Head of Research, Steno Research

Emil Moller

Head of Research

Macro and Geopolitical Research House

Steno Research

Steno Research is a new macro and geopolitical research house. We are based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, but have an international team and a strong network of sources and partners around the world. The team is lead by Andreas Steno, previous global head of strategy at Nordea Bank, and Mikkel Rosenvold, former chief consultant in the Danish Ministry of Finance.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul><li>Here at Steno Research, our primary concern has been growth rather than inflation since around the end of H1.</li><li>While this divergence is gradually gaining mainstream recognition, emerging markets have been well ahead of the curve.</li><li>Consequently, disinflationary surprises continue to be prevalent.</li></ul>

Here at Steno Research, our primary concern has been growth rather than inflation since around the end of H1.While this divergence is gradually gaining mainstream recognition, emerging markets have been well ahead of the curve.Consequently, disinflationary surprises continue to be prevalent.

EM by EM #29: Biden’s Party, EM’s Hangover & Scholz’s Nightmare

<ul><li>Key Points: The recent UST rally may offer relief to risk assets, and the market appears well-positioned for a bear market rally.</li><li>Our perspective remains unchanged: we believe the underlying economy is weaker than what current market sentiment reflects.</li><li>Persistent concerns surround China’s economic challenges, casting doubt on the sufficiency of the stimulus package, and financial fragility remains unresolved.</li></ul>

Key Points: The recent UST rally may offer relief to risk assets, and the market appears well-positioned for a bear market rally.Our perspective remains unchanged: we believe the underlying economy is weaker than what current market sentiment reflects.Persistent concerns surround China’s economic challenges, casting doubt on the sufficiency of the stimulus package, and financial fragility remains unresolved.

EM by EM #28 The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

<ul><li>Conclusions upfront: The Chinese stimulus package is too small and the composition underlines the domestic issues in China.</li><li>If Chinese consumers remain conservative, the efforts could be undermined.</li><li>We won’t be surprised to see more policy easing in 2024.</li></ul>

Conclusions upfront: The Chinese stimulus package is too small and the composition underlines the domestic issues in China.If Chinese consumers remain conservative, the efforts could be undermined.We won’t be surprised to see more policy easing in 2024.

EM by EM #27 Not a Bazooka, but a Pumpgun

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
Context: Zhongji InnoLight (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhongji-innolight" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:55331:1" rel="noopener">3308 HK</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhongji-innolight-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6986:1" rel="noopener">300308 CH</a>) reports H1 2026 results on 21 August, its first earnings announcement since the Hong Kong listing.</li>
<li>
Highlight: With the historical median absolute move at 4.7%, options price a 5.6% earnings move. High option premiums create potential selling opportunities, but large historical tail moves warrant caution.</li>
<li>
Positioning: Put activity dominates recent trading, with downside strikes accounting for most outstanding puts. The volatility term structure remains elevated beyond the event.</li>
</ul>



Context: Zhongji InnoLight (3308 HK, 300308 CH) reports H1 2026 results on 21 August, its first earnings announcement since the Hong Kong listing.

Highlight: With the historical median absolute move at 4.7%, options price a 5.6% earnings move. High option premiums create potential selling opportunities, but large historical tail moves warrant caution.

Positioning: Put activity dominates recent trading, with downside strikes accounting for most outstanding puts. The volatility term structure remains elevated beyond the event.


Zhongji InnoLight (3308 HK, 300308 CH): 100% Volatility Ahead of First HK Earnings

Founder of Antler Capital

Stanley Tsai, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We welcome the regulators' formalization of financial asset classifications. This will gradually remove regulatory arbitrage and pave the way for further bank reintermediation.</li>
<li>The new rules will likely have limited impacts on bond holdings that have active secondary markets, but illiquid debt investment plans will come under more intense regulatory and auditor scrutiny.</li>
<li>We see an impact of 10-15bp on the listed banks' reported NPL ratios. That said, a handful of banks may be at risk of capital shortages if the environment worsens. </li>
</ul>


We welcome the regulators' formalization of financial asset classifications. This will gradually remove regulatory arbitrage and pave the way for further bank reintermediation.
The new rules will likely have limited impacts on bond holdings that have active secondary markets, but illiquid debt investment plans will come under more intense regulatory and auditor scrutiny.
We see an impact of 10-15bp on the listed banks' reported NPL ratios. That said, a handful of banks may be at risk of capital shortages if the environment worsens. 


Chinese Banks: New Asset Classification Rules | You Can Run but You Can't Hide

China

Shenzhen Composite Index is an actual market-cap weighted index (no free float factor) that tracks the stock performance of all the A-share and B-share lists on Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The index was developed on April 3, 1991 with a base price of 100. 

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Composite Index (SZCOMP INDEX)

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Composite Index (SZCOMP INDEX)

EM by EM #29: Biden’s Party, EM’s Hangover & Scholz’s Nightmare

Here at Steno Research, our primary concern has been growth rather than inflation since around the end of H1. While this divergence is gradually...

Steno Research

EM by EM #28 The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

Persistent concerns surround China’s economic challenges, casting doubt on the sufficiency of the stimulus package, and financial fragility remains...

Steno Research

EM by EM #27 Not a Bazooka, but a Pumpgun

The Chinese stimulus package is too small and the composition underlines the domestic issues in China. If Chinese consumers remain conservative,...

Steno Research

Zhongji InnoLight (3308 HK, 300308 CH): 100% Volatility Ahead of First HK Earnings

Zhongji InnoLight options price a larger-than-historical earnings move, while a high put/call ratio points to strong downside interest ahead of its...

Gaudenz Schneider

Chinese Banks: New Asset Classification Rules | You Can Run but You Can't Hide

New asset classification rules have officially been announced. We see this as a long-term positive for the sector as regulators continue to bring...

Stanley Tsai, CFA