How is shorting VIX right now not free money?

Discussion in 'Options' started by seakraken, Jun 13, 2020.

  1. Looking at the trends, VIX tends to float around the 10-15% marks with spikes whenever outlier events occur.

    Given it's elevation right now, it seems logical that it will fall back to earth in the next 18-24 months as the the situation improves, or at the very least, a new normal is established.

    Hence, I'm wondering what is wrong with buying SPXY (leveraged short VIX) on margin (or LEAPS) and expecting at least a 50% gain in the most likely scenario.

    Granted, I don't have the knowledge of all the future risk factors to come up with a risk adjusted return for this, but is there something I'm missing here?
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2020
  2. SanMiguel

    SanMiguel

    Leveraged short are rebalanced daily usually. So if the market goes rangey or sideways you'll be losing money.
    VIX was at 80 in March so if we get another turn off events you could be under water a while
     
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  3. Sekiyo

    Sekiyo

    If you short it with Other People Money then Yes.
    Otherwise ... Nope.
     
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  4. So leaving aside the issuing of rebalancing and taking a non leveraged inverse VIX ETF, you basically agree that it can yield about 40% return in 18-24 months conservatively if a new normal is established (or the old one returns...), with the obvious caveat I could be under water for some time?
     
  5. Can you expand on why it’s not a good idea in your opinion?
     
  6. Sekiyo

    Sekiyo

    Because there is more upside than downside ?
     
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  7. Overnight

    Overnight

    Remember everyone that longed the XIV? Whoops!
     
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  8. Unrelated, but one question about that...I get how the investors got wiped out when vol spiked feb 2018. But wouldn’t they have recovered their money had credit suisse and nomura not shut down the etf products? I mean VIX did fall back to earth in the subsequent months...
     
  9. That’s true for shorting in general. Are you saying to never short anything with your own money?
     
  10. Sekiyo

    Sekiyo

    There are great shorts.
    But shorting the VIX right now ?
    I wouldn’t do it with my own money.
    Do you really believe it’s gonna go down ?
    Plz, Give me your confidence on a scale of 5.

    What level would you target ?
    What time frame ?
     
    #10     Jun 13, 2020
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