The industrial and precious metals market is a key component for investing, trading, and understanding the market. Learn how this market may affect economic growth and sentiment.
Animal terms and animal references are prominent among Wall Street slang terms. Here’s a look at bulls and bears, hawks and doves, cats and dogs, sheep and pigs, and even black swans and unicorns.
What is a black swan event? Learn about black swan events and how you can attempt to protect yourself and your portfolio from adverse shocks.
Options volatility is a popular topic among traders. Looking at volatility from a trading capital, past activity, or probability lens may give you better insight.
The volatility of volatility, or VVIX, could be helpful to add to your watchlist. Learn how it measures the difference between the VVIX and VIX.
Understanding the nature of volatility regimes and recognizing when it’s shifting could help unlock potential trading opportunities.
Starting the new year fresh can be a great idea. Despite the drop and pop we saw last year, it may still be a good time to think about resetting your trading strategies and get a fresh start.
A leadership change in the White House could mean a shift in policy priorities, but if you’re a long-term investor, other factors such as earnings, taxes, and interest rates may be larger concerns. Perhaps now’s the time for a post-election portfolio review.
Learn how the VIX, VIX futures, and VIX options work together to help traders increase market awareness, make more informed options trading decisions, and employ trading strategies.
Traders tend to equate high volatility with fear. But volatility can also mean possible trading opportunities. So, instead of avoiding high volatility, learn to use it in your options trading.
The U.S. election could affect the stock market with volatility. Use your long-term investment goals as your guide.
The stock markets care about who wins the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. Stock traders look for potential trading opportunities regardless of who wins the elections. Look for clues within each of the party lines so you can be better prepared to face the election results.
The volatility Rule of 16 can be useful when figuring out how much an options price is likely to move especially during earnings. This can be helpful in planning trading entry and exit points.
Different volatility numbers tell you different things. Is one more useful than another? Let's find out.
Looking to pick stocks worth trading? You can lay the groundwork for a sound stock selection strategy with a few relatively simple components.
There are many volatility products that are derived from or correlated to the VIX. Understanding the relationship between these products can help identify their pros, cons, and risks.
If the markets are crashing, do you close your positions or do you take advantage of opportunities? Whether you are a stock investor, volatility trader, or speculator, there may be a strategy worth pursuing.
Volatility affects options prices to some extent but avoid focusing on it to map your strategies.
Investing results may depend to some extent on luck, but research and science play a larger role in portfolio strategy.
Trading with your emotions during times of market volatility? Explore whether a robo-advisor may be able to help.
Learn how a long calendar spread can be effective in a low-volatility trading environment.
When markets are volatile you may hear the media come up with different explanations. But how reliable is that information? There are four myths about volatility you may often hear and why they may not necessarily be true.
The VIX often makes explosive moves. What do these types of moves mean?
Learn the differences between equity options and options on futures contracts, and how experienced options traders can use futures options to enhance their trading.
Geopolitical risks come in many forms, and can impact an investment portfolio in a number of ways. Here are a few basic points to consider.
Learn about the dynamics of foreign exchange volatility, and where to find currency volatility data.
Do you follow the VIX as a volatility measure? Ever heard of the rule of 16? How about volatility skew? Learn how to apply these concepts to options trading.
Do you know how to measure mean reversions? It's a popular investment strategy used by market traders around the world. Find out how you can use it.
Options on futures are quite similar to their equity option cousins, but a few differences do exist.
Are you getting the most out of your iron condor stock trades? Double diagonals could help you do just that. Learn more about options trading.
Volatility is an important market indicator. If you're making one of these common VIX mistakes, it could cost you a great deal.
Learn about the VIX and other volatility indexes and how some investors use them to assess potential risk.
When stuck in a low-volatility environment, check out the term structure. You might consider alternative covered call strategies.
Instead of hyper-focusing on one position at a time, look at your entire portfolio and try to figure out a better hedge—here's some tools and tweaks to help.
Can you calculate fear? Certain market measures help traders determine when the market seems “fearful.” Learn to do this for yourself to better evaluate risk.
Are you a long-term investor hoping to use time to your advantage? Don’t chase trends, and especially don’t try to time the market. There are other ways.
If you have a futures account and understand VIX, you might be ready for a covered call in volatility—long /VX futures and short VIX calls.
Potential strategies for a depressed VIX—When volatility is low, learn how to hedge a trader's version of "yield" by trading volatility as an asset class.
When the VIX is not really the VIX… Before trading VIX options, know that options you're trading aren't likely for the chart you're seeing.
A trader's job can be easier than an average mutual fund manager's—A few reasons the playing field for traders is more than leveled.
The complex nature of the options markets means there’s still a place for human-to-human interaction.
Basic options strategies can help investors protect portfolios against inevitable market volatility and market crashes.
I was happy when CBOE VIX futures were added to TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim® platform. So, it’s not running with the bulls in Pamplona. But I’m a trader...
The first step to overcoming any fear is understanding what you're dealing with. With short-naked puts, that means understanding the strategy and the risks.
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Content intended for educational/informational purposes only. Not investment advice, or a recommendation of any security, strategy, or account type.
Be sure to understand all risks involved with each strategy, including commission costs, before attempting to place any trade. Clients must consider all relevant risk factors, including their own personal financial situations, before trading.
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