October 27, 2019

Big VIX Options Trade Braces for a 2008-Like Volatility Surge

Someone is betting big that the U.S. stock market is on track for the kind of turbulence not seen since the global financial crisis.

Trading in call options on the Cboe Volatility Index, known as the VIX, outweighed puts by more than 2-to-1 on Friday with the index at its lowest level since July as stocks rallied. The standout trade was one block of 50,000 April $65 calls that were bought for 10 cents. Those contracts would imply a surge in the VIX of almost 500% from its current level.

While the magnitude of the strike price is remarkable, Macro Risk Advisors derivatives strategist Maxwell Grinacoff said the April expiration date is even more interesting. That time frame could capture the impact of a potential recession, a breakdown in U.S.-China trade talks and a variety of political risks linked to the Democratic presidential primary and impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, he said in an interview

Read more at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-25/big-vix-options-trade-braces-for-2008-like-volatility-surge

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