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Forecast Contract Opinions for Tomorrows’ Permits, Starts, HK GDP: May 15, 2025

Forecast Contract Opinions for Tomorrows’ Permits, Starts, HK GDP: May 15, 2025

Posted May 15, 2025 at 12:45 pm

Jose Torres
IBKR Macroeconomics

I like a few high-conviction combination trades heading into tomorrow’s economic indicator expirations, including building permits, housing starts, and Hong Kong’s first-quarter GDP.

For permits, I like buying the “Yes” answer at the 1.40 million threshold for $0.90 and the “No” answer at 1.50 million for $0.70. The combination trade costs a total of $1.60 and would deliver $2.00 to the investor on a number as low as 1.41 million or as high as 1.50 million. In addition, I also like the prices on the “Yes” answer at 1.35 million and the “No” answers at 1.55 million, 1.60 million and 1.65 million, which range from $0.82 to $0.96.

Historical umber of building permits issued
IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if building permits will exceed 1.40 million in April
IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if building permits will exceed 1.50 million in April
Pricing of Forecast Contracts for building permits

For starts, I like the “Yes” answer at the 1.30 million threshold for $0.85 and the “No” answer at 1.50 million for $0.88. The combination trade costs a total of $1.73 and delivers $2.00 back to the investor on a number as low as 1.31 million or as high as 1.50 million. In addition, I also like the price for the “No” answer at 1.60 million for $0.93.

Historical volumes of housing starts and ForecatTrader Thresholds.
IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if building starts will exceed 1.30 million in April.
IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if building starts will exceed 1.50 million in April.
Pricing of ForecastTrader contracts related to housing starts

Looking to Asia, Hong Kong’s GDP grew at 3.1% year over year during the first quarter, according to the initial estimate. Tomorrow’s revised number is likely to range from more than 0.3% lower to more than 0.6% higher, so I like buying the “Yes” answer at the 2.7% threshold for $0.95 and the “No” answer at 3.7% for $0.93. The combination trade costs a total of $1.88 and delivers $2.00 back to the investor on a figure as low at 2.8% or as high as 3.7%, offering a buffer to the investor in case of a miss or beat.

IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if Hong Kong Real GDP will exceed 2.7% in Q1
IBKR ForecastTrader Contract asking if Hong Kong Real GDP will exceed 3.7% in Q1

Source for Images: ForecastEx

Note: Prices are highest bids as of the morning of May 15, 2025. Red circles around the thresholds were inserted by J. Torres to highlight his preferred “Yes” and “No” answers throughout different thresholds.

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Information posted on IBKR Campus that is provided by third-parties does NOT constitute a recommendation that you should contract for the services of that third party. Third-party participants who contribute to IBKR Campus are independent of Interactive Brokers and Interactive Brokers does not make any representations or warranties concerning the services offered, their past or future performance, or the accuracy of the information provided by the third party. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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