The Volatility Index

10/16/13 04:21:54 PM

by Koos van der Merwe

Is the Volatility Index a market leader or is it a follower?

Security: VIX
Position: Buy

On CNBC, Bob Pisani always refers to the Volatility Index as to market direction. The question the listeners ask is, is the VIX a leading indicator or is it a follower? The charts here will help you decide.

Figure 1. The VIX Index.

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

The chart is Figure 1 of the VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) with two indicators, a seven-period RSI and a 14,3,3 stochastic indicator. The horizontal lines on the VIX indicator have been arbitrarily drawn at the 19 level and the 13 level. When the VIX moves above the 19 level it is suggesting the S&P index will start moving into a bull trend. The RSI and stochastic indicators confirm this move. Note that the chart is opposite to what you are used to; in other words, when the RSI is above the 72 level, and stochastic is above the 80 level, this is a positive signal, suggesting that the S&P index will start strengthening. How accurate is the forecast by the VIX? The chart in Figure 2 shows the S&P500 index and the VIX, but I have inverted the VIX on the chart so that it can be better compared.

Figure 2 The S&P500 Index with an inverted VIX.

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

Note how accurate the VIX has been in suggesting the start of a bull trend, but not that accurate in suggesting a bear trend, often suggesting a sell signal before the S&P 500 index starts trending down. So yes, in a way the VIX can be considered a market leader on the sell side, but in too many instances far too early. On the buy side, that is, forecasting a new bull trend, the VIX has been accurate, but it has not been a leading indicator, unless you look at the movement below the arbitrarily drawn horizontal line and concluded that because the VIX (inverted) has fallen so dramatically, a bull trend of the S&P 500 index is in the wings.

Koos van der Merwe

Has been a technical analyst since 1969, and has worked as a futures and options trader with First Financial Futures in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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The Volatility Index

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