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Alpha ExchangeAuthor: Dean Curnutt
The Alpha Exchange is a podcast series launched by Dean Curnutt to explore topics in financial markets, risk management and capital allocation in the alternatives industry. Our in depth discussions with highly established industry professionals seek to uncover the nuanced and complex interactions between economic, monetary, financial, regulatory and geopolitical sources of risk. We aim to learn from the perspective our guests can bring with respect to the history of financial and business cycles, promoting a better understanding among listeners as to how prior periods provide important context to present day dynamics. The price of risk is an important topic. Here we engage experts in their assessment of risk premium levels in the context of uncertainty. Is the level of compensation attractive? Because Central Banks have played so important a role in markets post crisis, our discussions sometimes aim to better understand the evolution of monetary policy and the degree to which the real and financial economy will be impacted. An especially important area of focus is on derivative products and how they interact with risk taking and carry dynamics. Our conversations seek to enlighten listeners, for example, as to the factors that promoted the February melt-down of the VIX complex. We do NOT ask our guests for their political opinions. We seek a better understanding of the market impact of regulatory change, election outcomes and events of geopolitical consequence. Our discussions cover markets from a macro perspective with an assessment of risk and opportunity across asset classes. Within equity markets, we may explore the relative attractiveness of sectors but will NOT discuss single stocks. Language: en Genres: Business, Investing, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Benn Eifert, Founder and CIO, QVR Advisors
Episode 219
Monday, 30 June, 2025
The clearing price of optionality in the market is impacted by a myriad of factors. To be sure, the economy and corporate profit cycle, the stance of monetary policy and geopolitical risk all matter. Flows in the derivatives markets are also of consequence as they impact the environment for supply and demand. And in this context, it was excellent to welcome Benn Eifert, Founder and Managing Partner of QVR Advisors, back to the Alpha Exchange.Benn brings a data-driven lens to today’s complex volatility markets, and in this conversation, he discusses the unintended consequences of crowded risk-managed option strategies, such as buffer ETFs and overwriting. We explore how structural flows have drained the volatility risk premium, especially from the front end of the curve where the flow has especially been one way, leading to substantial optionality being sold into the marketplace. Benn states that since 2012, the VRP has largely vanished, leaving the returns to owning short-dated straddles actually positive since then. For risk-managed ETFs, the implications are unfavorable as many of these strategies often reduce beta without providing meaningful downside protection, results that are posted on the QVR website. From Benn’s perspective, even for a large and liquid options complex like the S&P 500, the sheer volume of capital chasing the same trade is distorting expected returns.We finish the conversation by exploring the evolution of QVR’s trade implementation and risk management practices. Here, Benn shares that the listed options market has become a focal point relative to years ago when OTC products transacted bi-laterally with large banks were of greater importance. The approach now leans into technology and seeking to exit and enter trades more passively, with a market-making approach.I hope you enjoy this episode of the Alpha Exchange, my conversation with Benn Eifert.
