The Throes of VIX
Listen to Volatility Views 322: The Throes of VIX
Volatility Review: A look at the week from a volatility perspective
VIX Cash – 12.2, down 2.2 points from last show
- RVX – 13.9, down 2 points from last week
- VVIX – 91, nine handles lower than last show
- Cboe SKEW Index Tops 150 for Record Four Straight Trading Days; Some Cite Surge in Black-Swan Hedging
- VIX Options – ADV: 467k, VIX call/put: 2.8/1, Total 6.86m (5.04m Calls, 1.82m Puts)
- More size Oct/Nov risk reversal on Weds – over 50k on the tape.
- VXX – 26.65, over 1 point lower than last show.
Volatility Voicemail: Options question of the week
Some people look to analysts for their market outlook. We prefer to analyze actual options positions. This week we’re looking at SPY. In a nutshell – what do you think is the largest options position in SPY right now? No cheating – what does your gut tell you?
- 16% – SPY Mar 255.0 P
- 32% – SPY Oct 272.0 P
- 34% – SPY Dec 31st 320.0 C
- 18% – SPY Sep 300.0 C
Listener questions and comments:
- Question from Godfr3y – I’m long VXX from 28.30 and long Jan 25 puts from $.55. Today I sold the Oct05 29.50 call for $.56. Thoughts? Should I just scrap the shares?
- Question from Piers – I’m long a bunch of VXX puts. I’m wondering if it is cheaper to buy VXX stock rather than the OTM calls to hedge against vol spikes over short periods like weekends or a few days. The underlying isn’t going to suffer the same theta as the options and you get more deltas.
Crystal Ball: Wild prognostication
Last week:
- Mark L. – 11.67
- Mark S. – 12.15
Next week:
- Mark L. – 11.25
- Mark S. – 12.14