Exponential growth in equity income investing such as options income solutions reflects investors’ demand for dependable yield and reduced volatility. Careful selection is now essential, as the landscape expands to nearly 400 options across major markets worldwide.
Important Information for Asia Equity High Income Fund, China Equity High Income Fund, Global Equity High Income Fund, Europe Equity High Income Fund
Asia Equity High Income Fund
1. The Fund invests primarily (at least 70%) in equity securities of listed companies in Asia (excluding Japan), and using derivatives where appropriate.
2. The Fund is therefore exposed to risks related to equity, derivatives, emerging markets, concentration, smaller companies, currency, liquidity, hedging, class currency and currency hedged classes. RMB hedged class also exposes to risks associated with the RMB currency. RMB is currently not freely convertible and RMB convertibility from offshore RMB (CNH) to onshore RMB (CNY) is a managed currency process subject to foreign exchange control policies of and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. There can be no assurance that RMB will not be subject to devaluation at some point. The Manager may, under extreme market conditions when there is not sufficient RMB for currency conversion and with the approval of the Trustee, pay redemption monies and/or distributions in USD.
3. Where the income generated by the Fund is insufficient to pay a distribution as the Fund declares, the Manager may at its discretion determine such distributions may be paid from capital including realised and unrealised capital gains. Investors should note that the payment of distributions out of capital represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount they originally invested or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any payments of distributions by the Fund may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value per unit. Also, a positive distribution yield does not imply a positive return on the total investment.
4. Investors may be subject to substantial losses.
5. Investors should not solely rely on this document to make any investment decision.
China Equity High Income Fund
1. The Fund invests primarily (at least 70%) in equity securities of companies which are based in or operate principally in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and which are listed on any stock exchange outside of mainland China; and by using derivatives where appropriate.
2. The Fund is therefore exposed to risks related to equity, derivatives, China market, concentration, smaller companies, emerging market, PRC tax, currency, liquidity, Chinese variable interest entity, hedging, class currency, RMB currency and currency hedged classes. RMB is currently not freely convertible and RMB convertibility from offshore RMB (CNH) to onshore RMB (CNY) is a managed currency process subject to foreign exchange control policies of and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. There can be no assurance that RMB will not be subject to devaluation at some point.
3. Where the income generated by the Fund is insufficient to pay a distribution as the Fund declares, the Manager may at its discretion determine such distributions may be paid from capital including realised and unrealised capital gains. Investors should note that the payment of distributions out of capital represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount they originally invested or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any payments of distributions by the Fund may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value per unit. Also, a positive distribution yield does not imply a positive return on the total investment.
4. Investors may be subject to substantial losses.
5. Investors should not solely rely on this document to make any investment decision.
Global Equity High Income Fund
1. The Fund invests primarily (at least 70%) in equity securities of listed companies, globally, and using derivatives where appropriate.
2. The Fund is therefore exposed to risks related to equity, derivatives, concentration, emerging markets, smaller companies, currency, hedging, class currency and currency hedged classes. RMB hedged class also exposes to risks associated with the RMB currency. RMB is currently not freely convertible and RMB convertibility from offshore RMB (CNH) to onshore RMB (CNY) is a managed currency process subject to foreign exchange control policies of and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. There can be no assurance that RMB will not be subject to devaluation at some point. The Manager may, under extreme market conditions when there is not sufficient RMB for currency conversion and with the approval of the Trustee, pay redemption monies and/or distributions in USD.
3. Where the income generated by the Fund is insufficient to pay a distribution as the Fund declares, the Manager may at its discretion determine such distributions may be paid from capital including realised and unrealised capital gains. Investors should note that the payment of distributions out of capital represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount they originally invested or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any payments of distributions by the Fund may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value per unit. Also, a positive distribution yield does not imply a positive return on the total investment.
4. Investors may be subject to substantial losses.
5. Investors should not solely rely on this document to make any investment decision.
Europe Equity High Income Fund
1. The Fund invests at least 70% in equity securities of companies which are based in, listed on stock exchange of or operate principally in Europe and are expected to pay dividends, and using derivatives where appropriate. The Fund will have limited RMB denominated underlying investments.
2. The Fund is therefore exposed to a range of investment related risks which includes risks related to equity, derivatives, dividend-paying equity (no guarantee that the companies that the Fund invests in and which have historically paid dividends will continue to pay dividends or to pay dividends at the current rates in the future), concentration, currency, liquidity, class currency and currency hedged classes. For RMB hedged class, risks associated with the RMB currency and currency hedged classes risks. RMB is currently not freely convertible and RMB convertibility from offshore RMB (CNH) to onshore RMB (CNY) is a managed currency process subject to foreign exchange control policies of and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. There can be no assurance that RMB will not be subject to devaluation at some point. The Manager may, under extreme market conditions when there is not sufficient RMB for currency conversion and with the approval of the Trustee, pay redemption monies and/or distributions in fund’s base currency.
3. Where the income generated by the Fund is insufficient to pay a distribution as the Fund declares, the Manager may at its discretion determine such distributions may be paid from capital including realised and unrealised capital gains. Investors should note that the payment of distributions out of capital represents a return or withdrawal of part of the amount they originally invested or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any payments of distributions by the Fund may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value per unit. Also, a positive distribution yield does not imply a positive return on the total investment.
4. Investors may be subject to substantial losses.
5. Investors should not solely rely on this document to make any investment decision.
Why is derivatives income investing, including those using options income, becoming more popular?
Derivatives income investing including those that rely on options to enhance income have experienced exponential growth since 2020.
Equity-specific derivatives income investing has led the way, surging to over US$250 billion as of 05.03.2026 from just over US$30 billion (Exhibit 1). This expansion has been largely driven by investors’ search for higher and more consistent yields in an environment where traditional income sources have been challenged.
With the environment marked by global uncertainty and fluctuating interest rates, investors worldwide are seeking alternative sources of yield with more certainties.
At the same time, ongoing volatility in global markets has further increased the appeal of derivatives income investing. However, with nearly 400 equity derivatives income solutions available including more than 120 launched globally in 20251, the landscape has become crowded and complex, presenting investors with a challenging array of options to navigate.
What should investors consider when choosing an options income strategy?
As the category has expanded rapidly, there is now significant variation in how derivatives income investing including options income are implemented. Key considerations for investors when selecting the right solution include:
1) Active vs Passive equity exposure: Many funds use passive, index-based portfolios, but active management has the potential to add value through stock selection and reducing volatility—advantages not available with passive approaches.
2) Options overlay and income generation: The way the options overlay is managed is crucial. Opportunistic or market-timing overlays can lead to unpredictable outcomes, while funds that adjust the proportion of the portfolio overwritten to meet income targets can affect risk and return. Higher yields often stem from riskier methods, such as call overwriting on single, high-volatility shares or concentrated portfolios.
3) Income distribution methods: Some funds pay out all premium income immediately, while others retain a portion for reinvestment or future distributions.
How may investors incorporate options income strategy into their portfolio?
We believe that combining an actively managed equity portfolio with a disciplined options overlay for long-term investment avoids the pitfalls of market timing. By regularly selling out-of-the-money call options on a portion of the portfolio, regardless of market conditions, the objective is to generate income across different environments.
In volatile markets, the ability to generate potential higher income is a distinct advantage, supporting income needs and helping to manage risk.
While yield is the primary objective, derivatives income investing can serve several important roles within a portfolio:
1) Yield generation: They seek to enhance overall portfolio income, which is particularly valuable when interest rates are low or declining.
2) Diversified equity solution: These funds seek to present a diversified source of total return not solely dependent on market gains.
3) Reduced credit exposure: They provide the potential for capital appreciation and income with less exposure to credit, duration, and interest rate risk, making them a compelling alternative or complement to high yield bonds, preference shares, or emerging market debt.
Conclusion
Derivatives income investing presents an attractive option for yield-seeking investors, blending equity growth potential with enhanced income. As the category expands, careful selection is key to meeting investment objectives. In today’s environment, this category merits serious consideration within a diversified, outcome-focused portfolio.