And Just Like That, the Silver Rush Never Happened?

Hey Traders,


Last week I pointed out how high VXSLV, the VIX of SLV options, was trading.


At over 78, VXSLV was at its highest level since March of last year.


I told you that VXSLV was going to drop quickly …


And, well, take a look at the chart:



VXSLV is down almost 30 points from the high close.


I also shared you that with SLV over 26, I liked selling the March 24 puts at 1.10.


SLV is down 1.30 from the high, about 5%. Yet take a look at the quote on the SLV 24 puts …



The put seller made .40 selling the puts and the ETF dropped.


This is the power of knowing where volatility levels are trading.


When vol is too high, it can make a trade win — even if the direction is wrong.


I tell retail traders over and over again:


“If you think you can ignore implied volatility and make money trading options, you are sadly mistaken.”


What happened with SLV options is case in point.


Even though the stock dropped 5%, a put buyer would have LOST money because the implied volatility on SLV options tanked so hard.

The takeaway? Always keep an eye one implied volatility. (And if you need help with that, the Option Pit team is here to assist.)


The Option Pit VIX Light Is Red, and volatility shorts are likely to win.


Your Only Option,

Mark

Mark Sebastian

Mark Sebastian

Mark Sebastian is a former member of both the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), where he spent years mastering the art of options trading in the most competitive environment imaginable. As Chief Investment Officer at the hedge fund Karman Line Capital, Mark manages sophisticated options strategies for institutional clients. He is the author of two highly regarded books on options trading: ‘The Option Traders Hedge Fund’ and ‘Trading Options for Edge.’ Mark is a frequent guest on major financial networks including CNBC, Fox Business News, Bloomberg, and First Business News, where he provides expert commentary on market volatility and options strategies.

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About the Author

Mark Sebastian

Mark Sebastian

Former CBOE floor trader and CIO at Karman Line Capital. Author of ‘The Option Traders Hedge Fund’ with over 30 years of options trading experience.

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