Investors Seek Trade-War Vol Plays But Equity Vol Remains Elusive

Investors are looking for ways to position for a possible pickup in volatility amid escalating trade-war rhetoric in the United States, but with the Cboe’s Volatility Index shrugging off the geopolitical concerns, many are looking to other asset classes or indices to make their plays. The VIX failed to break above 14 last week in spite of a ratcheting up of tariff threats between the U.S. and China.