Volatility Views 334: Fed and Trump Kick VIX into Overdrive

Published: Dec. 26, 2018, 5:38 p.m.

Volatility Review: A look at last week from a volatility perspective.

  • VIX Cash - 26.5, nearly 4-points higher than last show.
  • VVIX - 105, 8-points higher than last show
  • Mnuchin Blames Volcker Rule, High-Speed Trading for Volatility
  • VIX Options - ADV: 575k down nearly 20k from last show. Total 5.50m (4.23m Calls, 1.27m Puts)
  • VXX - 46, 6.5-points higher than last show.
  • SVXY - 43, almost 3 handles lower than last show.

Volatility Voicemail: Options question of the week

Which upcoming volatility product are you most excited about trading in 2019? Or are you content to stay with the original despite lingering issues?

  • SPIKES
  • Realday/RealVol
  • Voldex/Skewdex
  • I'll stick with VIX

Comments, questions, and musings:

  • Mark Twain on Volatility - "October. This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August, and February." -Mark Twain
  • Comment from Pat Hennessy - There are a total of 6,600 $VIX Dec puts that will be ITM if the VIX settles above 24. 1.66 million VIX puts will expire totally worthless. This represents over 64% of all open VIX puts. Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.
  • Question from JLVC - What's the vol crew predicting for 2019?
  • Question from Sangfrois - Why no options on $TVIX?

Crystal Ball: Wild and reckless prognostication

Last week:

  • Mark L. - 19.25
  • Mark S. - 27.25

This week:

  • Mark L. - 23.45
  • Mark S. - 28.85