Volatility Views 78: Making Money in Spite of Yourself

Volatility Review: Apple set fire to their earnings estimates, and then plunged to murky depths. NASDAQ vol. Implied vols, as measured by VIX, are currently at the same level as 21-day realized S&P vol, but are still overpriced with respect to shorter, 10-day realized.

Listener Mail: Don, Mark, and Mark dive into the listener mailbag.

• Email question from Neil Ducat: I like the discussion of commodity volatility on your recent episodes. Are there any plans to include a regular commodity vol update in your Vol Review segment?
• Email question from Tim S.: The commodity discussion on your recent episode was illuminating. I would like to ask your opinion on this: Given the success of commodity options and futures, why haven't commodity volatility products (like gold VIX, etc.) really taken off and captured the imagination of the investing public?
• Twitter question from Mr. Auto: With Apple and other recent names blowing through their straddles post-earnings, would Don concede that there are indeed times when it is appropriate to buy volatility?
• Comment from Alfonso Strolli, Florence, Italy: Ciao Vol Views crew! I find your program very informative. Mark Longo is indeed the voice of options, and certainly the best in the world at what he does. Don provides the perspective of a veteran of many volatility battles, and Mark Sebastian is nothing but entertaining. Thank you for this great and unique program. Keep up the good work!
• Email question from Tim42: Has Don ever bought an underlying, or does he sell those too?
• Email question from Ed: I am very interested in SPX and SPX volatility (aka VIX). I understand Mark Longo is a former SPX market maker, what are his impressions of the current trading range of SPX vol vs. his time in the pit? Does it perform differently now than it did then? Also, if possible, could he share his favorite trading story from his SPX days? Thank you very much.

The Crystal Ball: Gold and silver catching eyes of those looking for volatility.

Email question from Donald Simmons: With volatility trending lower and no relief in sight, what do the hosts think of interesting strategies for a time of stagnant volatility?