Category: DERIVATIVES

An Options Pricing Model for Non-Frictionless Markets

The traditional option pricing model assumes that the market is frictionless. However, a body of research has developed theories that do not make this assumption. Reference utilizes the Stochastic Arbitrage (SA) approach to derive price bounds within which the admissible risk-neutral option prices, which are determined by using the …

Predicting Realized Volatility Using Skewness and Kurtosis

Realized volatility refers to the actual volatility experienced by a financial asset over a specific period, typically computed using historical price data. By calculating realized volatility, investors and analysts can gain insights into the true level of price variability in the market, which can be valuable for risk management, portfolio …

A Pricing Model for Earthquake Bonds

A catastrophe bond, commonly referred to as a cat bond, is a type of insurance-linked security that allows insurers and reinsurers to transfer the risk associated with catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, to capital market investors. These bonds are typically issued by insurance companies or special purpose vehicles (SPVs) …

Impact of Zero DTE Options on the Market

Zero DTE (0DTE) options, also known as “same-day expiration” options, are financial derivatives with expiration dates on the same day they are traded. These options offer traders the opportunity to profit from short-term price movements in the underlying asset. Due to their extremely short time frame, zero DTE options are …

Bilateral Credit Value Adjustment With Default Correlation

Credit value adjustment (CVA) is a financial concept used to account for the potential loss in value of a portfolio due to counterparty credit risk. Essentially, CVA reflects the difference between the risk-free portfolio value and the true portfolio value, considering the possibility of counterparty default. It’s a critical component …

Volatility Term Structures of Individual Stocks

In 1993, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) launched the Volatility Index (VIX), which became a crucial gauge for expected short-term market volatility. It serves as the foundation for trading volatility futures and portfolio hedging. Initially, the VIX was model-dependent and applied to the S&P100. Then, the CBOE developed a …

How Long Do Grantees Hold Onto Their ESOs?

Employee stock options (ESOs) are a compensation tool offered by companies to their employees, granting them the right to purchase shares of the company’s stock at a predetermined price. ESOs serve as incentives for employees, aligning their interests with the company’s success and long-term growth. Typically, these options have a …