Volatility Futures: Relative Strength - A Family of Futures Products
By Mark ShoreBy Mark Shore
CBOE Futures Exchange “Futures In Volatility” Newsletter
May 31, 2012
Many investors are familiar with the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) that is calculated based on options on the S&P 500 Index option and is an indicator of implied volatility and investor sentiment. But some may not be aware that CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE) lists and trades the VIX futures contract (Ticker symbol: VX).
The popularity of the VX futures contract has grown and the VX futures contract recently experienced its highest trading volume month in March 2012 with 1.96 million contracts traded, which is an 84% increase from a year earlier.
As the popularity of the VX futures contract increases, CFE continues to expand the volatility index franchise to include futures and security futures contracts covering several underlying markets. See the table below for a list of the volatility index futures and security futures that CFE currently offers for trading on its market.
From the retail investor to the institutional investor or money manager such as a Commodity Trading Advisor or hedge fund, there is always the question: “How can an investor utilize these contracts in a portfolio?”
Copyright ©2012 Mark Shore. Contact the author for permission for republication at info@shorecapmgmt.com Mark Shore has more than 20 years of experience in the futures markets and managed futures, publishes research, consults on alternative investments and conducts educational workshops. www.shorecapmgmt.com
Mark Shore is also an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in Chicago where he teaches a managed futures / global macro course and an Adjunct at the New York Institute of Finance. Mark is a contributing writer to Reuters HedgeWorld and the CBOE Futures Exchange.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Â There is risk of loss when investing in futures and options. Â Always review a complete CTA disclosure document before investing in any Managed Futures program. Â Managed futures can be a volatile and risky investment; only use appropriate risk capital; this investment is not for everyone. Â The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and are only for educational purposes. Please talk to your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
