AD Derivs. Podcast (Ep. 67) Brent Kochuba, Founder @SpotGamma
Sep 20, 2024
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Brent Kochuba, the founder of SpotGamma, shares his expertise in options trading, drawing from his experience at major firms like Bank of America. He discusses the evolution of electronic options trading and how large institutional orders impact market dynamics, using Nvidia as a case study. Brent introduces Trace, an innovative tool for real-time options modeling that aids traders in volatile markets. He also emphasizes SpotGamma's commitment to education and its diverse customer base, blending retail and institutional traders.
Brent Kochuba emphasizes the critical relationship between options trading and stock performance, particularly during significant market movements like those seen with Nvidia.
The surge in retail trading has notably increased market volatility and forced market makers to rapidly adapt to shifting options flows, impacting overall market liquidity.
Deep dives
Brent Kochuba's Journey in Options Trading
Brent Kochuba's background in the options trading space is extensive, beginning with his tenure at Bank of America around 2002. He transitioned from program trading to electronic options trading, where he gained valuable insights into order routing and market making at firms like Credit Suisse and Wolverine. His experience at these firms allowed him to understand the complex dynamics of trading large blocks of stocks and how options traders interact with underlying equities. This background laid the foundation for his future endeavors in developing analytical tools for options trading, culminating in the founding of Spot Gamma.
The Impact of Options Trading on Underlying Stocks
The relationship between options positions and the performance of underlying stocks is critical, particularly during significant market movements. An example discussed is Nvidia, which, due to its high trading volume in options, can heavily influence the broader market. The mechanics of gamma hedging illustrate how market makers are forced to buy stock as needed to hedge their positions, creating chain reactions that amplify stock price movements. This phenomenon was highlighted on September 11, when Nvidia's stock surge significantly impacted the performance of the S&P 500 and various ETFs.
The Evolution of Retail Traders and Market Implications
The surge in retail trading, particularly during the pandemic, has altered the landscape of options markets significantly. Retail traders often employ short-dated options, which create rapid movements in underlying stock prices and also affect market liquidity. While retail interest has created opportunities, it has made the market environment more volatile and jumpy as market makers must adjust quickly to changing flows. This adjustment is especially evident during risk-off periods when liquidity disappears, revealing the fragility of the current market structure.
Innovative Tools and Products at Spot Gamma
Spot Gamma has developed various tools to analyze how options market flows influence stock movements, including a new product called Trace. This proprietary positioning system helps traders understand dealer hedging pressures by updating in real-time with each trade. Spot Gamma's ongoing commitment to providing daily research and innovative analytics has positioned them as leaders in the field of options analytics. The company aims to bridge the gap between options trading and its effects on tractions, aiding both retail and institutional traders.
Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options.
Prior to SpotGamma, Brent was most recently a portfolio manager with Seven North Capital Management where he focused on creating options-based investment strategies. Prior to that, he spent time as a derivatives broker at Wolverine Execution, Credit Suisse and Bank of America.
Learn more about SpotGamma: https://spotgamma.com/ Register for Trace Webinar: https://spotgamma.com/trace-the-market-amberdata-io/?aff=Amberdata
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