The Chicago Board Options Exchange is to include SPX weeklys options series in its VIX calculation. According to the CBOE, the addition of weeklys options will allow the VIX’ spot values to be calculated with S&P 500 option series that more precisely match the 30-day target timeframe for expected volatility that the VIX is intended to represent.

Single-stock derivatives are dominating flow on U.S. equity sellside desks. Bill Looney, director, institutional business development at CBOE, said directional plays now account for 75-85% of flow, according to eight major sellside desks he’s been in contact with.

Derivatives brokerage firm X-CHANGE FINANCIAL ACCESS (XFA) has expanded its VIX options desk at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The move from XFA comes in response to growing demand for order handling services and real-time information from customers.

Thomas Vergnaud, ex-CIO of Cyan Oak Capital, joined Nomura in London this month as managing director.

Myriam Ghazi, a former Credit Suisse equity derivatives staffer, has joined Nomura’s sales team in New York.

Richard Cea has joined UBS in a new role as director, derivatives/structured products at UBS.

Ryan Bailey, an ex-investment officer and interim CIO at The Meadows Foundation, has joined Children's Medical Center of Dallas.

Investment banks suffered a decline in revenues in equity derivatives in Q2 year-on-year, driven by declining market volatility, with trading and sales performance dented by a drop in client activity that impacted commissions and fees.

Simon Yates, the global head of equity derivatives at Citigroup in New York, is set to join hedge fund Two Sigma Investments in a new role.

​John O'Brien, head of equity flow sales at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, is joining Deutsche Bank in New York in August.