IBAFIN

In recent days, the normalized skew of the S&P 500 index has significantly flattened, presenting opportunities for options traders. According to the desk at GS Derivatives, the downside puts are now the cheapest they have been in over a year and a half, while calls remain relatively expensive. This shift in pricing dynamics creates an…

Korea’s AI melt-up has been making waves in global markets, and it’s important to understand the potential spillover effects. While KOSPI may not be directly impactful for all investors, the ripples from Korea’s increasingly reflexive AI mania can have far-reaching consequences. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the reasons behind the recent market volatility…

As Bitcoin (BTC) reversed right at the 200-day moving average, many traders and investors were caught off guard. The cryptocurrency has since rolled over, breaking below several key short-term levels as of writing. This sudden turn of events has left many wondering if this is a sign of things to come in the cryptocurrency market.…

As we previously outlined, the current market conditions are eerily similar to those experienced during the late stages of the 1990s melt-up. The 1997 pattern in particular has been following the current market closely, serving as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unchecked market exuberance. During the 1990s, the stock market experienced a…

Retail investors are exhibiting a highly selective approach to front-running the widely anticipated SpaceX IPO, with flows favoring broad thematic ETF exposure through UFO and “second derivative” beneficiaries like RDW. This trend has been a dominant feature of much of 2026, making single-name retail flow tracking an increasingly important signal. According to Vanda Research, retail…

As the USD STIR market continues to experience a tumultuous period, hedge funds are starting to re-engage in spreads and fly trades that became dislocated during the recent sell-off. While outright positioning remains relatively muted, there is a growing bias towards receiving these trades, as investors believe that any further sell-off would require clearer support…

The US Treasury front end saw a slight easing in yields on Friday, with the 10-year note ending the half session around 4.57%. Meanwhile, the 5s30s curve flattened by approximately 4 basis points (bps). This development can be attributed to optimism surrounding the ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks. The recent volatility in the long end of…

As the yields on US high-yield ex-energy corporate bonds continue to rise, while credit spreads widen versus investment grade, some experts are starting to sound the alarm bells. The growing stress in lower-quality credit could signal increasing downside risks for equities, according to a recent chart from BCA. The spread between high-yield ex-energy corporate bonds…

AI has long been hailed as a productivity miracle, transforming industries and driving economic growth. However, recent data suggests that the technology may be having an unexpected impact on inflation. In the US, software CPI is running above 60% annualized, capital goods inflation is at its highest since the early 1990s, and North Asia AI…

The New York Times is one of the most respected and widely read news sources in the world, so when it gives praise to a new technology, it can have significant consequences. Unfortunately, this praise often comes with a heavy price, as recent events have shown. In this blog post, we will delve into the…