Trade Update VIX – Vol Stayed Low, Taking Off for a Loss

by Enis November 8, 2012 10:09 am • Commentary

Trade Update Nov 16th, 2012 at 10:45am:  With only 3 trading days left until expiry of my VIX call spread, and the holiday week ahead of us, I’m going to take off my trade for a loss.  The market did go about 3% lower from my initial entry, but bizarrely, there was very little panic on this move.  I’ll be watching how VIX behaves on the next bounce in SPX for a better long VIX structure.

Action: Sold to close the VIX Nov 20 / 25 call spread at $0.25 for a $0.55 loss

-Sold 1 VIX 20 call at 0.30

-Bought 1 VIX 25 call for 0.05

 


Original Trade Nov 8th, 2012:  New Trade VIX – Vol Too Low

After yesterday’s 2% down move, what surprised me the most was to see VIX at 19 by the close.  And this morning, with just a whiff of a rally, VIX spot has moved back towards 18.  I understand that the event calendar seems light with the elections and earnings out of the way.  And we are approaching Thanksgiving in 2 weeks.

But realized volatility is picking up.  My experience has taught me that what matters most for implied volatility is recent realized volatility.  Simple as that.  As I wrote in my VIX Futures Snapshot yesterday, VIX futures look 1-2 points too low based on recent realized.  

This has become a macro market, and we’ve started to trade more macro as a result.  Dan traded SPY options on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I’m going to buy a VIX call spread today to take advantage of VIX cheapness:

New Trade: VIX (18.60) Bought Nov 20 / 25 call spread for 0.80

-Bought Nov 20 call for 1.10

-Sold Nov 25 call at 0.30

Break-Even on Nov21st expiration 20.80

-I will take this off quickly on any move above 20 in VIX