iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX)

[GreedyAgorist]

Barclays suspended new share issuance, hence the 20%+ spike on a day when volatility itself is down. This has always been a short term play, usually with options, always keeping in mind the concept of contango.* Not sure how much this move from Barclays messes with that.

In the past, it has almost never been a bad idea to sell a covered call on big days like today. (Even though yesterday was also a big day.) As the price usually retreats quickly. That is what makes a spike so pointy. The other side of the spike. If you didn't have shares to cover a call, the next choice would be to buy puts. I probably wouldn't chase at this point, even if the world's problems aren't going to be solved by next week.

*I believe the same thing applies to that Bitcoin futures ETF they started last year.