A series of major market catalysts arrive next week: the FOMC rate decision, VIX Expiration, and September Triple Witching OPEX. Options positioning suggests that institutions are already paying up for event protection. Over the past two weeks, we have observed notable VIX hedging activity in our daily FlowPatrol reports. This included several particularly significant positions: […]
options skew
AI Infrastructure Runs Hot into September
August closed with robust corporate earnings, and nowhere was that clearer than in the AI trade stocks. Last week’s standout report came from Dell (DELL), which jumped 16% after beating estimates and raising guidance. Dell is a leading server provider for AI data center infrastructure. Its results echoed what Nvidia (NVDA) showed a week earlier: […]
Software Earnings Reignite Risk Appetite
Market sentiment was mixed last week following NVDA earnings and Jackson Hole. While NVDA’s solid outlook pushed the market to within inches of all-time highs, Warsh’s hawkish tone seemed to increase the probability of a September rate hike. Throughout August, the S&P 500 has closed in a narrow 2.6% band (SPX 7,600 – 7,800). The […]
Volatility Has Compressed. What Happens Next?
The S&P 500 pulled back slightly last week, and the market’s recent volatility compression phase appears ready for a reset. With earnings season largely over, both index and single stock volatility have dropped from the elevated levels that prevailed earlier this summer. Our pre-market Founder’s Note on Friday explained how substantial short-options positions cleared with […]
How Traders Can Play Low Volatility Environments
The S&P 500 has spent much of the summer grinding steadily higher to achieve record highs. Meanwhile, implied volatility has reset toward yearly lows for both major indices and many single stocks. When options become this cheap, the price of volatility itself can open new trading opportunities. The Term Structure chart reveals current SPX at-the-money […]
Welcome to the Summer Melt-Up
The S&P 500 delivered a high octane four-day run last week, establishing all-time highs with a 6% rise from weekly lows. Shifting interest rate expectations, easing Middle East tensions, and strong corporate earnings powered the dramatic rally. The sharp surge brought out notable divergences across the tech space. Software outperformed the broader market, with strong […]