Parkinson Historical Volatility Calculation – Volatility Analysis in Python

Subscribe to newsletter

In the previous post, we discussed the close-to-close historical volatility. Recall that the close-to-close historical volatility (CCHV) is calculated as follows,

historical volatility in python

where xi are the logarithmic returns calculated based on closing prices, and N is the sample size.

A disadvantage of using the CCHV is that it does not take into account the information about intraday prices. The Parkinson volatility extends the CCHV by incorporating the stock’s daily high and low prices. It is calculated as follow,

Subscribe to newsletter https://harbourfrontquant.beehiiv.com/subscribe Newsletter Covering Trading Strategies, Risk Management, Financial Derivatives, Career Perspectives, and More

Parkinson volatility analysis in Python

where hi denotes the daily high price, and li is the daily low price.

We implemented the above equation in Python. We downloaded SPY data from Yahoo finance and calculated the Parkinson volatility using the Python program. The picture below shows the Parkinson historical volatility of SPY from March 2015 to March 2020.

Parkinson volatility trading in Python

The Parkinson volatility has the following characteristics [1]

Advantages

  • Using daily ranges seems sensible and provides completely separate information from using time-based  sampling such as closing prices

Disadvantages

  • It is really only appropriate for measuring the volatility of a GBM process. It cannot handle trends and jumps
  • It systematically underestimates volatility.

Also check out Historical Volatility Online Calculator.

References

[1] E. Sinclair, Volatility Trading, John Wiley & Sons, 2008

Further questions

What's your question? Ask it in the discussion forum

Have an answer to the questions below? Post it here or in the forum

LATEST NEWSCentral 1 reports 2024 third quarter financial results
Central 1 reports 2024 third quarter financial results

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Central 1 Credit Union (Central 1) today reported third quarter performance reflecting steady financial results across business lines, consistent with plans and expectations. “Our stable third quarter results were in line with our expectations,” said Sheila…

Stay up-to-date with the latest news - click here
LATEST NEWSTrulieve cannabis CMO Gina Collins buys $7,962 in shares
Trulieve cannabis CMO Gina Collins buys $7,962 in shares
Stay up-to-date with the latest news - click here
LATEST NEWSAspen Prices Public Offering of US$200 Million of Depositary Shares Representing Interests in Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares
Aspen Prices Public Offering of US$200 Million of Depositary Shares Representing Interests in Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares

HAMILTON, Bermuda — Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (“Aspen” or the “Company”) has priced an underwritten public offering of 8,000,000 Depositary Shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each of which represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Company’s newly designated 7.00% Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (the…

Stay up-to-date with the latest news - click here
LATEST NEWSPostmedia Reports Fourth Quarter Results
Postmedia Reports Fourth Quarter Results

TORONTO — Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) today released financial information for the three months and year ended August 31, 2024. “While we continue to operate in a challenging advertising marketplace dominated by large, foreign media platforms, Postmedia achieved some important milestones…

Stay up-to-date with the latest news - click here
LATEST NEWSMedical Properties Trust Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend
Medical Properties Trust Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend
Stay up-to-date with the latest news - click here

Leave a Reply