Volatility Views

Best of Volatility Views: Larry the LegendIn this episode, Mark, Don, and Mark Sebastian are joined by Larry McMillan.Volatility Viewpoints: Larry McMillan, recent winner of The OIC's Sullivan Award, discusses how volatility derivatives have changed the landscape of vol trading. Larry waxes nostalgic on the days when there weren't puts on every stock. The virtues of upside VIX calls versus SPX puts to hedge a portfolio. Discussing the fine art of gamma scalping.

Best of Volatility Views: The Great Skew Debate Mark, Mark, and Don discuss volatility and skew with John Bilson, Professor of Finance at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Finance. Professor Bilson also proposes two new types of contracts for the marketplace.

Another selection from The Best of Volatility Views. In this episode, dated June 20, 2011, Mark and Don chat with Bill Luby, creator of the popular website VIX and More. They discuss the roller coaster volatility of late, whether the VIX has underperformed given current market conditions, whether VIX futures are essentially irrelevant, whether VIX should be marketed as a hedging tool, the inherent differences between implied and realized volatility, Euro vol updates, and much more...Read more: http://www.theoptionsinsider.com/radio/#ixzz1zVHYNY61 The Options Insider: Your Inside Source For Options Information

Best of Volatility Views: Volatility Discussion with Nobel Laureate Robert Engle Mark and Don have the honor of speaking with Professor Engle on various aspects of volatility, including: Professor Engle's move from physics to economics ARCH and GARCH models, and how the ARCH model was born The Volatility Institute Vlab SoFiE Professor Engle's work with the SEC's Flash Crash Advisory Committee The Professor's viewpoint on Dodd-Frank, particularly as it applies to derivatives & counterparty risk.

Volatility Views 58: Cracking the Bond Code Volatility Review: NASDAQ realized volatility makes a slight upward move, and until we get any evidence to the contrary, this action will likely continue. Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guest is Dr. Madhu Kalimipalli, Associate Professor of Finance and Director of the Financial Services Research Center at the School of Business at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Kalimipalli discusses:-His research, in which he looks at correlations between overall equity market vol and the treasury markets.-What kind of skews he sees in the bond markets insofar as implied volatility is concerned.-Which variable is preferable to use, VIX or the stock turnover, or both?-How the volatility of a particular underlying correlates to corporate bonds on the underlying.-If he finds a more exact bond spread relationship in the near-term as opposed to the long-term.-How actual equity or stock market volatility matters in terms of pricing when you throw in the liquidity factor. Crystal Ball: Greek elections on Sunday. Could send us off in any direction. The movement of volatility will creep back up to normal levels again.

Volatility Views 57: Turning the Tables on Mark Sebastian Volatility Review: VIX is back this week, after it ended unchanged at 0.0 before last week's Option Block episodes. Time will tell as we see what happens in Europe. NASDAQ one- and three-month realized volatility has had almost no movement at all, but the trend is surely upward. Volatility Viewpoint: Long-time panelist Mark Sebastian gets the chance to sit in the guest's seat and discusses what Option Pit is and the world of options education. Mail Bag: Answering listener questions.CBOE is in the process of changing the way they list weekly options. How do you think the change will impact weekly options volatility, as well as the way they perform? Thanks again and I love the show. You guys make my commute to work a little more bearable. (Via Facebook from Chris Monty) In a time spread, which risk/opportunity should I really focus on: gamma or vega? It seems like trading time spreads is essentially finding a proper balance between these two. (Via email from Theodore Johnson, Boise, ID) I'm and expat American currently living and trading in Germany. As an old-school options trader, I've always considered myself first-and-foremost a volatility trader. I mostly view my positions and I'm always looking for interesting new products like VolContracts, VIX, etc., that will provide me with a new way to hedge/trade volatility. When I moved to Frankfurt, I was very surprised to find that most of my European colleagues don't share that perspective. They aren't up on the latest vol products/research and don't tend to view themselves as vol traders. I've found this baffling so I thought I would write to the authority on volatility to see if I am completely nuts or if this is a well-documented situation. Is vol trading, and the interest in vol products, primarily a localized American phenomenon, or am I just hanging with the wrong crowd over here? (Via email from Charles Stephens, Frankfurt, Germany) Crystal Ball: We'll have to keep an eye on Europe, but expect little change in realized volatility. There will be a break in S&P in one direction or the other.

Volatility Views 56: More Listener Mail Fun Volatility Review: Broad selloffs across the markets, due to the poor jobless claims numbers. One-month realized volatility on the NASDAQ was up about half a percentage point to 17.40, and the three-month edged higher to 16.02. Reacting, rather than predicting, was the order of the day. Listener Mail: We're Going Listener Mail Crazy Again This Week How do you guys feel the addition of Facebook will impact NASDAQ volatility in the future? (Via Twitter from DAMIAN14)What's your opinion of Facebook's option vol and options trading so far? (Via email from Tim L. in Portland, OR) Any update on the NASDAQ VolContracts? (Via Twitter from EuroDJ) Is delta neutral hedging the only way to trade realized volatility in the options market right now (outside of VolContracts on the Euro, of course)? I like what you guys talk about every week and I'm looking for ways to capture that good ol' "realized vol." (Via Facebook from Steve K., Victoria, BC) I just wanted to write in to let you guys know that I love this show. Volatility Views is unique in the options podcast world. No one else is out there talking about the stuff you guys talk about or bringing on the guests you guys get. It truly is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind program. So thanks again for putting together such a great show. And Mark - thanks also for The Options Insider Radio Network. You truly are "the voice of options." (Via email from Dick Framingham - Rochester, NY) Mark "Voice of Options" Longo, Don "sold to you" Schlesinger and Mark "tinny seabass" Sebastian - I have a pressing question that requires your vast expertise. Why, in the name of God, does the VIX have a skew? Shouldn't that information already be represented in the SPX options or am I completely missing the boat on this? Thanks again and I love the network. That new Options Boot Camp show is fantastic. (Via Facebook from Tim Bond, Tulsa, OK) Why do you think so many attempts to bring OTC vol to exchanges have failed - CBOE variance, etc. (Via Twitter from AXEMAN74) I know you guys have talked about selling vol when others are buying. Like when a newsletter recommends buying a particular put, for example. How exactly do I execute that trade? Do I wait until late in the day when everyone is done buying, then sell that same option? Can I sell nearby strikes instead? What about the stock? Do I have to hedge delta neutral or one-to-one to really capture the vol premium? I am really interested in this strategy, but a little fuzzy on the actual execution. (Via email from Joe Eftes, Sacramento, CA) Crystal Ball: We could see 30 shortly in the VIX. All-time low for 10- and 30-year bonds. More volatility -- it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Volatility Views 55: Good Volatility, Bad Volatility Volatility Review: The play between pre- and post-election Greek volatility has seen big action. Ultimately though, the EU will let the Greeks decided their own fate. Andrew G. does not want to own pre-election juice. Given realized volatility, there has not been much change in the NASDAQ. The three-month realized vol has actually risen somewhat -- replacing volatility that was extremely low just a short while ago. Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guest is Andrew Patton, Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at Duke University. He is the author or co-author of several academic papers, including "Good Volatility, Bad Volatility." Prof. Patton discusses some of its findings, including the importance of directional movement in forecasting future volatility. Crystal Ball: In VIX, Andrew G. is just waiting for the Greek election to sell June, buy July, and unleash the time spread. NASDAQ one-month realized may roll over a little bit. The short term might be dropping more, but that is not a ringing endorsement.

Volatility Views 54: Listener Mail Extravaganza, Part Two Volatility Review: NASDAQ one-month vol came in a little bit, and at the same time the three-month vol went up slightly. The risk premium between implied and realized volatility has widened further. A crazy scenario of implied vs. realized volatility in VIX. Listener Mail: Mark, Don, and Mark take on listener questions. All of this talk about JP Morgan has left me wondering, what kind of derivatives hedge loses $2.3 billion? How is that even possible? Help me Volatility Views hosts, you are my only hope! (Todd Lundgren, Pittsburgh, PA) I Know Bob and Don are big fans of vol cones. How about a vol cone update on the major indices (VIX, NASDAQ, Euro, etc.) for your loyal listeners? Where should I be buying, or perhaps not buying VIX here? (TEDMAS via Facebook) Hey Don, what index is next from VolX after NASDAQ? Russell? Emerging Markets? Thanks. (Via Twitter from UNCLESTEVE) Mark is fond of calling NASDAQ "Apple Plus." I know he's joking, but it raises an interesting question about how much the Apple tail is wagging the NASDAQ dog? What percent of NASDAQ vol, or even vol of Vol, is directly attributable to Apple? I'm sure your listeners, me included, would like to know. Also, quick side question for Mark - Is there any way to buy Options Insider gear? I love the logo and I want to do my part to get the word out about the network. (Steve K., Oklahoma City, OK) Vol crew, why is the VIX term structure coming in so dramatically? The VIX ETPs and annuities are still net buyers of long-term vol. (Max Shreck, Atlanta, GA) Has the rise of weeklies rendered existing vol studies, and maybe even conventional vol wisdom, moot? (Via Twitter from Todd Dupres) Crystal Ball: We might start to see levels of realized vol taper off a bit in NASDAQ. The three-month vol of vol is actually lower than the vol of the S&P itself. VIX could reach 30 sooner than later. Bonds are in even worse condition.

Volatility Views 53: An Insider's View of Risk Management Volatility Review: There is an extra note of tension in the market with S&P vol waiting for the other shoe to drop. NASDAQ vol is slightly higher. JPMorgan news does little to rattle VIX. Volatility Viewpoint: Today's guest, Todd Petzel, the Chief Investment Officer at Offit Capital, sits down with Mark and Don, and discusses myriad aspects of volatility and risk management. Topics include:. The instruments he uses to manage portfolio risk. Structured VIX products. Go-to products. Financial investors and their lacking use of options. Pending regulations concerning position limits Crystal Ball: Sebastian sees the market bouncing around in the short term. A safe trade may be shorting U.S. treasuries. There is still a continued contraction between implied risk premium and realized vol levels. Vol may go higher, but without anything dramatic moving it.