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  • January 2008
  • Background Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Index Options

By: Joshua Coval and Erik Stafford
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:3
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Abstract

The goal of this simulation is to understand the patterns in index option prices that are not predicted by the Black-Scholes model. In particular, the simulation focuses on two properties of options prices. First, at-the-money implied volatilities from index options tend to be larger than the realized volatility. Second, the implied volatilities from index options are increasing as the strike price falls relative to the current index level (i.e., out-of-the-month call options have larger implied volatilities than at-the-money call options). Students are given a dataset of relevant market information to analyze. From these materials, students are expected to develop an investment strategy that attempts to deliver low-risk profits from the index options market. The actual simulation is fairly short and simple. Students trade 1-month put and call options on the S&P 500 (SPX) at three different strike prices (10% out-of-the-money, at-the-money, and 10% in-the-money). The simulation covers five months of calendar time (5 sets of options) in about 35 minutes.

Keywords

Volatility; Stock Options; Investment; Price; Profit; Risk Management; Mathematical Methods

Citation

Coval, Joshua, and Erik Stafford. "Index Options." Harvard Business School Background Note 208-119, January 2008.
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About The Authors

Joshua D. Coval

Finance
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Erik Stafford

Finance
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More from the Authors

    • March 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Exchanging Salary for Stock Options at a Startup

    By: Erik Stafford
    • January 2022
    • Review of Financial Studies

    Replicating Private Equity with Value Investing, Homemade Leverage, and Hold-to-Maturity Accounting

    By: Erik Stafford
    • 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Limits to Bank Deposit Market Power

    By: Juliane Begenau and Erik Stafford
More from the Authors
  • Exchanging Salary for Stock Options at a Startup By: Erik Stafford
  • Replicating Private Equity with Value Investing, Homemade Leverage, and Hold-to-Maturity Accounting By: Erik Stafford
  • Limits to Bank Deposit Market Power By: Juliane Begenau and Erik Stafford
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