Index Option Anomalies: How Real Are They?

24 Pages Posted: 27 Nov 2018 Last revised: 25 Apr 2019

See all articles by Michal Czerwonko

Michal Czerwonko

Nazarbayev University

Stylianos Perrakis

Concordia University, Quebec - John Molson School of Business

Date Written: October 29, 2018

Abstract

We examine empirical “puzzles” documented in several high profile studies of the market for S&P 500 index options, such as the overpricing of out-of-the money (OTM) put options and at-the-money (ATM) straddles. We find that without any exception the theoretical bases of these studies have ignored persistent features of the index option market data such as the wide bid-ask spreads for OTM options, the partial segmentation of the market for puts and calls, and the inconsistency of the parameter estimates for different maturity options, which we document in our data. We present simple theoretical models of the end user option trader that incorporate these features and are parsimonious in terms of other assumptions. We find that these puzzles disappear under such conditions and conclude that these apparent anomalies are probably due to the omission of the above features.

Keywords: S&P 500 options, stochastic dominance, option mispricing, portfolio management

JEL Classification: G10, G11, G13, G23

Suggested Citation

Czerwonko, Michal and Perrakis, Stylianos, Index Option Anomalies: How Real Are They? (October 29, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3278037 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3278037

Michal Czerwonko (Contact Author)

Nazarbayev University ( email )

53 Kabanbay Batyra Avenue
Astana, 010000
Kazakhstan

Stylianos Perrakis

Concordia University, Quebec - John Molson School of Business ( email )

1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8
Canada

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
220
Abstract Views
1,280
Rank
251,629
PlumX Metrics