Volatility made a comeback in the second quarter.
The S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) is up nearly 50% since the beginning of April compared to nearly a 13% decline for the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) over the same time period.
Investor anxiety over lackluster job growth, consumer attitudes and even a possible double dip recession depressed stocks in Q2 and drove the double digit increases in the volatility measure.
VXX offers exposure to a daily rolling long position in the first and second month VIX futures contracts and reflects the implied volatility of the S&P 500 Index at various points along the volatility forward curve.
The index futures roll continuously throughout each month from the first month VIX futures contract into the second month VIX futures contract.
For more investing choices, see the list of specialty ETFs.