VIX futures are a type of derivative that allows investors to bet on the future direction of the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX). The VIX is a measure of market uncertainty and is often referred to as the “fear index.” VIX futures allow investors to hedge against or speculate on future …

Beta is a measure of the volatility, or systematic risk, of a security or portfolio in comparison to the market as a whole. Beta is used in the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) to calculate the expected return of an investment. A stock with a beta greater than one is …

Cointegration is a statistical property of certain types of data that indicates a strong relationship between them. When two variables are cointegrated, it means that they move together over time and tend to return to the same level after periods of divergence. This makes them ideal candidates for pairs trading, …

Derivative transactions may include collateral offered by the parties involved. These transactions require both parties to document the security provided by either one. Therefore, they may use a credit support annex (CSA). This document may give rise to a collateral choice option. Before discussing this option, it is crucial to …

A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that is made up of a pool of funds from many different investors. The money in the fund is then used to purchase a variety of different securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other assets. Mutual funds are a popular way for investors …

A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months. It is visible in industrial production, employment, real income, and wholesale-retail trade. The technical indicator of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth as measured by a country’s …

Technical analysis is the study of past price patterns to identify market trends and trading opportunities. Technical analysts believe that the collective actions of all participants in the market, including buyers and sellers, producers and consumers, investors and speculators, etc., influence asset prices. By analyzing price data, technical analysts aim …

In the financial markets, herding behaviour is often exhibited by investors following the crowd and buying or selling assets based on the actions of others, rather than making their own independent decisions. This can lead to market bubbles and crashes as everyone rushes to buy or sell at the same …

Implied volatility is a measure of the expected fluctuations in a security’s price. It is used by options traders to gauge the market’s expectations for the future volatility of the underlying security. A higher implied volatility means that the market is expecting a greater price movement, while a lower implied …

Inflation is often thought of as a rise in the prices of goods and services. While this is true, inflation is actually an increase in the money supply. When there is more money chasing after goods and services, prices will naturally rise. This puts investors in a difficult position because …