Quick VIX

"I would like to bet ten tens on the tenth horse in the tenth race, please." Last summer, on a warm cloudy day June 11 ,  2016 in Elmont New York, a good friend of mine (Rob) confidently walked up to the cashier at Belmont and spoke those famous words.  Ten Tens on Ten in the Tenth Race.  In fact, it had been decided it months earlier. We had been discussing hosting his bachelor party in New York, go to the Belmont Stakes, and watch a Yankees vs Tigers game and Rob convinced the group to go to New York by proudly proclaimed his prophecy.  I had almost forgotten about this bold prediction when I witnessed him at the register, but when I looked up, and saw Flintshire, the 10 th horse in the race upcoming race was the favorite.  “What could possibly go wrong?”  I thought to myself (an options trader who bought a racing program attempting to handicap and gain an ‘edge’ in the previous nine races unsuccessfully).  I went to a pretzel vendor and...

Kim Jung-Un gave the U.S. an unwelcome birthday present as he test launched an ICBM capable of reaching Alaska.  North Korea has made it very clear that their intention is to grow their nuclear capability to be able to reach the Continental United States.  This would destabilize the region, and world overnight. Now I don’t expect the war drum beating will spill over into mortar shells raining down on Seoul anytime soon.  There has been a choreographed diplomatic dance going on for the past 40 years with North Korea that is likely to continue as follows; North Korea acts out, U.S. gets upset, U.S. sanctions them (with help from China).  North Korea gives up their acting out activity (promises they won’t do it again), a North Korean South Korean gesture of goodwill takes place, such as joint Olympic teams, joint economic projects, North Korea gets to declare victory. However, this go around seems slightly different.  Now we have a President who has ma...