Strategy Video: Will Yen Cross and SPX Traders Jump on Volatility Swell?

Talking Points:

• The tragedy of a downed flight at Ukraine's border has raised geopolitical tensions and market fear
• Short-term volatility swells are a common sight in 2014 and the market has frequently taken advantage
• Whether or not traders 'buy the dip' or 'short vol' depends on confidence in status quo and returns

Market conditions change, and our strategy should reflect those changes. We have coded the DailyFX-Plus strategies for Breakout, Range and Momentum to adapt to these market shifts.

A downed plane on the Ukraine-Russia border has escalated geopolitical tensions and sent a ripple of fear through the financial system. With this tragedy thrusting a global point of tension back into the spotlight, short-term volatility measures have swelled in a familiar pattern for 2014. We have seen this jump in volatility and pullback in 'risk' sensitive assets plenty of times before. And, consistently, it has encouraged short-term traders to jump in and squeeze the premium added to capital markets. But, this instance looks different. Not only are we rising from extreme/record lows on activity measures, but the increase itself has so far been restrained. Furthermore, the return potential for the adjustment is smaller than usual. What does this mean for the S&P 500, Yen crosses and broader financial markets? We discuss that in today's Strategy Video.

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