Volatility Views 334: Fed and Trump Kick VIX into Overdrive

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