riskarb's trading journal

Discussion in 'Journals' started by riskarb, May 13, 2006.

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  1. Risk-reversal has doubled on this 8-handle selloff at FV. I am covering here and using proceeds to buy VBI futures.

    1250//1300 bear reversal: 8.00 x 10.00 market at cboe

    Sold 100 at market, $8.00 on the fill.

    +$39,850 net of comms
    (19,000) booked PnL

    +$20,850 Pnl on journal blotter since inception



    [journal blotter 2]
     
    #151     May 18, 2006
  2. Ugh... thing is 1000 x 1100 now.
     
    #152     May 18, 2006
  3. Don't worry Riskarb, that's how we traders are.

    As Marty Schwartz said in PitBull, traders are never satsfied.. we always want to sell at the low, buy at the high and do it in maximum size. That's why even good trades are still criticized.
     
    #153     May 18, 2006
  4. I would've held, but didn't want to double my bear-hedge. Bid went from 800 to 880 within 20 seconds. Oh well, the entry was well-timed. Unfortuntely I didn't not effect my long VBI futures, so I will be bidding tomorrow.
     
    #154     May 18, 2006
  5. fader

    fader

    hi riskarb - what a journal, what sexy trades, almost makes me feel like my futures trading is so routine compared with all this exotic stuff :D

    i was wondering if you have an idea why Open Interest and, on some days volume, in the VBI futures has been running significantly higher in the August contract than in the June one - is this because the main players here are using this instrument mainly for longer-term hedging? or is it just that the overall volume is still low in general and hence any difference between contract months is due to a few larger trades?

    thanks and best of luck with the journal.
     
    #155     May 18, 2006
  6. Thanks. The near VBIs invert from premium to discount [against VIX] as they become front-month. The term structure of VBIs carries +curvature, as is seen in the Treasury yield curve or any carry-driven market.

    Implieds trade contango on tenors in a low-vol environment.
     
    #156     May 18, 2006
  7. fader

    fader

    ok, so people roll to the outer months or prefer outer months to prevent the erosion of premium in the front month contract..., makes sense, thanks - i look fwd to following the journal, all the best.
     
    #157     May 18, 2006
  8. So as the slope of the term structure changes the correlation between the VIX and the VBI may be zero or even negative?

    Trippy.

    If you choose to hedge your VIX risk by using the VBI futs...how can that be done if at times they can be neg correlated? Seems like a flawed product.

    I assume this can occur due to the way that the CBOE weights the options in the calculation of the VIX index itself.



     
    #158     May 18, 2006
  9. mahras2

    mahras2

    Heh seriously. Just tell one of riskarb's synopsis of an exotic trade to some ladies and they will be all over you. Although I am willing to make a market that the ladies are probably going to be after the wallet ;).

    Nice trading B.
     
    #159     May 18, 2006
  10. I presume you all are referring to the Vix futures on the CBOE. Correct?

    How's the liquidity in this market?
     
    #160     May 18, 2006
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