Volatility has collapsed.
Heading into October, the Volatility Index (VIX) was trading above 20. It was approaching its highest level of the year. Folks were starting to panic.
What a difference one month makes…
On Friday, the S&P 500 closed at a new all-time high. Meanwhile, the Volatility Index closed near 12. That’s near its lowest level of the year.
Investors are comfortable. Maybe too comfortable.
Remember, the Volatility Index is considered as the market’s “fear gauge.” It uses the premiums on out-of-the-money call and put options on the S&P 500 to calculate the expected 30-day volatility for the index.
When traders are scared, they’re willing to pay more for options – and the VIX rises. When traders are complacent, traders aren’t concerned about volatility – and the VIX falls.
And, at extreme levels, the VIX can be an excellent gauge of investor sentiment – which makes it an outstanding contrary indicator.
Look at this chart of the VIX…
The VIX traded down near 12 two previous times this year. On both of those times, the S&P 500 was trading at new all-time highs. And, both of those times, the index was sharply lower a few weeks later.
Here’s how the S&P 500 looked during those times…
The S&P 500 was trading near 2950 in mid-April. It lost 200 points over the next six weeks.
In late July, the index closed above 3000 for the first time ever. It was at 2850 one week later.
Of course, just because the VIX is low doesn’t mean it can’t go lower. And, it doesn’t mean the market can’t go higher. But, with the VIX trading near 12, it doesn’t cost much for traders to buy a little “insurance” in the form of put options.
That would have been a smart strategy back in mid-April and in late-July. It may prove to be a smart strategy right now as well.
Best regards and good trading,
Jeff Clark
In Case You Missed It…
Jeff Brown stepped away from the bustle of Silicon Valley to live a quiet life. But that didn’t stop him from becoming a top venture capitalist, or developing an entirely new way to invest in the tech market that anyone can use for the chance to see big, fast, once-in-a-lifetime gains like 494%… 617%… 793%… 884%… 2,293%… even 11,764%.
