What are Inline Warrants?

What are Inline Warrants?

Inline Warrants are structured investment products that allow investors to obtain a fixed cash return upon maturity, based on whether the price of the underlying asset falls within a preset upper and lower price range. Investors can participate in the price fluctuations of the underlying asset without paying the full cost of the asset.

Inline Warrants are issued by independent third parties such as licensed investment banks, with no connection to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) or the issuers of the underlying assets. They are listed and traded on the HKEX cash market in complete "lots", settled only in cash upon maturity, and do not involve physical delivery of the underlying assets.

How to Calculate the Maturity Return of Inline Warrants?

Upon maturity, the return is determined by comparing the reference price of the underlying asset with the preset upper and lower price limits:

• In-the-range (price between upper and lower limits): Each unit of Inline Warrant entitles the investor to a fixed return of HK$1;
• Out-of-the-range (price below the lower limit or above the upper limit): Each unit of Inline Warrant entitles the investor to a fixed return of HK$0.25.

Reference price standards: For index-based assets, it is based on the final settlement price of the index futures for the same period; for single-stock assets, it is based on the average closing price of the five trading days before the maturity date.

What are the Core Features of Inline Warrants?

1. No mandatory call mechanism: Unlike CBBCs, even if the price of the underlying asset is temporarily out-of-the-range, investors can continue to hold the warrant until maturity, waiting for the price to return to the range;
2. Limited profit and loss: Investors can clearly know the maximum return (HK0.25 per unit) when buying, and the loss will not exceed the principal invested;
3. Flexible trading: They can be bought and sold at any time on the HKEX cash market to lock in profits, or held until maturity to receive the fixed return;
4. Tenor and trading restrictions: The tenor ranges from 6 months to 5 years, and trading at a price higher than HK$1 is prohibited (such transactions will not be recognized and will be cancelled).

What are the Code for Inline Warrants?

Code range: 47000-48999;

The naming rule for the stock abbreviation of the in-boundary securities: QQZZ year, month and boundary A, the code range of the in-boundary securities is 47000-48999.

QQ = related assets

ZZ = publisher

Year =expiration year

Month = expiration month. January to October will be represented by Chinese numbers (one, two...ten); November and December will be represented by "A" and "B" respectively

Boundary = boundary certificate

A = The same issuer reissues inbound certificates with the same expiry date and month for the same related asset to show the serial number (A, B, C...)

What are the Main Risks of Inline Warrants?

1. Fixed upper limit on returns: The maximum return is only HK$1 per unit, with no room for additional appreciation;
2. Potential loss of principal: The maximum loss may be the entire principal invested;
3. Value deviation risk: When the market price is lower or higher than the fixed return level, it may not reflect the true value of the product;
4. Trading restriction risk: Transactions above HK$1 will not be recognized and will be automatically cancelled.