# All Questions

969 views

### Lib for Arbitrage-Free Smoothing of Implied Volatility Surface?

I'm looking for an implementation of Arbitrage-Free Smoothing of the Implied Volatility Surface - Matthias R. Fengler. Does anyone know of any existing libraries that have implemented this paper? Any ...
1k views

### Recommendation for a library to calculate the local volatility surface?

I'd like a library to calculate the options local volatility surface, i.e. the options implied volatility surface for a collection of strikes and their bid/ask prices. Here are the libraries I've ...
2k views

### How to calculate the local volatility surface using QuantLib?

I'd like to calculate the local volatility surface for a series of option strikes, similar to the surface described in this paper: http://www.ederman.com/new/docs/gs-local_volatility_surface.pdf ...
501 views

### Modified Durations of Different Noncallable Bonds and function of Maturity

I'm hoping someone could help me understand this subject better. Basically I am reading a book and it shows a table ...
186 views

### Reliable Economic Data on China

Trying to develop a new strategy, but I need to find reliable economic data on China. It's well known that the official figures there don't tell you everything (to put it nicely), so I was wondering ...
1k views

### Algorithm for the choice of stocks for a equity scalper/market maker to engage in?

Assume a scalper/market maker who is operating on an exchange with $N$ stocks with different characteristics such as current market value, average bid-ask spread, average daily volume and historical ...
436 views

### How do I get the average transition matrix for three consecutive years?

I have a one year transition matrix for three consecutive years. Multiplying these three matrices together yields the three year transition matrix. I want to obtain the average transition matrix for ...
6k views

### Why is volatility mean-reverting?

We all know it does mean revert. The question is why. What's making volatility mean-revert? Is it some sort of cyclical behaviour of option traders? The way it's calculated? Why?
2k views

### Looking for a recommendation for a real life volatily trading book.

Recently I started working in an algotrading company as a programmer. After I studied that subject a little in the university and read a book or two in that field I gained a little knowledge in that ...
183 views

### How to scale option pricing components in regard to time

I am looking at closed-form options approximations, in particular the Bjerksund-Stensland model. I have run into a very basic question. How should I scale the input variables in regard to time? My ...
220 views

### How are dual class shares different from non dual class shares from a market makers' perspective?

Assume a stock Foo with a single share class. Furthermore, assume a dual class stock Bar with classes I and II with different voting rights. The shares in the different classes have equal cash flow ...
1k views

### Setting the r in put-call parity?

Put-call parity is given by $C + Ke^{-r(T-t)} = P + S$. The variables $C$, $P$ and $S$ are directly observable in the market place. $T-t$ follows by the contract specification. The variable $r$ is ...
541 views

### What are important model and assumption-free no-arbitrage conditions in options trading?

In the paper "Why We Have Never Used the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing Formula" (Espen Gaarder Haug, Nassim Nicholas Taleb) a couple of model-free arbitrage conditions are mentioned which limits ...
272 views

### Transformation of Volatility - BS

I have recently seen a paper about the Boeing approach that replaces the "normal" Stdev in the BS formula with the Stdev \sigma'=\sqrt{\frac{ln(1+\frac{\sigma}{\mu})^{2}}{t}} ...
710 views

### Why is the ratio of Hi-Low range to Open-Close range close to 2?

I tried it in several symbols and timeframes with the same result: $$\frac {mean(HIGH-LOW)}{mean(|CLOSE-OPEN|)}$$ ...
16k views

### What are some useful approximations to the Black-Scholes formula?

Let the Black-Scholes formula be defined as the function $f(S, X, T, r, v)$. I'm curious about functions that are computationally simpler than the Black-Scholes that yields results that approximate ...
626 views

### Better understanding of the Datar Mathews Method - Real Option Pricing

in their paper "European Real Options: An intuitive algorithm for the Black and Scholes Formula" Datar and Mathews provide a proof in the appendix on page 50, which is not really clear to me. It's ...
629 views

### Minimizing Correlation

Is there a quantitative method in monitoring trades to reduce the possibility of correlated trades?
932 views

### Do binary options make any sense?

Reading from "www.nadex.com" - the copy reads "Binaries are similar to traditional options but with one key difference: their final settlement value will be 0 or 100. This means your maximum risk and ...
2k views

### What is an effective way of backtesting VWAP execution?

From Optimal Trading Strategies : There are two main reasons why traders execute orders using a VWAP trading strategy. First, a VWAP strategy is the trading strategy that minimizes market ...
5k views

### Using linear regression on (lagged) returns of one stock to predict returns of another

Suppose I want to build a linear regression to see if returns of one stock can predict returns of another. For example, let's say I want to see if the VIX return on day X is predictive of the S&P ...
1k views

### Valuing Total Return Swaps

In my quest for simulated data, I am trying to generate prices for Total Return Swaps by calculating the NPVs of the fixed and floating leg. My problem: Given the fixed leg, how do I set the spread on ...
349 views

### European turbo warrants

Totally new to the world of quant finance, so perhaps this is an odd question... Does there exist an American equivalent to the German style "knock out zertifkate"? (The name might be slightly ...
485 views

### Where can I find European and Scandinavian convertible bond prices?

I'd like to expand on the Data Sources Online question. I found this site for a German convertible bond, all free and not requiring a sign-up. Börse Stuttgart German Google I am looking for ...
7k views

### Correct way to find the mean of annual geometric returns of monthly returns?

Say I'm given I set of monthly returns over 10 years on a monthly basis. What is the correct way to find the geometric returns of this data? I ask because a classmate and I are on different sides of ...
2k views

### Why are options trades supposed to be delta-neutral?

I'm reading Natenberg's book, and he says that all options trades should be delta neutral. I understand that this prevents small changes in the underlying price from changing the price of the option, ...
385 views

473 views

### How does currency valuation depend on the cash reserve ratio for a country?

Currency valuation (with respect to other currencies) is an important parameter in finance, but how is it related to the cash reserve ratio?