Totally skewed: US annuity hedges magnify S&P volatility
Sales of fixed indexed annuities are soaring in the US. But dealers’ hedging of the products is being blamed for pushing up S&P 500 skew, and their complexities are dampening banks’ appetite to underwrite the instruments
Structured products have a nasty habit of undermining the foundations of the equity markets they track. Over the past year, for instance, stock index volatility and skew – not to mention certain foreign exchange pairs – have been influenced by dealers looking to hedge popular autocallable products.
Traders now claim to see similar dynamics in the largest index of them all – the S&P 500 (SPX) –
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
From insight to execution: building the next-generation cross-asset platform
The shift from research-led platforms to fully integrated client solutions – how closer alignment between platforms is shaping the client experience
UK insurers turn up leverage on structured gilt trades
Par-par asset swaps give way to higher-leverage structures as funding costs increase
UBS to launch merger arb QIS
Bank partners with German asset manager First Private to screen deals using machine learning
The interplay between liquidity and collateral
The evolution of financing solutions as institutional investors raise and preserve cash
Traders revive emerging market carry trades on vol drop
Investors eye high-yield Latin America currencies as implied volatility falls
JP Morgan’s race to simplify FX options trading
Fewer clicks, more automation win systematic clients and boost electronic volumes
Custom index TRS booms at BlackRock
Isda AGM: Bespoke total return swaps span all mandate types but e-trading bottlenecks remain
How Optiver is harnessing prediction markets
Isda AGM: Market-maker doesn’t trade event contracts, but it is using them to price other instruments
