​Weekly: VIX Weeklys Options Kickoff, Simpler Vol Systematic Products Eyed

VIX Weeklys options opened yesterday and, despite lower volumes at kickoff, the market is pretty encouraging that CBOE is potentially on to a winner. The options mark the first new equity volatility-related product at CBOE since the bourse experimented with the VIX short term futures and options contracts. The other news out this week centered on the release of the FOMC meeting minutes from September, which showed low inflation was the key driver of keeping short term rates on hold, as the U.S. moves towards full employment. In Europe, real money and hedge fund managers are increasingly entering into downside structures on the Eurostoxx 50 that are contingent on the euro declining against the U.S. dollar, while volatility systematic strategies are tipped to have simpler messages combined with strong fundamental and economic concepts going forward in a changing vol environment. Don’t miss the latest update to our upcoming China derivatives conference at the New York Waldorf Astoria. Nancy Davis, managing partner and cio at Quadratic Capital Management, and Vishnu Kurella, portfolio manager at Caxton Associates, have joined the buyside panel for the China Access Forum, which we’re co-hosting with the Singapore Exchange on Oct. 29.