The model is updated in real-time throughout the day, plotting the S&P 500 (SPY) against a model of the implied value for the S&P 500 as derived from a collection of related assets (volatility (XIV), interest rates (TBF), and credit (HYG)). With this model a trader can place relatively low risk arbitrage trades to take advantage of prices as they diverge and recouple during the day.
Let's take a look at Friday's data:
To get the most our of this trade you want to look for points at which the difference between SPY and model are large -- generally +/-$0.20 is a good rule of thumb depending on your trade sizes and transaction costs. On the areas I highlighted above, the second area I highlighted (towards the end of the day) provides a better opportunity than the first, as the difference between SPY and model is $0.30. The trade approach is then to sell the SPY while simultaneously buying the components in the model. Once the SPY and model converge, positions should then be closed.
To maintain near market-neutral on the trade the weighting of each component needs to be balanced according to the beta for each component, at least as a starting point (this is a topic I'll cover in another post). Some adjustments can be made based on where each component is trading. Again, consider data from Friday:
Important note: If your positions are small relative to your transaction costs or if you are subject to wash sales rules, this may not be a good strategy to employ. I recommend crunching the numbers for your specific situation to determine if this strategy is right for you.
