one-offs

vol-arb. long vol-corr, Derman and tails. Zero vol-shift. Pure arb.

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How do these exist? Like even lacking any clue about options math or dynamics, isn’t it trivial to brute-force scan the entire listed options space for combos with a PnL graph like this?
 
How do these exist? Like even lacking any clue about options math or dynamics, isn’t it trivial to brute-force scan the entire listed options space for combos with a PnL graph like this?


It's complex to model. A threshold needs to be hit on 1st to 2nd decile vols and/or switch values (vol-backwardation).
 
Switch Lock -> D1/D1 backwardation (duration) -> $0 margin under PM (credit req/adds like a short box cr >strikes)

You can see that I am not stressing vol.

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Tails maintain convexity from 0-inf. Small haircut ($3K debit). Crazy rho on long-dated but that is simply opportunity cost (moot) and this is a 2W combo. Allows you to trade short-gamma locally with no bear-risk.

Bear tail is conservative due to vol-corr and upside due to stickiness, but I typically model a touch of the the bear trough to x as vol-corr (- to index) will shift the curve higher.

It's an ideal portfolio prot. I arb VX against it (long switch say Dec/Jan for convergence gains as SPX/cash convexity exceeds leverage to VX). IOW, you can arb the long switch in VX against VIX SOQ.


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