Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T05:39:15.568Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Term Structure of Volatility Implied by Foreign Exchange Options

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Abstract

This paper illustrates regression and Kalman filtering methods for estimating the time-varying term structure of volatility expectations revealed by options prices. Short- and long-term expectations are estimated for four currencies using daily PHLX options prices from 1985 to 1989. Throughout this period, there were important differences between shortand long-term expectations. The slope of the term structure changed frequently and there were significant variations in long-term volatility expectations. The expectation estimates can be used to value OTC options, to improve hedging strategies, and to test the hypothesis that the options market overreacts.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Business Administration, University of Washington 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barone-Adesi, G., and Whaley, R. E.. “Efficient Analytic Approximation of American Option Values.” Journal of Finance, 42 (06 1987), 301320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bollerslev, T.; Chou, R. Y.; and Kroner, K. F.. “ARCH Modeling in Finance: a Review of the Theory and Empirical Evidence.” Journal of Econometrics, 52 (04 1992), 559.Google Scholar
Day, T. E., and Lewis, C. M.. “The Behaviour of the Volatility Implicit in the Prices of Stock Index Options.” Journal of Financial Economics, 22 (10 1988), 103122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Day, T. E., and Lewis, C. M..“Stock Market Volatility and the Information Content of Stock Index Options.” Journal of Econometrics, 52 (04 1992), 267287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diz, F., and Finucane, T. J.. “Do the Options Markets Really Overreact?Journal of Futures Markets, 13 (06 1993), 299312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franks, J. R., and Schwartz, E. S.. “The Stochastic Behaviour of Market Variance Implied in the Prices of Index Options.” The Economic Journal, 101 (11 1991), 14601475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, A. C.Forecasting, Structural Time Series Models and the Kalman Filter. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press (1989).Google Scholar
Heynen, R.; Kemna, A. G. Z.; and Vorst, T.. “Analysis of the Term Structure of Implied Volatilities.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 29 (03 1994), 3156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hull, J., and White, A.. “The Pricing of Options on Assets with Stochastic Volatilities.” Journal of Finance, 42 (06 1987), 281300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamoureux, C. G., and Lastrapes, W. D.. “Forecasting Stock Return Variance: Toward an Understanding of Stochastic Implied Volatilities.” Review of Financial Studies, 6 (Summer 1993), 293326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merville, L. J., and Pieptea, D. R.. “Stock Price Volatility, Mean-Reverting Diffusion, and Noise.” Journal of Financial Economics, 24 (09 1989), 193214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poterba, J. M., and Summers, L. H.. “The Persistence of Volatility and Stock Market Fluctuations.” American Economic Review, 76 (12 1986), 11421151.Google Scholar
Resnick, B. G.; Sheikh, A. M.; and Song, Y.. “Time Varying Volatilities and Calculation of the Weighted Implied Standard Deviation.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 28 (09 1993), 417430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shastri, K., and Wethyavivorn, K.. “The Valuation of Currency Options for Alternate Stochastic Processes.” Journal of Financial Research, 10 (No. 2, 1987), 283293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheikh, A. M.Transaction Data Tests of S&P 100 Call Option Pricing.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 26 (12 1991), 459475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, E. M., and Stein, J. C.. “Stock Price Distributions with Stochastic Volatility: An Analytic Approach.” Review of Financial Studies, 4 (Winter 1991), 727752.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, J. C.Overreactions in the Options Market.” Journal of Finance, 44 (09 1989), 10111023.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, S. J., and Xu, X.. “The Magnitude of Implied Volatility Smiles: Theory and Empirical Evidence for Exchange Rates.” Review of Futures Markets (forthcoming).Google Scholar
Xu, X., and Taylor, S. J.. “Conditional Volatility and the Informational Efficiency of the PHLX Currency Options Market.” Journal of Banking and Finance, 19 (forthcoming 09 1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar