Option-implied probability distributions and currency excess returns

This paper describes a method of extracting the risk-neutral probability distribution of future exchange rates from option prices. In foreign exchange markets interbank option pricing conventions make possible reliable inferences about risk-neutral probability distributions with relatively little data. Moments drawn from risk-neutral exchange rate distribution are used to explore several issues related to the puzzle of excess returns in currency markets. Tests of the international capital asset pricing model using risk-neutral moments as explanatory variables indicate that option-based moments have considerably greater explanatory power for excess returns in currency markets than has been found in earlier work. Tests of several hypotheses generated by the peso problem approach indicate that jump risk measured by the risk-neutral coefficient of skewness can explain only a small part of the forward bias. These tests take into account not only the second, but the third and fourth moments of the exchange rate implied by option prices, and avoid testing a joint hypothesis including a distributional assumption.Options (Finance) ; Foreign exchange rates ; Capital assets pricing model

Using option prices to estimate realignment probabilities in the European Monetary System

Risk reversals are a combination of options from which price information about market expectations of future exchange rates can be extracted. This paper describes a procedure for estimating the market's perceived probability distribution of future exchange rates from the prices of risk reversals and other currency options. This procedure is used to estimate the ex ante probability of a realignment of the French franc and pound sterling. The procedure for estimating the realignment probabilities relies on the jump-diffusion model of exchange rate behavior and the resulting option pricing formula. By fitting this model to market option price data, the unobserved parameters of the jump-diffusion process are retrieved. These parameter estimates form the basis for estimating the ex ante probability distribution of exchange rates and thus the realignment probabilities.European Monetary System (Organization) ; Options (Finance)

A Simple and Reliable Way to Compute Option-Based Risk-Neutral Distributions A Simple and Reliable Way to Compute Option-Based Risk-Neutral Distributions

Abstract This paper describes a method for computing risk-neutral density functions based on the option-implied volatility smile. Its aim is to reduce complexity and provide cookbook-style guidance through the estimation process. The technique is robust and avoids violations of option no-arbitrage restrictions that can lead to negative probabilities and other implausible results. I give examples for equities, foreign exchange, and long-term interest rates

A Service of zbw A simple and reliable way to compute option-based risk-neutral distributions A Simple and Reliable Way to Compute Option-Based Risk-Neutral Distributions A Simple and Reliable Way to Compute Option-Based Risk-Neutral Distributions

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Terms of use: Documents in EconStor may Abstract This paper describes a method for computing risk-neutral density functions based on the option-implied volatility smile. Its aim is to reduce complexity and provide cookbook-style guidance through the estimation process. The technique is robust and avoids violations of option no-arbitrage restrictions that can lead to negative probabilities and other implausible results. I give examples for equities, foreign exchange, and long-term interest rates

Distributions Implied by Exchange Traded Options: A Ghost’s Smile?

A new and easily applicable method for estimating risk neutral distributions (RND) implied by American futures options is proposed. It amounts to inverting the Barone-Adesi and Whaley method (1987) (BAW method) to get the BAW implied volatility smile. Extensive empirical tests show that the BAW smile is equivalent to the volatility smile implied by corresponding European options. Therefore, the procedure leads to a legitimate RND estimation method. Further, the investigation of the currency options traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and OTC markets in parallel provides us with insights on the structure and interaction of the two markets. Unequally distributed liquidity in the OTC market seems to lead to price distortions and an ensuing interesting ‘ghost-like ’ shape of the RND density implied by CME options. Finally, using the empirical results, we propose a parsimonious generalisation of the existing methods for estimating volatility smiles from OTC options. A single free parameter signi…cantly improves the …t