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Alberto Mallari
Oct 29, 2021 6:52AM ET
thank Chris!
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What Is Contago In The VIX?
www.investing.com/analysis/what-is-contago-in-the-vix-200606656
What Is Contago In The VIX?
By Chris Vermeulen | Oct 28, 2021 10:06AM ET I have been trading options and coaching / mentoring other new options traders for years. I have seen new traders who were lucky and ended up with some winning trades and others who were so frustrated and on the verge of giving up. I have seen it all. One of the things I have noticed is that very few people understand the CBOE Volatility Index, the fear gauge to the markets.
Many know that it is a measure of fear but they don’t really understand what it is and how it is constructed. If you are an options trader, I would argue it is very important that you as a trader understand what the VIX is and how it works.
According to Investopedia, it is defined as:
- The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, is a real-time market index representing the market’s expectations for volatility over the coming 30 days.
- Investors use the VIX to measure the level of risk, fear or stress in the market when making investment decisions.
- Traders can also trade the VIX using a variety of options and exchange-traded products, or use VIX values to price derivatives.
OK, so we have seen the dictionary definition, but how do they come up with the price? VIX index values are calculated using the Cboe-traded standard SPX options (that expire on the third Friday of each month) and using the weekly SPX options (that expire on all other Fridays). Only those SPX options are considered whose expiry period lies within 23 days and 37 days.
So what about VIX futures? VIX futures are a forward-looking price of the future VIX index. If we look at sat November 2021 VIX futures the current VIX index will have to meet that price by either moving up or down. This is called contango.
As you can see from the diagrams the current price of the VIX is 15.24, while the price of the VX futures is 18.60. This means that in the next 23 days these two prices will converge to the same price by day 23. Also, the note range on these is pretty wide. Traditionally, these usually are not that far apart. If the VIX is higher than the futures price then that is called backwardation.
So, what does this mean for options traders?
This means that current volatility is nonexistent, but future volatility is higher. As options traders are primarily sellers, it may not make sense to sell near-term premiums. There is little implied volatility to drive premiums up in the near term. It makes more sense to buy near-term options and better to sell far-term premiums.
So, as you can see, understanding the VIX and how it works can help you as an options trader.
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What Is Contago In The VIX?
Comments (7)
James Pattison
Oct 28, 2021 7:03PM ET
Omg the comments secfion is a better read than the article
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falec
Oct 28, 2021 6:37PM ET
To be fair, when future price has to meet the spot price moving higher, that isn't Contango, that's Backwardation. And, please fix the Title, it's Contango, not Contago. Thanks, Teacher.
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Lantz Wheeler
Oct 28, 2021 6:13PM ET
Looks like someone likes ro steal content from the @Laststandingbear from twitter and put his name at the top of the paper... huh Chris Vermeulen?
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RSL1971
Oct 28, 2021 12:16PM ET
Always insightful and on a learning curve. Thank you so much.
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Masood Syed
Oct 28, 2021 12:00PM ET
Thanks, didn't know that
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Solomon
Oct 28, 2021 10:24AM ET
Good insights. Thanks
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