If you would like to understand Asia’s affinity with derivatives, especially among its army of “mom-and-pop traders”, search for “CBBC.” Top of the internet listings, even above CBeebies, the BBC children’s TV channel beloved of parents, comes the Hong Kong CBBC platforms of the likes of Credit Suisse and HSBC.

Derivatives including Hong Kong’s callable bull-bear contracts highlight the gulf between east and west in terms of market behaviour and thinking. The best example of this is leveraged exchange traded funds, which are seeking space alongside the city’s booming CBBC market.

The Hong Kong Exchange recently introduced its first leveraged ETF, ahead of Singapore and following in the footsteps of Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei, where business is booming. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Leveraged Index ETF, the largest such fund in the world, grew so big at one point last year that it suspended investment for fear of swamping the futures market via which it produces its returns.