noninstitutional

03 Mar: Bitcoin / Crypto

Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency. There are no physical bitcoins, only balances kept on a public ledger that everyone has transparent access to. All bitcoin transactions are verified by a massive amount of computing power. Bitcoins are not issued or backed by any banks or governments, nor are individual bitcoins valuable as a commodity. Despite it not being legal tender, Bitcoin is very popular and has triggered the launch of hundreds of other cryptocurrencies, collectively referred to as altcoins. Bitcoin is commonly abbreviated as “BTC.”

03 Mar: VIX Weekly

The CBOE Volatility Index, or “VIX”, is a real-time market index representing the market’s expectations for volatility over the coming 30 days. Investors use the VIX to measure the level of risk, fear, or stress in the market when making investment decisions. Traders can also trade the VIX using a variety of options and exchange-traded products, or use VIX values to price derivatives.

03 Mar: TLT Weekly

TLT provides exposure to long-dated Treasuries, an asset class that is light on credit risk but may offer attractive yields thanks to an extended duration and therefore material interest rate risk. TLT might not be a core holding in a buy-and-hold portfolio, as long-term Treasuries are included in broader-based bond funds such as AGG and BND. But for those looking to extend the duration of their portfolio and potentially enhance the current return offered, this can be a useful product. TLT is efficient from a cost perspective, offers exposure to hundreds of individual securities, and delivers impressive liquidity to those looking to execute a trade quickly.