Slope of Hope Blog Posts
Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.
In Case A 1987-Style Crash Happens Next
The Big Liberation Day Surprise
Why Today’s Volatility Is Different
(and How to Take Advantage)
We’re not in a crisis, but volatility is quietly making a comeback—and for options traders, that matters.
Traders are being reminded—some gently, some with a jolt—that volatility never dies. It merely hides. And now, after a prolonged hibernation, it’s stirring.
For nearly two years, the market lulled investors into comfort with a slow, steady grind higher. The VIX drifted. Spreads narrowed. Option premiums dried up. Selling premium in 2023 felt like wringing water from a stone—you could do it, but not without effort. But something changed in late Q4 last year. And since then, the shift has become increasingly hard to ignore.
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