I am an individual investor, looking to find more information about trading the vix and volatility index.?

Question

I have an E Trade account, and am able to find some information on the VIX (volatility index), but an unable to find information on actually participating in trading it, does anyone know if this is something available to individual investors? And if so, what services do I use?

Answer 1

VIX futures and options are available to individual investors.

If you have approval to trade futures in your account, you should be able to trade VIX futures.

If you have approval to trade options in your account, you should be able to trade VIX options.

Requirements to get approval for trading futures and/or options vary by broker, so you will have to contact E Trade to get approval.

You can find out practically everything you want would want to know about VIX futures and options using the links at

http://www.cboe.com/micro/vix/introduction.aspx

Answer 2

Paul above gave you 2, both have a tendency to adhere to the on a daily basis united statesand downs of ^VIX - VXX extra so than VXZ, yet neither with the help of the %s of ^VIX. they don't continually follow. contained in the finest 6 months, VXZ is down 12%, ^VIX is down 20% and VXX is down 50%. earlier you make investments in those, get a cope with on at the same time as and why you would were in or out in the time of that era. good luck.