Volatility Views 52: The Father of Financial Futures

Volatility Views 52: The Father of Financial Futures

Volatility Review: Listeners from last week may remember Don made a timid prediction that the realized volatility of NASDAQ could be going a bit higher, and it managed to inch up a few basis points. It was a strong down week for equities. Since this selloff was gradual, the actual market volatility was not significant. Greek and French elections this weekend may fuel some volatility moves next week.Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guest is Dr. Richard Sandor, "the father of financial futures," and Chairman and CEO of Environmental Financial Products. Dr. Sandor discusses his new book "Good Derivatives," and his storied career. He distinguishes between regulated and unregulated derivatives, discusses what it takes to create a new market, and his involvement in the issue of acid rain.Crystal Ball: There may be an increase in realized volatility on NASDAQ in the next week. Putting a cap on volatility at 20%. Upcoming elections in both France and Greece.

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Volatility Views 51: Risk Managers: The Adults in the Group

Volatility Views 51: Risk Managers: The Adults in the Group

Volatility Review: VIX options were absolutely crushed this week. Apple after earnings and its effect on NASDAQ vol. Don and Sebastian weigh in on VVIX.Volatility Viewpoint: Volatility Views welcomes back Euan Sinclair, author and risk manager at Bluefin Trading, to discuss risk management and his work on the barrier (or first time) method for calculating volatility. Euan gives a quick sneak preview of the updates to his book. The group also discusses Euan's opinion on vol of vol, and if the universe of ETPs has dramatically affected the vol of vol.Crystal Ball: Sebastian is looking at a 14-handle in the VIX and observed that S&P realized volatility was already in the 14s and would probably maintain those levels. Now that Apple's earnings are out of the way, what to look for in the NASDAQ? Getting close to the summer doldrums.

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Volatility Views 51: Risk Managers: The Adults in the Group

Volatility Views 51: Risk Managers: The Adults in the Group

Volatility Review: VIX options were absolutely crushed this week. Apple after earnings and its effect on NASDAQ vol. Don and Sebastian weigh in on VVIX.Volatility Viewpoint: Volatility Views welcomes back Euan Sinclair, author and risk manager at Bluefin Trading, to discuss risk management and his work on the barrier (or first time) method for calculating volatility. Euan gives a quick sneak preview of the updates to his book. The group also discusses Euan's opinion on vol of vol, and if the universe of ETPs has dramatically affected the vol of vol.Crystal Ball: Sebastian is looking at a 14-handle in the VIX and observed that S&P realized volatility was already in the 14s and would probably maintain those levels. Now that Apple's earnings are out of the way, what to look for in the NASDAQ? Getting close to the summer doldrums.

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Volatility Views 50: Listener Mail Extravaganza

Volatility Views 50: Listener Mail Extravaganza

Volatility Review: NASDAQ (aka Apple+) is starting to see a rise in realized volatility, as had been anticipated. VIX looks like it is settling back into a range, so we will have to see if it holds where it is or moves yet again. We seem to be in flux; there's no real trend here. Listener Mail: The panel answers your questionsCrystal Ball: NASDAQ volatility at nearly historic lows, which Don predicts will rise over the short term. However, he did not say "buy 'em." Remember his motto re options: "Sell, or don't sell." Sebastian discusses shocking bond movement, earnings season, and Apple.

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Volatility Views 50: Listener Mail Extravaganza

Volatility Views 50: Listener Mail Extravaganza

Volatility Review: NASDAQ (aka Apple+) is starting to see a rise in realized volatility, as had been anticipated. VIX looks like it is settling back into a range, so we will have to see if it holds where it is or moves yet again. We seem to be in flux; there's no real trend here. Listener Mail: The panel answers your questionsCrystal Ball: NASDAQ volatility at nearly historic lows, which Don predicts will rise over the short term. However, he did not say "buy 'em." Remember his motto re options: "Sell, or don't sell." Sebastian discusses shocking bond movement, earnings season, and Apple.

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Volatility Views 49: How Best to Price Variance and Volatility Swaps

Volatility Views 49: How Best to Price Variance and Volatility Swaps

Volatility Review: It's funny how it didn't take long for our prediction of a range-bound VIX to be proven wrong! The VVIX has been high. Is a tradable VIX of VIX in the works? What have the NASDAQ and SPX vol of vol six-month averages been? One-year? Don gives some remarkable numbers. Apple on the move downwards; some are eager to buy Apple at 600. NASDAQ vol cones, like most volatility readings, are at historical lows. Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guests, Thomas Thorsen and Emil Stamp, are the authors of the master's thesis, "Pricing of Variance and Volatility Swaps in a Stochastic Volatility and Jump Framework." The gang discusses pricing models of OTC variance swaps, the different models the authors created, and the accuracy of the models for both forecasting realized volatility, as well as pricing of variance swaps and GARCH models in real-world applications.Crystal Ball: Are you still shorting the VIX? Are higher levels forecasted for the future? Perception versus reality.

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Volatility Views 49: How Best to Price Variance and Volatility Swaps

Volatility Views 49: How Best to Price Variance and Volatility Swaps

Volatility Review: It's funny how it didn't take long for our prediction of a range-bound VIX to be proven wrong! The VVIX has been high. Is a tradable VIX of VIX in the works? What have the NASDAQ and SPX vol of vol six-month averages been? One-year? Don gives some remarkable numbers. Apple on the move downwards; some are eager to buy Apple at 600. NASDAQ vol cones, like most volatility readings, are at historical lows. Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guests, Thomas Thorsen and Emil Stamp, are the authors of the master's thesis, "Pricing of Variance and Volatility Swaps in a Stochastic Volatility and Jump Framework." The gang discusses pricing models of OTC variance swaps, the different models the authors created, and the accuracy of the models for both forecasting realized volatility, as well as pricing of variance swaps and GARCH models in real-world applications.Crystal Ball: Are you still shorting the VIX? Are higher levels forecasted for the future? Perception versus reality.

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Volatility Views 48: Masters of the VIX

Volatility Views 48: Masters of the VIX

Volatility Review: Not much vol action to report with the markets closed on recording day (Friday). Steep contango in VIX futures has lessened in the past few weeks. Long holiday weekend volatility didn't fully come out of VIX futures and index options, which is highly interesting and unusual. Also an unusual situation — unemployment numbers were released on a day when the market was closed. Don and Mark discuss contango. NASDAQ volatility update.Volatility Viewpoint: Mark and Don are joined by David Palmer, Volatility Book Portfolio Manager at Hudson Bay Capital. They discuss the evolution of skew, the growing market of products tied to VIX, and how they're manipulating the underlying, the halting of TVIX share creation, OTC versus listed trading, volatility arbitrage opportunities, rational arbitrage, and hedging and downside protection.Crystal Ball: Nothing to rant about in S&P land, at least until we reach the next unknown unknown. Summer doldrums are coming. The impact of having such low levels of realized volatility.

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Volatility Views 48: Masters of the VIX

Volatility Views 48: Masters of the VIX

Volatility Review: Not much vol action to report with the markets closed on recording day (Friday). Steep contango in VIX futures has lessened in the past few weeks. Long holiday weekend volatility didn't fully come out of VIX futures and index options, which is highly interesting and unusual. Also an unusual situation — unemployment numbers were released on a day when the market was closed. Don and Mark discuss contango. NASDAQ volatility update.Volatility Viewpoint: Mark and Don are joined by David Palmer, Volatility Book Portfolio Manager at Hudson Bay Capital. They discuss the evolution of skew, the growing market of products tied to VIX, and how they're manipulating the underlying, the halting of TVIX share creation, OTC versus listed trading, volatility arbitrage opportunities, rational arbitrage, and hedging and downside protection.Crystal Ball: Nothing to rant about in S&P land, at least until we reach the next unknown unknown. Summer doldrums are coming. The impact of having such low levels of realized volatility.

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Volatility Views 47: How Dynamic Volatility Can Reshape Your Portfolio

Volatility Views 47: How Dynamic Volatility Can Reshape Your Portfolio

Volatility Review: VIX review, with interesting corresponding elements relative to VIX and VIX skew. Monday massive overreaction to the market rally. NASDAQ vol review, driven by AAPL, which is slowing down a bit. Volatility Viewpoint: Mark, Bob, and Mark are joined by Peter Christoffersen, Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and author of Elements of Financial Risk Management and the forthcoming Handbook of Economic Forecasting. Prof. Christoffersen discusses dynamic volatility, the Sharpe ratio, and practical applications for the average investor. Mark asks Prof. Christoffersen whether it's possible to have a truly diversified portfolio without having some kind of volatility asset. He also discusses his research on skew and its impact on the underlying instrument. Crystal Ball: Looking deep into the murky ether of the future of volatility, Mark and Mark pontificate on the contango environment of VIX futures, with Sebastian seeing VIX staying between 14 and 17. Will AAPL vol come in? As AAPL goes, so goes the NASDAQ. There might be an increase in volatility post-Easter, with the beginning of earnings season.

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Volatility Views 47: How Dynamic Volatility Can Reshape Your Portfolio

Volatility Views 47: How Dynamic Volatility Can Reshape Your Portfolio

Volatility Review: VIX review, with interesting corresponding elements relative to VIX and VIX skew. Monday massive overreaction to the market rally. NASDAQ vol review, driven by AAPL, which is slowing down a bit. Volatility Viewpoint: Mark, Bob, and Mark are joined by Peter Christoffersen, Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and author of Elements of Financial Risk Management and the forthcoming Handbook of Economic Forecasting. Prof. Christoffersen discusses dynamic volatility, the Sharpe ratio, and practical applications for the average investor. Mark asks Prof. Christoffersen whether it's possible to have a truly diversified portfolio without having some kind of volatility asset. He also discusses his research on skew and its impact on the underlying instrument. Crystal Ball: Looking deep into the murky ether of the future of volatility, Mark and Mark pontificate on the contango environment of VIX futures, with Sebastian seeing VIX staying between 14 and 17. Will AAPL vol come in? As AAPL goes, so goes the NASDAQ. There might be an increase in volatility post-Easter, with the beginning of earnings season.

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