What is the VIX Volatility Index and How Do You Trade it? IG International
Contents Stock Market News for Dec 29, 2022 Why November’s CPI data are seen as a ‘game-changer’ for financial markets VIX Exchange Traded Products What is the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX)? Jobless filings rose last week; continuing claims hit highest since February Volatility measures the frequency and magnitude of price movements over time. The more rapid and substantial the price changes, the greater the volatility. It can be measured with historical values or expected future prices. For instance, a stock having a beta of +1.5 indicates that it is theoretically 50% more volatile than the market. Traders making bets through options of such high beta stocks utilize the VIX volatility values in appropriate proportion to correctly price their options trades. As the derivatives markets matured, 10 years later, in 2003, the Cboe teamed up with Goldman Sachs and updated the methodology to calculate VIX differently. It then started using a wider set of options based on the broader S&P 500 Index, an expansion that allows for a more accurate view of investors’ expectations of future market volatility. A methodology was adopted that remains in effect and is also used for calculating various other variants of the volatility index. VIX measures market expectation of near term volatility conveyed by stock index option prices. Stock Market News for Dec 29, 2022 As exchange-traded products, you can buy and sell these securities like stocks, greatly simplifying your VIX investing strategy. The VIX is an index that measures expectations about future volatility. It tends to rise during times of market stress, making it an effective hedging tool for active traders. Though it can’t be invested in directly, you can purchase ETFs that track the VIX. When its level gets to 20 or higher, expectations are that volatility will be above normal over the coming … Click here to continue reading…