Is there such thing as VIX too high?

[OTM-Options]

How about buying protective put to hedge long stock? Is there a VIX level you wouldn't even consider going long put because most likely the hedge is overpriced?

NO ........ Sell the stock instead.

 

[Carl Patou]

How about buying protective put to hedge long stock? Is there a VIX level you wouldn't even consider going long put because most likely the hedge is overpriced?

I think that at these levels, volatility is expensive. but don't buy options on a stock just because you think the VIX will go up. If you own a stock, why not buy OTM puts with the premium received by selling OTM calls. My guess, refrain from selling OTM puts because you never know what might happen next and you are stuck with shares you might not want just for that extra few hundred of dollars.

 

[lawrence-lugar]

VIX was through the roof this morning. Should you refrain from going long any options when you see VIX this high?

Yes, when VIX is high...they're expensive to buy. When VIX is high, it's better to be an option Seller/writer and collect that higher premium -- and Vice Versa when VIX is low to buy them relatively cheaply.

 

[longthewings]

With VVIX hitting all-time highs, I believe the market is saying it really could go either way here. VIX closed around ~40 today. One month from today, realized vol could have come in at 50, 60, 70+ no sweat. In that subset of scenarios, the options are still cheap.

Or...we could be about to bounce hard, have a huge 2-3 day tear-your-face-off rally back to ~2100 and quickly revert back to a low vol regime for the rest of the month. In that case, the options are expensive.

VVIX says the market expects some seriously stochastic vol coming up. Big moves in VIX. One day repriced way up, the next way down. The captain just turned the "fasten seatbelt" sign on....

 

[i960]

I'll just be happy if we can keep VIX above 20 for the remainder of the year.