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>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899" rel="noopener">Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-shenzhen-csi-300-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22906" rel="noopener">Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-500-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22886" rel="noopener">S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a>  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.</li>
<li>Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.</li>
</ul>



Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX), Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index (SHSZ300 INDEX EQUITY) and Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) all have elevated implied vols vs their peers and vs historical observations for October.

NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) , S&amp;P 500 INDEX (SPX INDEX) and S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)  implied vols are on the low end of what is typically realized in October.
Most markets see price weakness in the 3rd week of the month with realized volatility underperforming over the back half of the month.


EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Continuous weaknesses to be seen in industrial and general non-AI server semi demand starting 3Q23 and lasting into 1Q24 and some weaknesses in digital consumer semi demand starting 4Q23.</li>
<li>Memory semiconductor vendors see strengths in 4Q23 and continuous improvement in DRAM/NAND price in 1Q24.</li>
<li>We see a healthy mid single digit q/q and y/y decline on 4Q23 MOI but suggest vendors to avoid in next 1-2 months before they guide down the market.</li>
</ul>


Continuous weaknesses to be seen in industrial and general non-AI server semi demand starting 3Q23 and lasting into 1Q24 and some weaknesses in digital consumer semi demand starting 4Q23.
Memory semiconductor vendors see strengths in 4Q23 and continuous improvement in DRAM/NAND price in 1Q24.
We see a healthy mid single digit q/q and y/y decline on 4Q23 MOI but suggest vendors to avoid in next 1-2 months before they guide down the market.


First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/space-exploration-technologies-corp-spacex" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33284:1" rel="noopener">SpaceX (SPCX US)</a>, an Elon Musk led Space to AI company, aims to raise around US$75bn in its US IPO.</li>
<li>SpaceX is set to be the largest IPO ever. It will also probably end up being one of the most controversial ones given the asking valuations and other worldly promises.</li>
<li>We will undertake our more serious analysis in the coming days. This note is a lighthearted look at some of the other worldly claims and Grok’s view on SpaceX valuation.</li>
</ul>



SpaceX (SPCX US), an Elon Musk led Space to AI company, aims to raise around US$75bn in its US IPO.
SpaceX is set to be the largest IPO ever. It will also probably end up being one of the most controversial ones given the asking valuations and other worldly promises.
We will undertake our more serious analysis in the coming days. This note is a lighthearted look at some of the other worldly claims and Grok’s view on SpaceX valuation.


Aequitas: SpaceX IPO- A Lighthearted Take on Some of the Claims - Grok Speaks the Truth on Valuation

<ul>
<li>2025 marked our tenth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM) in Asia Pacific. In 2025, IPO volumes were driven by a strong rebound in HK, while India flow remained resilient.</li>
<li>We ended 2025 with an accuracy rate of 72.2% across 119 IPOs that we covered and 64.3% across 125 placements.</li>
<li>For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.</li>
</ul>


2025 marked our tenth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM) in Asia Pacific. In 2025, IPO volumes were driven by a strong rebound in HK, while India flow remained resilient.
We ended 2025 with an accuracy rate of 72.2% across 119 IPOs that we covered and 64.3% across 125 placements.
For those not familiar with our coverage, we aim to cover all IPOs and placements with a minimum deal size of US$100m across Asia-Pacific, including China ADRs.


Aequitas 2025 IPOs and Placements Performance Review - HK Breached COVID Peak, India Flow Strong

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Today is the last day of trading for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:563:1" rel="noopener">Sony Corp (6758 JP)</a> with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sony-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:564:1" rel="noopener">Sony Financial Group (8729 JP)</a> spin-off rights. SFGI starts trading separately on Monday 29 Sep.</li>
<li>The reference price is ¥150/share. It will likely stay in all major indices except Nikkei 225, and it likely needs low ¥160s to stay in M _ _ _. </li>
<li>The estimated Div Yield is higher on SFGI than peers by a fair ways, and looks to grow, and there is a big buyback to come. I like it.</li>
</ul>


Today is the last day of trading for Sony Corp (6758 JP) with Sony Financial Group (8729 JP) spin-off rights. SFGI starts trading separately on Monday 29 Sep.
The reference price is ¥150/share. It will likely stay in all major indices except Nikkei 225, and it likely needs low ¥160s to stay in M _ _ _. 
The estimated Div Yield is higher on SFGI than peers by a fair ways, and looks to grow, and there is a big buyback to come. I like it.


[Japan Event] Sony Financial Spin-Off Trades Monday - Fina(Ncia)L Thoughts

Japan

Sony Group Corporation manufactures and distributes electronics products and provides related solutions. The Company produces televisions, cameras, mobiles, audio and video products. game equipment, and more. Sony Group also engages in game production,  movie production, music production, and other businesses.

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Sony Corp (SONY US)

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid; Weaknesses to be seen in industrial, general non-AI server semi,...

Andrew Lu

Aequitas: SpaceX IPO- A Lighthearted Take on Some of the Claims - Grok Speaks the Truth on Valuation

SpaceX (SPCX US), an Elon Musk led Space to AI company, aims to raise around US$75bn in its US IPO. This note is a lighthearted look at some of the...

Sumeet Singh

Aequitas 2025 IPOs and Placements Performance Review - HK Breached COVID Peak, India Flow Strong

2025 marked our tenth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM) in Asia Pacific. In 2025, IPO volumes were driven by a strong rebound in HK, while...

Sumeet Singh

[Japan Event] Sony Financial Spin-Off Trades Monday - Fina(Ncia)L Thoughts

SFGI shares trading up vs reference. I had expected it to price in the ¥150-210 range (that range in my first and second piece). I said I was...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

EQD | Asia Monthly Vol Roadmap: Elevated IV's in CSI300 and Hang Seng Present Tactical Opportunity

​Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...

John Ley

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid; Weaknesses to be seen in industrial, general non-AI server semi,...

Andrew Lu

Aequitas: SpaceX IPO- A Lighthearted Take on Some of the Claims - Grok Speaks the Truth on Valuation

SpaceX (SPCX US), an Elon Musk led Space to AI company, aims to raise around US$75bn in its US IPO. This note is a lighthearted look at some of the...

Sumeet Singh

Aequitas 2025 IPOs and Placements Performance Review - HK Breached COVID Peak, India Flow Strong

2025 marked our tenth year covering Equity Capital Markets (ECM) in Asia Pacific. In 2025, IPO volumes were driven by a strong rebound in HK, while...

Sumeet Singh

[Japan Event] Sony Financial Spin-Off Trades Monday - Fina(Ncia)L Thoughts

SFGI shares trading up vs reference. I had expected it to price in the ¥150-210 range (that range in my first and second piece). I said I was...

Travis Lundy

Implied volatility levels across key Asian indices present several tactical opportunities this month for outright or pairs trades...