11
$\begingroup$

Call Option S=100 K=100 Payoff=1 (option is not available) How can i replicate this (payoff) with calls and puts with strike prices with multiples of 5$

Thanks for help

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ I'm actually not convinced that you can replicate a binary option with vanilla options, even with arbitrary strike prices. Reasoning: a binary option's payout graph has an infinite slope at the strike price, whereas all vanilla options (and underlyings) have finite-slope graphs. I don't think you can add finite-slope combinations to get infinite slope, unless you use an infinite number of them. $\endgroup$
    – user59
    Oct 15, 2011 at 19:37
  • $\begingroup$ The payout is discontinuous, it's the delta that has extreme slope around the strike. $\endgroup$
    – Joshua
    Sep 24, 2013 at 21:44

3 Answers 3

13
$\begingroup$

A digital call option (cash-or-nothing) can be replicated with two call options with different Strike. When we make the delta infinitely small and assume we have arbitrary strike prices. We get:

enter image description here

enter image description here

$\endgroup$
3
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Quite a concise answer, just to allow a few more words for the interested reader: fieldrecordings.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/… $\endgroup$
    – h.alex
    Feb 21, 2018 at 1:48
  • $\begingroup$ @SmallChess what did you use to draw that diagram? $\endgroup$
    – Mike
    Dec 26, 2019 at 22:05
  • $\begingroup$ There is a mistake in the sign in the last equality (missing negative sign). $\endgroup$
    – jherek
    Dec 13, 2023 at 14:55
3
$\begingroup$

use a vertical spread and delta hedge it.

http://www.wilmott.com/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=65988

$\endgroup$
1
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ Just want to tell you that the link is dead. $\endgroup$
    – htd
    Sep 5, 2016 at 12:07
0
$\begingroup$

Going back to the original question, there is no static replication. This is clear from the first answer above which states that a call spread with an infitesimal difference between their strikes is needed. To arrive at an approximate replication, we need the probability of the underlying fixing in the USD 5 interval between the calls to be small, hence:

  1. Far away from the binary's strike, at large volatilities and long expiries, the call-spread replication could be good enough.

Going towards the strike at limited volatlity and time to expiry, the delta of the binary rises above that of the replica. Adjusting the positions in the options of the replica would probably not liquidity-wise be feasible - hence the second answer:

  1. Add a dynamic delta hedge to cover the delta mismatch near the strike of the binary.
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.