We document that the skew of S&P500 index puts is non-decreasing in the disaster index and risk-neutral variance, contrary to the implications of no-arbitrage models. Our model resolves the puzzle by recognizing that, as the disaster risk increases, customers demand more puts as insurance while...

We use a novel definition of tail risk for option pricing purposes, based on the concept of almost stochastic dominance (ASD) in order to examine empirical “puzzles” documented in several high profile studies of the market for S&P 500 index options. We find that with one exception these...

In this paper, we explore the relation between information uncertainty and S&P 500 index option returns. Since underlying state variable affecting economy is unobservable, investors have to obtain their own estimations based on available information. During such procedure, it is inevitable that...

We use a dynamic term structure model to extract latent volatility risk factors from short term VIX futures. While the first factor, closely related to the level of volatility, does not contain predictive information about VIX futures returns, the second and third risk factors can significantly...

This study has 4 contributions to the literature. First, the authors analyze the risk characteristics for 11 Relative Value hedge fund strategies. Second, the authors introduce 3 families of behavioral factors, the D family, the L family, and the R family. In contrast to previous hedge fund...

This paper implements a novel model-free methodology to measure skewness risk premia in individual stocks. The methodology takes the form of a trading strategy, a skewness swap. The return on the strategy shows a significant positive skewness risk premium in individual stocks. The risk premium...

Shocks to equity options' ATM implied volatility (ATMIV) are followed by persistently lower short-term rates. Shocks to the ratio of OTM puts' over OTM calls' implied volatilities (P/C) are followed by persistently higher rates. The stock's and Treasury bond's ATMIV indices, which measure market...

This paper investigates whether the overpricing of out-of-the money single stock calls can be explained by Tversky and Kahneman's (1992) cumulative prospect theory (CPT). We argue that these options are overpriced because investors overweight small probability events and overpay for such...

We investigate the effects of return jumps on option bid-ask spreads measured in implied volatility. To explain bid-ask spread quoting behavior, we construct a general model with market makers trading in an incomplete market in which a Bernoulli-type jump could occur. Following a numerical...