The Spread - OTC Options - 3/1/19

On the 30th anniversary of the ‘87 market crash last week, Cboe, in collaboration with ProShares, hosted a panel discussion “Current Dynamics of the VIX Market.” There was a lot to glean – from the applications of VIX ETPs to unique characteristics of VIX futures to general perceptions of volatility.

Dominic Salvino, Group One’s VIX options specialist, had an analogy for the current low levels of VIX, comparing it to high February temperatures in Chicago. On February 18, the thermometer reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, only the fourth time that’s happened since 1971. Is that weird? Yes. Is it worth noting? Yes. Does that mean that the thermometer is broken? No. The thermometer is simply reading the conditions in the same way it always has.