How does an increase in the volatility of the underlying asset affect the value of call and put options?

Correct answer: It increases the value of both calls and puts.

Explanation

Volatility is the source of an option's speculative value.

Other questions

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the concept of arbitrage?

Question 2

In the context of derivative pricing, what does the term 'replication' refer to?

Question 3

Risk-neutral pricing determines the value of a derivative by discounting expected future cash flows at which rate?

Question 4

At the initiation of a forward contract, which of the following statements regarding its value and price is correct?

Question 5

Calculate the no-arbitrage forward price for a 1-year contract on an asset with a spot price of 100 EUR, assuming a risk-free rate of 5 percent and no holding costs or benefits.

Question 6

An investor holds a long position in a forward contract with a forward price of 50. At expiration, the spot price of the underlying asset is 55. What is the payoff to the investor?

Question 7

A forward contract was initiated with a forward price of 105. Six months later, the spot price of the asset is 110, and the risk-free rate is 4 percent. What is the value of the long forward position? (Assume T=1 at initiation, so 0.5 years remain).

Question 8

How do monetary benefits, such as dividends, affect the no-arbitrage forward price of an asset?

Question 9

What is the 'convenience yield' of an asset?

Question 10

Calculate the no-arbitrage futures price for a 1-year contract on an asset with a spot price of 200, given a risk-free rate of 3 percent and a net cost of carry of -5 (negative).

Question 11

If a forward contract on an asset has a positive net cost of carry (benefits exceed costs), the forward price will be:

Question 12

What is the primary difference between a Forward Rate Agreement (FRA) and a standard forward contract?

Question 13

To create a synthetic long position in an FRA (to hedge against rising rates), a bank could:

Question 14

Why might the price of a futures contract differ from the price of an otherwise identical forward contract?

Question 15

If interest rates and futures prices are positively correlated, the futures price will generally be:

Question 16

An interest rate swap is economically equivalent to:

Question 17

At the initiation of a plain vanilla interest rate swap, the value of the swap is:

Question 18

A 'call' option is said to be 'in-the-money' when:

Question 19

Calculate the exercise value (intrinsic value) of a put option with a strike price of 50 when the underlying stock is trading at 42.

Question 20

An option has a premium of 5. Its exercise value is 3. What is its time value?

Question 22

Which of the following factors is inversely related to the value of a call option (i.e., higher factor value leads to lower call value)?

Question 23

Which of the following describes the relationship between the risk-free rate and the value of a put option?

Question 24

According to put-call parity for European options, a fiduciary call (Call + Risk-free bond) has the same payoff as which portfolio?

Question 25

Given the following: Stock Price = 52, Put Price = 1.50, Strike Price = 50, Risk-free Rate = 5 percent, Time = 0.25 years. Calculate the no-arbitrage price of the Call option using put-call parity.

Question 26

Using put-call parity, how can a synthetic share of stock be created?

Question 27

Put-Call-Forward parity is derived by substituting which of the following into the standard put-call parity equation?

Question 28

In the binomial model, the risk-neutral probability of an up-move depends on:

Question 29

Calculate the value of a 1-year call option using a one-period binomial model. Current Stock = 30. Up factor = 1.15. Down factor = 0.87. Risk-free rate = 7 percent. Strike = 30.

Question 30

Under what condition would an American call option on a stock be worth more than an otherwise identical European call option?

Question 31

Why might an American put option be exercised early?

Question 32

If a portfolio has a guaranteed payoff of 105 in one year and costs 100 today, and the risk-free rate is 3 percent, what action should an arbitrageur take?

Question 33

A 'fiduciary call' consists of:

Question 34

For an asset with storage costs, the forward price is calculated as:

Question 35

A 'synthetic' European put option can be created by:

Question 36

Which of the following best describes the 'payoff' of a protective put at expiration?

Question 37

In a one-period binomial model, the risk-neutral probability of a down move is:

Question 38

If a call option is 'at-the-money', its time value is:

Question 39

A 'synthetic' bond (risk-free asset) can be constructed using options and stock by:

Question 40

If the forward price is F0(T) = 100 and the contract expires in T=1 year, what is the value of the forward contract to the long party when the spot price is 102 just before expiration (essentially t=T)?

Question 41

An off-market forward contract is one where:

Question 42

Which of the following portfolios replicates a long position in a Forward Rate Agreement (receiving floating, paying fixed)?

Question 43

If the convenience yield of a commodity is extremely high, the market is likely in:

Question 44

Calculate the price of a 1-year swap where the present value of expected floating payments is 2.0 million and the notional principal is 100 million. The discount factor for 1 year is 0.95.

Question 45

A call option is worth more 'alive than dead' (uncercised) usually because:

Question 46

Which factor would decrease the value of a call option?

Question 47

In the binomial model, if the risk-free rate increases while U and D remain constant, the risk-neutral probability of an up-move (pi_U):

Question 48

Value of a forward contract at expiration (Time T) is:

Question 49

How is the settlement price of a futures contract typically determined?

Question 50

What is the lower bound of a European call option price on a non-dividend paying stock?