implied volatility figure is annaulized with a probablity of one standard deviation because the option pricing model assumes normal distribution.
implied volatility figure is annaulized with a probablity of one standard deviation because the option pricing model assumes normal distribution.
If you have conviction, why spread?I've got a couple of spreads on right now for EOY. Unlike my usual games around vol, they're bets on fundamentals (in this case, rates.) Not something I do too often unless I see an obvious move.
Forget greeks - theta most of all (you're paying so little that it might as well not exist at all.) They're just strongly-directional trades - winged off in my case because I don't feel like paying the ticket for an increase/decrease to inf/0.
Can't think of anything else that might be of interest, but if you have some specific question, feel free to ask.
If you have conviction, why spread?
I wonder if it would make any difference, in theory at least. You would pay indeed for the unlimited upside or drop to zero, but also these ‘tails’ are - in theory - priced accordingly, and perhaps when you are named Taleb even underpriced from your point of view. Spreads/boxes do help for a smoother return distribution, I would say/thinkRegardless of how much conviction you have, why would you pay for a bet out to infinity or a drop to zero?
I wonder if it would make any difference, in theory at least. You would pay indeed for the unlimited upside or drop to zero, but also these ‘tails’ are - in theory - priced accordingly, and perhaps when you are named Taleb even underpriced from your point of view. Spreads/boxes do help for a smoother return distribution, I would say/think
If you can - better than random - asses the price touch at expiration, that would be interesting too

However, I do trade a fair number of flies these days... and they have taught me the value of wings.I don't think you can get a 10-20:1 payoff with a spread, can you?Regardless of how much conviction you have, why would you pay for a bet out to infinity or a drop to zero?
I have not been able to profit from flies, no matter how hard I tried.Having said all that: I don't do spreads all that often.However, I do trade a fair number of flies these days... and they have taught me the value of wings.

If you go far out of the money, unlikely but yes.I don't think you can get a 10-20:1 payoff with a spread, can you?
The fact that a rise to infinity is priced "fairly" is irrelevant; it's not a bet I'm interested in making.
SPY may rise $20 in the next 30 days. It will not, in any sensible conception of the market, rise by $100 during that time. Why would I pay for a chance that it "might", and why would I want to use up that much more of my buying power for something that can't happen (or, in the case of shorts, throw away that much more margin)?
Also: why would I want to put up that much higher of a barrier to making a profit? If a spread costs me 1/2 of the price of the single, I get into profit 2x faster if I'm right on the direction.
Having said all that: I don't do spreads all that often.However, I do trade a fair number of flies these days... and they have taught me the value of wings.
The fact that a rise to infinity is priced "fairly" is irrelevant; it's not a bet I'm interested in making.
SPY may rise $20 in the next 30 days. It will not, in any sensible conception of the market, rise by $100 during that time. Why would I pay for a chance that it "might", and why would I want to use up that much more of my buying power for something that can't happen (or, in the case of shorts, throw away that much more margin)?
Also: why would I want to put up that much higher of a barrier to making a profit? If a spread costs me 1/2 of the price of the single, I get into profit 2x faster if I'm right on the direction.
Having said all that: I don't do spreads all that often.However, I do trade a fair number of flies these days... and they have taught me the value of wings.
)If a spread costs me 1/2 of the price of the single, I get into profit 2x faster if I'm right on the direction.