Using the risk-neutral volatility and skewness computed from options on the S&P500, we show there is an asymmetric contemporaneous relation between stock returns and changes in implied market volatility and skewness. Changes in expected market volatility and skewness are cross-sectionally priced...

This study investigates if changes in risk-neutral systematic volatility, skewness, and kurtosis, are priced, either symmetrically or asymmetrically, as systematic risk factors in the cross-section of stock returns. The moments are constructed using options on the S&P 500, and represent...