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.

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>Price jump on Wednesday led implied vol higher but vols were otherwise soft with passing of key events in November.</li>
<li>Large jump in option activity on Wednesday was likely due to positions being closed out as open interest declined for both Puts and Calls on the week.</li>
<li>HSCEI has more support for implied vols at these levels with short term historic vols trading above 1M implied vol. </li>
</ul>


Price jump on Wednesday led implied vol higher but vols were otherwise soft with passing of key events in November.
Large jump in option activity on Wednesday was likely due to positions being closed out as open interest declined for both Puts and Calls on the week.
HSCEI has more support for implied vols at these levels with short term historic vols trading above 1M implied vol. 


EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI Nov 25-29

<ul>
<li>Put trading was heavy in the Financial sector this week. ICBC and Bank of China were the main contributors to that with 73% and 63% of their volume in Puts.</li>
<li>ANTA Sports Products had a notable pick up in Call activity this past week as the stock bounces around 3 year lows vs the Hang Seng index (graph at bottom)</li>
<li>Energy and Real Estate sectors might be the best area to look for low vol opportunities.</li>
</ul>


Put trading was heavy in the Financial sector this week. ICBC and Bank of China were the main contributors to that with 73% and 63% of their volume in Puts.
ANTA Sports Products had a notable pick up in Call activity this past week as the stock bounces around 3 year lows vs the Hang Seng index (graph at bottom)
Energy and Real Estate sectors might be the best area to look for low vol opportunities.


EQD | Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly Nov 25-29

The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

<ul>
<li>We introduce a new section this month showing implied vol vs average absolute December price movement. A good way to screen for straddle candidates for the month ahead.</li>
<li>Implied vols came in hard in November with the US election and the FOMC in the rear-view mirror.</li>
<li>Price performance across markets especially strong in the final week of the month with SP500, Nifty and SPASX200 postive on the month ~ 70% of the time. </li>
</ul>


We introduce a new section this month showing implied vol vs average absolute December price movement. A good way to screen for straddle candidates for the month ahead.
Implied vols came in hard in November with the US election and the FOMC in the rear-view mirror.
Price performance across markets especially strong in the final week of the month with SP500, Nifty and SPASX200 postive on the month ~ 70% of the time. 


EQD | Asia December Vol Roadmap - The Big Exhale

Tencent Holdings Limited operates as an investment holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides Internet and mobile value-added services (VAS), online advertising, and e-commerce transactions. Tencent Holdings offers services to users worldwide.

<ul>
<li>Implied vols were lower across all sectors on the week with option volumes peaking on Friday.</li>
<li>Post-Earnings vol crush helped push vols lower for key names.</li>
<li>Tencent stands out with low implied vols over the past year, high liquidity and is trading almost 17% below its 52 week high.</li>
</ul>


Implied vols were lower across all sectors on the week with option volumes peaking on Friday.
Post-Earnings vol crush helped push vols lower for key names.
Tencent stands out with low implied vols over the past year, high liquidity and is trading almost 17% below its 52 week high.


EQD | Hong Kong Single Stock Options Weekly

<ul>
<li>Move away from short gamma levels and position covering help push HSI implied vols lower on the week. </li>
<li>Short dated Puts are still very active in HSCEI at the 6300 and 6800 strikes. </li>
<li>Both HSI and HSCEI implied vols are trading about 2 points above their pre-stimulus levels. </li>
</ul>


Move away from short gamma levels and position covering help push HSI implied vols lower on the week. 
Short dated Puts are still very active in HSCEI at the 6300 and 6800 strikes. 
Both HSI and HSCEI implied vols are trading about 2 points above their pre-stimulus levels. 


EQD | Hong Kong Index Options Weekly - HSI and HSCEI

Ex-Portfolio Manager with over 25 years of derivatives experience across products and geographies. Specializing in all things Vol - Relative Value volatility trading, Cross-Asset volatility strategies and event handicapping and trading. Develops own proprietary trading tools and analysis.  
Previously: Options Specialist and Market Maker at BMO, Managing Director Global Equity Derivatives at TDS. Most recently, Portfolio Manager of volatility portfolio at Polar Aset Management Partners (> $USD 7 billion multi-strategy hedge fund) focusing on cross-asset relative value volatility and derivative fund overlays.