Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Event-Driven

The Hang Seng Index is a free-float capitalization-weighted index of a selection of companies from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. The components of the index are divided into four subindices: Commerce and Industry, Finance, Utilities, and Properties. The index was developed with a base level of 100 as of July 31, 1964.

<ul>
<li>
<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> implied volatility fell across the term structure and skew. The skew displays a smile favoring specific option strategies.</li>
<li>The most traded HKEX traded tailor-made combinations are Call and Put Spreads. Straddles, Strangles and Butterflies have become less popular most recently.</li>
<li>While three quarters of all strategies take a long volatility position, there is a balance in bullish, bearish, and market-neutral strategies.</li>
</ul>



Hang Seng Index (HSI INDEX) implied volatility fell across the term structure and skew. The skew displays a smile favoring specific option strategies.
The most traded HKEX traded tailor-made combinations are Call and Put Spreads. Straddles, Strangles and Butterflies have become less popular most recently.
While three quarters of all strategies take a long volatility position, there is a balance in bullish, bearish, and market-neutral strategies.


EQD | Hang Seng (HSI) – Analysis of Option Strategies Recently Traded on HKEX

Federal Bank Limited operates branches and regional offices throughout India. The Bank offers a wide range of financial services, including merchant banking, international banking and foreign exchange, leasing facilities, money markets and agricultural advances. The Bank also provides lending for hi-tech agricultural and government sponsored schemes.

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nifty-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23617:1" rel="noopener">NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX)</a> and the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nse-nifty-bank-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26811:1" rel="noopener">NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY)</a> reached all-time highs on 26 September 2024 but have since declined.</li>
<li>Most stocks in the Bank Index have fallen below their 200 and 50 day moving average,. Volatilities have gone up, but trade cheap when compared to historical levels.</li>
<li>Opportunities present themselves either in stocks that stayed resilient during the downturn (<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/federal-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11784:1" rel="noopener">Federal Bank (FB IN)),</a>or fell and gained in implied volatility. A long-short strategy might also be considered.</li>
</ul>


The NIFTY Index (NIFTY INDEX) and the NSE Nifty Bank Index (NSEBANK INDEX EQUITY) reached all-time highs on 26 September 2024 but have since declined.
Most stocks in the Bank Index have fallen below their 200 and 50 day moving average,. Volatilities have gone up, but trade cheap when compared to historical levels.
Opportunities present themselves either in stocks that stayed resilient during the downturn (Federal Bank (FB IN)),or fell and gained in implied volatility. A long-short strategy might also be considered.


EQD | Nifty Banks – Single Stock Options and Relative Value Opportunities

TSE Tokyo Price Index TOPIX / Event-Driven

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.

<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

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.

<ul>
<li>US equity indices led global markets in a post-election sharp decline in implied volatility.</li>
<li>With only 34 trading days left in 2024, investors might want to hedge the gains from a profitable year with tactical long puts.</li>
<li>Several markets make good candidates for long put positions due to a combination of cheap options and potentially bearish factors. One example being 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/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a> </li>
</ul>


US equity indices led global markets in a post-election sharp decline in implied volatility.
With only 34 trading days left in 2024, investors might want to hedge the gains from a profitable year with tactical long puts.
Several markets make good candidates for long put positions due to a combination of cheap options and potentially bearish factors. One example being the S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX) 


EQD | Global Option Implied Volatility – 34 Trading Days Left in 2024, Year-End Positioning.

Financial Economist with over 20 years of investment experience across all asset classes. He has worked as a sell-side derivatives researcher and trader on one of London’s largest trading floors, and as a structurer and portfolio manager for the buy-side in Switzerland. As head of Quantitative Strategy at an Asian WealthTech company, Gaudi and his team designed over 50 distinct investment strategies for institutional clients in Australasia.

Gaudi’s analysis follows a scientific approach based on empirical research and quantitative evidence.