@Robert Morse is not really a good example. I'm pretty sure he paid a lot to get the level of knowledge he has. And I'm pretty sure he would not dispute the fact that long straddle is by default a non directional strategy. Exactly like strangle, butterfly, iron condor, calendar etc.
Any of those strategies can be modified to use different strikes and become directional, but it is a common knowledge that those strategies have been designed to be non directional.
So yes, there are few exceptions here, but whoever initiates a whole discussion to prove that straddle is not a non directional strategy, either has no idea what he is talking about, or simply wants to discredit me.
You've discredited yourself.
"non-directional" straddles are not the "default" construction.
Skew: You're looking to get long exposure to SPX cash. The ATM vol is 12. The 25D P/C risk-reversal is quoted at 16/9 vol. You buy the +40D straddle at a vol of 13. SPX rallies 10 points and you're up on delta and skew. Your straddle strike is now printing 14 vol. An edge on skew.
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