Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Event-Driven

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.</li>
<li>Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.</li>
<li>Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.</li>
</ul>


Several US tariffs are expected in March, but their implementation remains uncertain and is part of ongoing negotiations.
Central banks in India, Japan, and the US will announce rate decisions in March, with India possibly cutting rates by 0.25%.
Major HK stocks are set to announce earnings in March, and index changes will occur in the S&amp;P 500, Nifty 50, S&amp;P/ASX 200, and HSCEI indices.


March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

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

<ul>
<li>Media reports indicate that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> could sell JPY 600bn (US$4.02bn) of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:838:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank (7182 JP)</a> with the announcement coming as early as this week.</li>
<li>The selldown is driven by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:359:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP)</a> needing to reduce its holding in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-post-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:838:1" rel="noopener">Japan Post Bank (7182 JP)</a> to 50% or lower by March 2026.</li>
<li>Passive index trackers will buy around 11.4% of the offering at the time of settlement of the placement shares with the balance being bought in January 2026.</li>
</ul>


Media reports indicate that Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) could sell JPY 600bn (US$4.02bn) of Japan Post Bank (7182 JP) with the announcement coming as early as this week.
The selldown is driven by Japan Post Holdings (6178 JP) needing to reduce its holding in Japan Post Bank (7182 JP) to 50% or lower by March 2026.
Passive index trackers will buy around 11.4% of the offering at the time of settlement of the placement shares with the balance being bought in January 2026.


Japan Post Bank (7182 JP): Another BIG Offering of US$4bn Expected; Overhang Will Be Removed

Equity Derivatives

Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI 200 / Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The United States' tariff against Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, 2025, could disrupt global markets, with potential volatility spikes similar to early February's events.</li>
<li>
<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</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ftse-100-index-ukx" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22904:1" rel="noopener">FTSE 100</a>: low implied volatility offers opportunities for protective puts, </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/korea-stock-exchange-kospi-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26021:1" rel="noopener">KOSPI 200</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a>: an volatility premium suggests a relative value volatility arbitrage play. </li>
</ul>


The United States' tariff against Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, 2025, could disrupt global markets, with potential volatility spikes similar to early February's events.

S&amp;P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100: low implied volatility offers opportunities for protective puts, 

KOSPI 200 and Nikkei 225: an volatility premium suggests a relative value volatility arbitrage play. 


Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

Asia L/S Equity PM/Macro/Thematic Idea Generation

Rikki Malik

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook</li>
<li>China rally continues in the tech sector as investors “discover” the value</li>
<li>More evidence that the USD has peaked while gold continues to be at risk of a stock market correction</li>
</ul>


A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes or outlook
China rally continues in the tech sector as investors “discover” the value
More evidence that the USD has peaked while gold continues to be at risk of a stock market correction


Research from Water Tower Research, Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research

Research from Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

Equity Research Firm

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Tariffs and policy uncertainty don’t seem to be weighing down stocks in the furniture and furnishings space at this point.</li><li>The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was up 3.2%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index gained 6.4%, and the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 1.2%, all better than the broader market indexes.</li><li>The US imposed across-the-board 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.</li></ul>

Tariffs and policy uncertainty don’t seem to be weighing down stocks in the furniture and furnishings space at this point.The WTR Commercial/Contract Furniture Index was up 3.2%, the Residential Manufacturers &amp; Suppliers Index gained 6.4%, and the Home Goods Retailers Index was up 1.2%, all better than the broader market indexes.The US imposed across-the-board 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Steel and Aluminum Tariffs; Return-To-Work Enforcement, Realities

Japan

The TOPIX, also known as the Tokyo Stock Price Index, is a capitalization-weighted index of all companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The index is supplemented by the subindices of the 33 industry sectors. The index calculation excludes temporary issues and preferred stocks, and has a base value of 100 as of January 4, 1968.

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX (TPX INDEX)

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

Japan Post Bank (7182 JP): Another BIG Offering of US$4bn Expected; Overhang Will Be Removed

Media reports indicate that JPH could sell JPY600bn of JPB. The number could be slightly higher if JPH want to get to 50% from 61.5%. Passive...

Brian Freitas

Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.

Gaudenz Schneider

Overview #16 – And the Beat Goes On

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We follow up on the Chinese bull market, Gold and the USD/JPY

Rikki Malik

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Steel and Aluminum Tariffs; Return-To-Work Enforcement, Realities

Tariffs and policy uncertainty don’t seem to be weighing down stocks in the furniture and furnishings space at this point. The WTR...

Water Tower Research

March Key Events in Asia-Pac: Tariffs, Rates, Earnings, and Indices in Focus

​March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

Gaudenz Schneider

Japan Post Bank (7182 JP): Another BIG Offering of US$4bn Expected; Overhang Will Be Removed

Media reports indicate that JPH could sell JPY600bn of JPB. The number could be slightly higher if JPH want to get to 50% from 61.5%. Passive...

Brian Freitas

Global Option Implied Volatility - Opportunities in S&P/ASX 200, KOSPI 200, Nikkei 225, FTSE 100.

​US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.

Gaudenz Schneider

Overview #16 – And the Beat Goes On

A review of recent events/data impacting our investment themes and outlook. We follow up on the Chinese bull market, Gold and the USD/JPY

Rikki Malik

Furniture/Furnishings Weekly - Steel and Aluminum Tariffs; Return-To-Work Enforcement, Realities

Tariffs and policy uncertainty don’t seem to be weighing down stocks in the furniture and furnishings space at this point. The WTR...

Water Tower Research

March will be a busy month with US tariffs, central bank rate decisions, major HK stock earnings, and index changes on the horizon.

US tariffs on Mexico and Canada effective 4 March as a potentially adverse market event. S&P/ASX 200 and FTSE 100 offer protective put opportunities.