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Weird volatility skew

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derenik

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I'm looking at the volatility skew of BHP options in the front month (29 Jul). Most of the time the volatility of ATM call/put matches. The skew is smooth and looks like a nice (almost) symmetric curve.
But sometimes two things happen which I don't understand.

1. The volatility of ATM calls becomes much greater than the volatility of ATM puts. The gap is about 10-20%. It lasts for 10-20 minutes then comes back.

2. The volatility of ITM puts drops to zero from time to time. Sometimes puts bid has zero volatility but the ask is ok. The other times both bid and ask have zero volatility and the puts are traded with no extrinsic values.

What is the reason for this?
 
Hi derenik,

Are they market maker prices or retail trader prices, generally a retail trader may put in a low buy price if no quotes are showing then work it up ( unless a quote is requested ).

Deep in the money options generally have no time value build into the price.

BTW which puts traded with zero vol ? Maybe they where part of a combo.
 

I don't know if it is a retail trader. There were a few consequent strikes quoted with zero volatility so looks like a MM.
Those ITM puts were not so deep. With BHP trading at 38 the strikes with zero vol were 39.5 to 42.
 
derenik said:
I don't know if it is a retail trader. There were a few consequent strikes quoted with zero volatility so looks like a MM.
Those ITM puts were not so deep. With BHP trading at 38 the strikes with zero vol were 39.5 to 42.
Click to expand...

Can't say I can see the same thing, are they yesterdays trades or some other time ?
 
cutz said:
Can't say I can see the same thing, are they yesterdays trades or some other time ?
Click to expand...

They were on Friday, 16 Jul. But I noticed it earlier last week so it was not just a glitch. Just keep an eye on the skew and you'll notice.

Do you know why calls volatility can suddenly go up and the puts down to large extent? It also happened a few times per day on Friday. The most difference was around ATM.
 
Got it. Those ITM puts have so small extrinsic value that tiny movements in underlying by 1-2 cents throw the volatility rock bottom or sky high depending on direction of the movement. And while the price amend orders for options from MM are still on their way to exchange we see this "glitch". Or they probably even dont care to amend the prices.
 
There are more than one type of operator in this section of the market. It is no longer rational. There are too many gamblers for a start. There are too many treating it as a game of chess. There are too many operators that are in a position to manipulate the market. There are those with the facilities to make and reverse calls in the time it takes others to place an order.

No wonder it seems weird at times. That is because it IS weird.
 

Sorry but that doesn't make sense.




There's nothing weird about exchange traded options, none of the above occurs with ETOs, have a look at the order book if you are not convinced, if anything there aren't enough operators in oz.

I'm not sure what you're trying to describe but options are a beautiful thing.
 

Yep, the arb boys keep it honest.
 
cutz said:
I'm not sure what you're trying to describe but options are a beautiful thing.
Click to expand...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The ugliest of babies looks beautiful to its mother. I just happen to see the stock exchange in general and options trading in particular, as a weird ugly monster manipulated by some to the disadvantage of many. We do not live in an ideal world.
 
derenik said:
Feel free to ask questions if you don't understand it.
Click to expand...

How are you measuring vol, are you using last traded price/settlement price if no trades have occured on the day ?
 
nioka said:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Click to expand...

Agree with you there.

But why options trading?

ETO’s are probably one the least risky instruments on the exchange (provided they are well managed) , much less risky than equities.

Why the sour thoughts on these beauties ?
 
cutz said:
How are you measuring vol, are you using last traded price/settlement price if no trades have occured on the day ?
Click to expand...

No I'm looking at intraday changes in IV and I'm using mid-prices of underlying and both bid and ask of option contracts. So I'm looking at the IV of bid and IV of ask. No trades on the day is totally illiquid for me, I don't look at such contracts.
 
cutz said:
Agree with you there.

But why options trading

Why the sour thoughts on these beauties ?
Click to expand...

They should be beauties but they bred a monster. My thoughts on the GFC. Caused by three things. The first is unbridled greed coupled with the second, misuse of the banking system and third but not least, the use of options trading and short selling causing the crash many companies.
 
nioka said:
.....and third but not least, the use of options trading and short selling causing the crash many companies.
Click to expand...
Rubbish. That's the muppets media and fund industry placing blame somewhere other than where is should be placed.

We've been through this before.
 
cutz said:
Disagree,

Caused by one thing, rampant property spectulation and overgearing, same thing that's happening in oz.
Click to expand...

I'm happy to add that as a forth but coming forth behind the other three.
 
Nioka

Can you explain precisely how options caused the GFC?

(this should be good) :
 
cutz said:
ETO’s are probably one the least risky instruments on the exchange (provided they are well managed) , much less risky than equities.
Click to expand...

Actually, I'd disagree - its more risky, because people don't understand how derivatives work and the underlying principles that requires participants to operate the way they do.
 
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