Volatility Review: CBOE Livevol launches new data shop website: datashop.cboe.com. Non-farms and volatility: VIX can be deceiving as steep curve shows uncertainty. New VIX ETFs: VMAX/VMIN.

Russells Weekly Rundown:

VIX Options: A light volume week overall: only one day even remotely exceeding ADV. Total 7.63m (5.58m Calls, 2.05m Puts)
Earnings: Last week premium buyers won the day, this week premium sellers are in charge.
ATVI - $34.60, ATM straddle $2.45, approx. 7%

Question of the Week Earnings Straddle Battle edition: Which will be more accurate TSLA $20 (8%) or BABA $4.70 (6%) ?

26% Tesla
31% Baba.
17% Sell both!
26% Buy both!

Volatility Voicemail: Listener questions and comments

Question from Topcat - Are options less risky and volatile than contracts for difference?
Comment from Mark Brant - Since VIX inception, VIX trends up from July to Oct. every year! Just like seasonality in grains!Sweet! @Options ATO: Selling 1k July 18 Puts to buy 2k July 29 Calls for even money! Really liking this play!

Crystal Ball: It's time for everyone's favorite game: Guess where VIX will close. Here are the predictions from when we last met:

Russell - 18
Andrew -15
Mark L. - 15.5

And for this week:

Russell - 15.5
Mark S. - 13
Mark L. - 14

Volatility Views 203: Hot New Volatility Products