Spread options, Farkas's lemma and linear programming
Vladimir Piterbarg derives necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a joint distribution consistent with given marginals and the distribution of the spread in terms of no-arbitrage conditions among certain payouts. He also proposes a generic numerical approach to constructing such distributions, and identifying payouts that realise arbitrage if it exists
Options on individual underlyings are very liquid in a variety of markets. In many markets, moreover, options on linear combinations of underlyings are also reasonably liquid. Of primary interest to us are markets with liquid spread options (that is, options on the difference of two underlyings), such as constant maturity swap (CMS) spread options in interest rate markets. Our discussion also naturally extends to other important examples such as foreign exchange markets with cross-rate options and equity markets with basket options, but we will concentrate on spread options from now on.
Click on the link below to read the full version of this article.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Markets
Is alt data betting on prediction markets?
While offering a rich source of new data, legal uncertainties remain
Deutsche Bank takes on custodians with automated FX service
Bank claims integration of HausFX with BlackRock’s Aladdin can help cut costs by up to 90%
Treasury mulls investing cash in repo. Experts aren’t convinced.
Putting idle cash to work would earn paltry returns and perhaps depress private lending activity, say sceptics
SocGen is getting into the systematic equity dispersion game
New single-stock options index is first step to plugging a gap in the bank’s QIS business
Ice sets up four-way race for Japan’s Tona futures
London joins Osaka, Tokyo and Singapore exchanges in battle for yen rates contracts
HK listing revisions may boost structured product diversity
Reduced minimum fees and size could temper ‘emulation’ issue dominance
UK insurers weigh alternatives to funded reinsurance
Tougher-than-expected PRA capital proposals push insurers to explore new sources of yield
Industry calls for Hong Kong T+1 delay amid congestion fears
Q4 2027 alignment with Europe and UK transition raises operational risk concerns
