"Volatility regime" refers to the characteristic or pattern of changes in the level of volatility in a particular market, investment, or financial instrument over a certain period. It highlights how the level of unpredictability or fluctuation of prices or returns may vary, either remaining stable or becoming more turbulent, during different phases of time.
Full definition
And they are typically buying opportunities, provided there are no economic or financial shocks to today's
low volatility regime.
A
new volatility regime is upon us, but the transition has been more violent than anyone could have expected.
Our research suggests that breaks to a high -
volatility regime rarely occur without the economic expansion coming to an end.
However, should inflation start to move meaningfully above 2 %, the
low volatility regime is unlikely to survive.
As Goldman Sachs pointed out recently, there have been 14 low -
volatility regimes since 1928 and all have required a large shock — namely a war or recession — to end.
Due to the power of compounding as illustrated in Exhibit 1 and the
low volatility regime we have had in the past a couple of years, the S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures Inverse Daily Index has outperformed the «true short» of its benchmark, the S&P 500 VIX Short - Term Futures Index.
Rick and Russ on the
new volatility regime, why risk is being misapprehended, and how to navigate these...
Beyond more sleepless nights, this shift in
the volatility regime has implications for portfolio positioning.
The widening of spreads and accompanying tightening in financial market conditions have contributed to the shift in
the volatility regime.
But I can say with a very high degree of confidence that we have now departed the low
volatility regime and entered a high volatility regime.
We see the probability of
a volatility regime shift as low — as long as the economy remains stable and systemic financial vulnerabilities are kept in check.
As Artemis Capital's Chris Cole has said about the end of the low -
volatility regime, February's VIX tantrum was likely «just an appetizer».
In a report released last October, Artemis Capital encapsulated the importance of buybacks to the low -
volatility regime:
For anyone holding an electronically traded product (ETP) tracking the inverse of the VIX index, the end of the low
volatility regime that was 2017 obliterated their allocated positions.
The past two weeks have offered a clear illustration of the importance of buybacks to the low -
volatility regime.
Many assume central bankers are aware unwinding QE could end the low -
volatility regime and will act to protect the «new normal».
Buybacks have been essential fuel for the low -
volatility regime, enabling steady equity appreciation and in turn, the rules - based strategies pegged to that tranquility.
It is impossible to pinpoint when the low -
volatility regime will end, but as Howard Marks stressed in an Oaktree client letter last week: «It's better to turn cautious too soon... than too late after the downslide has begun.»
Investors, myself included, continue to marvel at the low
volatility regime.
Beyond more sleepless nights, this shift in
the volatility regime has implications for portfolio positioning.
Low
volatility regimes lead to excessive risk taking and crowded positioning which leads to instability and high volatility regimes and on and on.
Investors, myself included, continue to marvel at the low
volatility regime.
The current market and
volatility regime we're in now suggests more uncomfortable downward moves may be ahead, which may make it harder for investors to hold on to a «buy - and - hold» strategy.
Certainly, 2017 was a low
volatility regime.
Due to the power of compounding as illustrated in Exhibit 1 and the low
volatility regime we have had in the past a couple of years, the S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures Inverse Daily Index has outperformed the «true short» of its benchmark, the S&P 500 VIX Short - Term Futures Index.
As Artemis Capital's Chris Cole has said about the end of the low -
volatility regime, February's VIX tantrum was likely «just an appetizer».