​Weekly: DoL Targets Annuities With Fee Change, VIX Tipped At 13 In Q4

Advisors are anxiously awaiting the final proposal by the U.S. Department of Labor on new rules that would change the “fiduciary standard” and fee structure for brokers advising retirement accounts that trade options and futures. It’s a signature reform for U.S. President Barack Obama and one he wants to see finalized before leaving office. Meanwhile in Chicago, we considered what the markets are telling investors when the S&P 500 and VIX show positive correlation, which has occurred 14% of trading days this year. Next week, EQDerivatives will release our new report, Market Mapping – Equity & Volatility Derivatives 2015. Drawing on the perspective of more than 50 major hedge funds, traditional asset managers and asset allocators, the analysis gathers their views on a slew of equity and volatility derivatives – and where they see product gaps.