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ASYMMETRY® Observations are Mike Shell’s observations of all things asymmetry, asymmetric risk/reward, asymmetric payoffs, and asymmetric investment returns.


Why Did VXX and VIXY Diverge in 2022? Thumbnail

Why Did VXX and VIXY Diverge in 2022?

VXX and VIXY usually move in tandem due to their similar tracking of VIX futures, but in 2022, Barclays' suspension of new VXX issuance created an unprecedented divergence. The March 2022 event highlighted the risks of trading ETNs versus ETFs—while VIXY functioned properly throughout the year, VXX became detached from reality, trading at a significant premium before finally reverting.

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The Stock Market is Entering an Elevated Risk Level  Thumbnail

The Stock Market is Entering an Elevated Risk Level

We're entering a point in the stock market trend that could be an inflection point. My market risk indicators are elevated, suggesting DEFENSE, but they're imperfect. In bear markets, we'll see lots of whipsaws and head fakes, and OVERBOUGHT and EXTENDED can continue.

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