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Alpha Exchange

Elections Have (Vol) Consequences

Sep 9, 2024
Former US President Barack Obama shares insights on the consequences of elections, focusing on their impact on financial markets. He discusses the implications of market volatility around the U.S. presidential debate and reflects on past events like Brexit. Obama emphasizes the significance of risk management strategies, particularly in derivatives. The conversation highlights how election outcomes shape market behavior, with volatility measures like the VIX being influenced by changes in supply and demand.
14:20

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast illustrates that employing convex insurance strategies can lead to significant payouts during market turmoil despite frequent losses.
  • It emphasizes the influence of upcoming U.S. elections on volatility pricing in derivatives, highlighting how reduced supply of volatility can elevate its price.

Deep dives

Risk Management and Alpha Generation

Convex insurance strategies can provide opportunities for generating alpha, even if they result in losses most of the time. The podcast emphasizes that buying insurance at the right time and price can yield significant payouts during market chaos, illustrating this with the success of investors like Bill Ackman. It discusses how traditional portfolio hedges may not work effectively, highlighting that while the long-term strategy of holding diversified portfolios like the S&P 500 can be beneficial, investors should never overlook the potential for sudden market downturns. Examples of past market failures, including high-profile cases like Lehman Brothers and LTCM, serve as reminders of the risks involved in investment strategies.

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