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Jod 2012 19 3 069
Jod 2012 19 3 069
M iklavz M astinsek For options that expire weekly or in general for options (see, e.g., Carr [2000], Garman [1994],
is a professor of math- options near expiry, the time change of the delta may Wilmott [1994]).
ematics in the Faculty of
become relatively large. This article analyzes the sen- Clearly, when the gamma term is much
Economics and Business at
the University of Maribor sitivity of the hedging error with respect to the time higher than the other terms of the error, then
in Maribor, Slovenia. derivative of the delta referred to as charm. In the the delta gamma hedging can substantially
mastinsek@uni-mb.si case where the charm is relatively large, an explicit improve the hedging and reduce the error.
formula for the charm-adjusted delta can be given. However for options near expiry, for instance,
For the adjusted delta, the order of the hedging error in the case of options that expire weekly, such
can be preserved, while the mean absolute value of assumptions do not always hold. The hedging
the hedging error and the average loss of hedging can error may be more sensitive with respect to
be reduced. Two standard hedging techniques are other higher-order partial derivatives, as well.
considered: delta hedging and delta gamma hedging. Even in the case of the European call option
For practical applications, a simple adjusted standard near expiry, other terms of the error may be
delta is given. An example of the European call relatively high; an example will be given later
option is considered. in this article. Evidently, the hedging error can
be directly reduced by using smaller time inter-
T
vals between rebalancing. However, smaller
he Black–Scholes–Merton model rebalancing intervals involve increased trading
was derived on the basis of con- frequency and thus higher transaction costs
tinuous time trading and riskless (see, e.g., Leland [1985], Mastinsek [2006]).
hedging (e.g., Black and Scholes To be more specific, let V = V(t,S) be the
[1973], Merton [1973]). Hence, inevitably, option value as a function of time t and the
when applied to the practical problem of dis- underlying assets price S. In the continuous-
crete time trading, hedging errors appear time Black–Scholes model where the hedging
(e.g., Boyle and Emanuel [1980]; Primbs and is instantaneous, the hedge ratio is given exactly
Yamada [2006]). by the delta—the current value of the partial
The hedging error depends on the time derivative VS (t,S), where V(t,S) is the solution of
length between rebalancing as well as on higher- the Black–Scholes–Merton (BSM) equation.
order partial derivatives like gamma, charm, We will show that additional terms dep
and others. There are only few articles in the ending also on the time length between rebal-
literature that in addition to the gamma also ancing may be included in the hedge ratio in
treat other higher-order partial derivatives of such a way that the mean absolute hedging
is equal to
by the following:
The Journal of Derivatives 2012.19.3:69-76. Downloaded from www.iijournals.com by NEW YORK UNIVERSITY on 07/10/15.
Π = V − VS S (1)
∆ S = S(t + ∆t ) − S(t )
With time, VS (t,S) changes. In the continuous-time where
case where the replication is perfect, the delta changes
continuously. However, in the discrete-time case, VS (t,S) S(t + ∆t ) = S(t )exp(( µ − 21 σ 2 )∆ t + σZ ∆t ) (5)
changes only at finite (discrete) time moments.
The return to the portfolio value over the interval and where µ is the expected annual drift rate, σ the
[t, t + ∆t] is then equal to volatility, and Z is a normally distributed variable with
mean zero and variance 1 (Z ∼ N(0,1)). For the details,
∆Π = ∆V − VS (t,S)∆ S (2) see Hull [2006].
We will show that even in the case of the European
If the amount Π is invested in a riskless asset (e.g., call option both the gamma and the charm term may
bonds) with an interest rate r, then over the interval of become relatively large.
length ∆t, the return to the riskless investment is equal
to Πr∆t. Example 1. Let V be the value of the European call
option and suppose that σ = 0.2, ∆t = 0.01, r = µ = 0.05,
Definition 1. The hedging error ∆H is defined as the S = $105 and E = $100, where E is the exercise price.
difference between the return ∆Π to the portfolio value and the Let T be time to expiry. Suppose that Z = 1.5, which
return to the riskless investment; that is, means that the stock value increases approximately 3%
(3) in two to three trading days. Then the values shown in
∆H = ∆Π − Πr∆t
Exhibit 1 can be obtained.
If S is lognormally distributed with volatility σ and Remark 1. Exhibit 1 shows that if the dealer is short
if V satisfies the Black–Scholes–Merton equation, then one contract (100 options), the loss due to the gamma term
the hedging error may be written as follows: as well as the loss due to the charm term will be relatively
1 large. For instance, if T = 0.02, the first loss will be $8.4,
∆H = VSS (t,S )(( ∆ S )2 − σ 2S 2 ∆t ) +VSt (t,S )∆t ∆S while the loss due to the charm term will be $10.9.
2
1
+ VSSS (t,S )( ∆ S )3 + O( ∆t 2 )
6
= ∆H ( SS ) + ∆H ( St ) + ∆H ( SSS ) + O( ∆t 2 ) (4) Exhibit 1
Hedging Error
where O(.) is the order of the error. (The details are given
at the end of the section.) We note that by the Black–
Scholes equation the partial derivative VSSS can be
expressed by the partial derivatives VSS and VSt. Therefore,
we will consider first more closely the partial derivatives
VSS and VSt and the associated hedging error terms.
70 Charm-A djusted Delta and Delta Gamma H edging Spring 2012
Proposition 1.
N (t ) = VS (t,S ) + λVSt (t,S )∆ t (8)
The Journal of Derivatives 2012.19.3:69-76. Downloaded from www.iijournals.com by NEW YORK UNIVERSITY on 07/10/15.
N (t ) = VS (t + λ∆t,S )
Proof: The proof is given in the Appendix.
Remark 2. Furthermore, if the hedging becomes In that case, the same order O(∆t2 ) of the hedging
less frequent and thus the time length ∆t between re- error is obtained.
hedgings increases, the associated probability for larger Proof: The change ∆S = S(t + ∆t) − S(t) of S = S(t)
errors will further increase. For the details see the proof over the interval of length ∆t can be approximated by
in the Appendix. the series expansion:
The volatility also affects the ratio between the
charm and the gamma term. According to Equation (A-3) 1 1
in the Appendix, the increase (decrease) of volatility will ∆ S = S σ Z ∆t + µ − σ 2 ∆ t + σ 2Z 2 ∆t
decrease (increase) the ratio. 2 2
From Equation (4), it follows that the hedging error 1 3 3 2 3
1 2 3
due to the charm term depends only on the change ∆S, + σ Z ∆t + σ µ − σ Z∆t + O( ∆t 2 )
2
6 2
when ∆t is constant. Thus it can be hedged by the same
underlying stock as the delta term. (9)
Suppose that we introduce an adjusted delta that Furthermore by Equation (9), we have:
partially or completely hedges the charm term in the
following way: 1 1 3
( ∆ S )2 = S 2 σ 2Z 2 ∆t + 2σ µ − σ 2 + σ 2Z 2 Z∆t 2
N (t ) = VS (t,S ) + λVSt (t,S )∆ t (6) 2 2
+ O( ∆t ) 2
(10)
where 3
( ∆ S )3 = σ 3S 3Z 3 ∆t 2 + O( ∆t 2 ) (11)
0 ≤ λ ≤1
Hence, the change ∆V of the option value V(t,S)
In that case, the order of the mean and the vari-
over the time interval of length ∆t is equal to
ance of the hedging error remains of order O(∆t) 2. The
following result can be obtained:
3
1
+ VSt (t, S )σSZ ∆t 2 + VSS (t, S )S 2 and Wilmott [1994]). In some recent articles like that
2
of Primbs and Yamada [2006], the mean absolute error
2 2 1 1 3
× σ Z ∆t + 2σ µ − σ 2 + σ 2Z 2 Z∆t 2 was considered.
2 2 In our case with the adjusted delta we will first
1 3 consider the mean squared error.
+ VSSS (t, S )σ S Z ∆t + O( ∆t 2 )
3 3 3 2 (13)
6
Mean Squared Error
By Equation (3), it follows
For simplicity of exposition let us write ∆H more
∆H = Vt (t, S )∆ t + (VS (t, S ) − N (t ))∆ S − (V − N (t )S )r∆t concisely:
3
1
+ VSt (t, S )σSZ ∆t 2 + VSS (t, S )S 2 1
2 ∆H = γ [(Z 2 − 1) + bZ + cZ 3 ] + φ aZ − Z 3 + O( ∆t 2 )
3
(16)
× σ 2 ((Z 2 − 1) + 1)∆t + 2σ
where
1 1 3
3
× µ − σ 2 + σ 2Z 2 Z ∆t 2 1
γ = VSS (t,S )σ 2S 2 ∆t φ = VSt (t,S )σS∆t 2
2 2 2
1 3
2( µ − 21 σ 2 ) ( σ 2 − 2r )
+ VSSS (t, S )σ 3S 3Z 3 ∆t 2 + O( ∆t 2 ) (14) b= ∆t c = ∆t a = 1 − λ
6 σ 3σ
(17)
Because by assumption, V satisfies the BSM Equation The result in Proposition 3 can be obtained.
(7), the terms appearing in (7) are canceled in (14) and the
hedging error can be expressed in the following way: Proposition 3: The minimal variance of ∆H to
the order O(∆t2 ) with respect to the parameter λ is obtained
3
1 when
∆H = aVSt (t, S )σSZ ∆t 2 + VSS (t, S )S 2
2
2γ
1 1 3
λ=− ( µ − r ) ∆t
× σ 2 (Z 2 − 1)∆t + 2σ µ − σ 2 + σ 2Z 2 Z ∆t 2 φσ
2 2
1 3
In that case
+ VSSS (t, S )σ 3S 3Z 3 ∆t 2 + O( ∆t 2 ) (15)
6
N (t ) = VS (t,S ) + ( µ − r )SVSS (t,S )∆ t (18)
where a = 1 − λ.
Proof: Let us denote
72 Charm-A djusted Delta and Delta Gamma H edging Spring 2012
αβ + 2 γ 2 + O( ∆t 2 )
= α 2 + 15β 2 + 6α (20)
σ = 0.2, ∆t = 0.01
The Journal of Derivatives 2012.19.3:69-76. Downloaded from www.iijournals.com by NEW YORK UNIVERSITY on 07/10/15.
The parameter α is a linear function of a. Hence we can T = 0.02, µ = r = 0.05 and S = 1.05E
consider the minimal variance with respect to α: minVar ( ∆H ). where E is the exercise price and T time to expiry. In
α
By (20), we find that case we have
α = −3β (21)
φ ∆t S 1 2
= ln E − σ + r T ≈ 1.18 (23)
and thus it follows γ σT 2
74 Charm-A djusted Delta and Delta Gamma H edging Spring 2012
delta can be used such that the order of the hedging error
which gives the Black–Scholes delta as in the case of can be preserved, while the mean absolute hedging error
continuous hedging. and the average loss can be reduced.
error is 35% higher than that for a = 0.5. This means that 2π
the lower mean absolute error is obtained when λ = 0.5. and where N(x) is the cumulative probability distribution
Hence, in that case an adjusted delta equals function for a standardized normally distributed variable; see,
for example, Hull [2006].
1 1 Let us denote by k, the absolute ratio between the first
N (t ) = VS (t,S ) + VSt (t,S )∆ t ≈ VS t + ∆t,S two terms of the hedging error. From the formula (A-2) we
2 2
readily get:
Exhibit 4 ∆H ( St )
∆t S 1 2 Z Z
k= =
ln − σ + r T 2 = k0 2
Mean Absolute Error ∆H ( SS )
σT E 2 Z −1 Z −1
(A-3)
Z 1 References
0.453 >
Z −1 2
2
Black, F., and M. Scholes. “The Pricing of Options and Cor-
porate Liabilities.” Journal of Political Economics, 81 (1973), pp.
It is illegal to make unauthorized copies of this article, forward to an unauthorized user or to post electronically without Publisher permission.
2. Suppose next that Merton, R.C. “Theory of Rational Option Pricing.” Bell
σ = 0.2, ∆t = 0.01 Journal of Economics and Management Science, 4 (1973), pp.
141-183.
and
Mastinsek, M. “Discrete-Time Delta Hedging and the Black–
T = 0.05, r = 0.05 and S = 0.95E Scholes Model with Transaction Costs.” Mathematical Methods
of Operations Research, 64 (2006), pp. 227-236.
Then in the same way as above we find
Primbs, J.A., and Yamada Y. “A Moment Computation Algo-
k0 = 0.548 rithm for the Error in Discrete Dynamic Hedging.” Journal of
Banking and Finance, Vol. 30, No. 2 (2006), pp. 519-540.
and that
Wilmott, P. “Discrete Charms.” Risk, Vol. 7, 3, (1994), 48-51.
P (0.592 < Z < 1.688) = 2(0.232) = 0.464 ≈ 46%
Hence there is a 46% probability that To order reprints of this article, please contact Dewey Palmieri
at dpalmieri@ iijournals.com or 212-224-3675.
1
∆H 2 > ∆H 1
2
3. If S = 1.1E, we find
k0 = 0.918
76 Charm-A djusted Delta and Delta Gamma H edging Spring 2012