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The opportunity for hedging Italian risk via higher EUR vols can be found on a long EURSGD / short USDSGD Gamma vol RV implementation. The trade offers a direct exposure to higher EUR vols, and, at present, a positive carry (refer 1stchart): the 2M implied spread, at around 0.6 vols, is well below the current realised spread at 1.3 vols.
The common SGD exposure for both long and short vol legs should insulate the trade from another wave of risk-off sentiment for EM and, more specifically, from a resumption of trade tariff tensions between US and China.
In practice, while the sensitivity of USDSGD to global risk factors tends to be higher than for EURSGD, the low- beta/safe haven status of SGD within Asia should contain the magnitude of the moves for both long and short vol legs.
If ever, the opposite sensitivity of USDSGD (positive beta) and EURSGD (negative beta) on the BTP-Bund spread suggests implementing the trade via puts rather than via straddles: in case of a EM risk-off market and/or of a generalised rise in vol levels, USDSGD is expected to rise, thus triggering a sharp drop in the Gamma of the short- vol leg and containing its downside PnL-wise. The disadvantage of a reduced (or even slightly negative) vol carry due to the relative skews is a feature that we acknowledge but which does alter substantially the benefit of the suggested implementation: 2ndchart confirms the good historical performance of the trade, especially during episodes of the spread realising. We propose buying a 2M 25 delta EUR put/SGD [email protected]/6.15 vol indic vs selling a 2M 25 delta USD put/SGD call @4.6 vol choice spread, spot ref EURSGD 1.5870, USDSGD 1.3802, Vega-neutral notionals, to keep delta-hedged. Courtesy: JPM
Currency Strength Index: FxWirePro's hourly EUR spot index is inching towards 96 levels (which is bullish), hourly USD spot index is showing at -116 (bearish), while articulating (at 13:23 GMT). For more details on the index, please refer below weblink: http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
