‘50 Cent’ Volatility Buying Crops Up After Market Flare-Up Fades
- More than 70,000 VIX call options trade at 49 cents apiece
- ‘Fear gauge’ spiked at open, then eased as fears abated
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The volatility buyer dubbed “50 Cent” appears to have resurfaced, buying up market hedges as calm returned in the aftermath of a flare-up in Mideast tensions.
Calls on the Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, with a strike price of 25 that expire on Feb. 20 are the most actively traded VIX option contract as of mid-morning Wednesday, with volumes in excess of 75,000. The biggest trade -- accounting for nearly all of the volume -- was a purchase of 73,601 options at $0.49 apiece shortly after U.S. markets opened.