 200, FTSE 100, SMI

​US post-election rally lowers implied volatility across all markets. Specific commentary on NIFTY, S&P/ASX 200, Nikkei 225, Nasdaq-100, S&P 500....

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility – Consistently Declining Volatility Amid Mixed Markets

​Despite varying market performances, implied volatility is generally decreasing across 16 equity markets and gold. The realignment might offer...

Gaudenz Schneider

EQD | Hang Seng Index Option Strategy - A Contrarian View on the Skew

​The Hang Seng Index shows high volatility with upside implied volatility trading higher than downside, supporting contrarian strategies for year-end.

Gaudenz Schneider

SSE50 Index Rebalance Preview: Potential Inclusions Continue to Outperform; Trim into Strength

There could be 5 changes in Dec. Estimate 1-way turnover is 6.5% leading to a one-way trade of CNY11.95bn (US$1.7bn). The potential adds have...

Brian Freitas

China ETF Inflows & Implications: YTD Inflows Nearing US$150bn

Nearly US$150bn has flowed into mainland China ETFs year to date. 97% of that has gone into ETFs tracking headline indices, but there has been...

Brian Freitas

US post-election rally lowers implied volatility across all markets. Specific commentary on NIFTY, S&P/ASX 200, Nikkei 225, Nasdaq-100, S&P 500....

Despite varying market performances, implied volatility is generally decreasing across 16 equity markets and gold. The realignment might offer...

The Hang Seng Index shows high volatility with upside implied volatility trading higher than downside, supporting contrarian strategies for year-end.