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Write the payoffs in Figure 3.8 as linear combination of call options and derive a closed form formula for the Black-Scholes price, the Delta, and the Gamma of them. All the Greeks of the option are also linear combination of these call option Greeks. For instance, $$\Delta(t,S) = \Phi(d_1(\tau,K_1,S)) - \Phi(d_1(\tau,K_2,S)) - \Phi(d_1(\tau,K_3,S)) + \Phi(d_1(\tau,K_4,S))$$enter image description here

Partial Solution: For the strangle we have a pay off of $$(K - S_T)_{+} + (S_T - K)_{+}$$ Therefore the closed form solution of B-S price of option is $$V(\tau,S) = P(\tau,K,S) + C(\tau,K,S)$$ and the delta of the position is $$\Delta(\tau,S) = -\Phi(-d_1(\tau,K,S)) + \Phi(d_1(\tau,K,S))$$ Finally our gamma for this position is $$\Gamma(\tau,S) = \frac{\Phi'(d_1(\tau,K,S)) + \Phi'(d_1(\tau,K,S))}{S\sigma \sqrt{\tau}}$$

I guess my professor made a mistake in regards to the B-S closed form price: for the strange it is $$V(\tau,S) = (-S_0\Phi(-d_1) + e^{-rT}K\Phi(-d_2)) + (S_0\Phi(d_1) - e^{-rT}K\Phi(d_2))$$ and similar for the straddle

where $\tau = T - t$ not sure why we use $\tau$ any explanation of that would be great.

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  • $\begingroup$ I think the question wants you to replicate the payoffs with some payoff options, only different in strike. You can easily do that by long and short position. $\endgroup$
    – SmallChess
    Mar 17, 2016 at 1:54
  • $\begingroup$ What are the values for the points intercept the X and Y axis? $\endgroup$
    – Gordon
    Mar 17, 2016 at 12:40
  • $\begingroup$ One thing that is confusing is that the LEFT payoff is a straddle, the RIGHT is a strangle; labels are reversed. Also, these diagrams represent combinations of calls AND PUTS, not just "call options". So the question is somewhat misphrased. $\endgroup$
    – nbbo2
    Mar 17, 2016 at 13:51
  • $\begingroup$ Yea, sorry about that my teacher has a lot of errors in his problems his exam questions are usually not solvable and he can't even answer his own questions $\endgroup$
    – Wolfy
    Mar 17, 2016 at 17:53
  • $\begingroup$ @Gordon I made an edit to the post $\endgroup$
    – Wolfy
    Mar 17, 2016 at 20:52

1 Answer 1

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To express such payoff in mathematical form, it is better to use indicator functions. I assume that the bottom of graphs (i.e., the vertex for the left one and the bottom segment for the right side one) represents zero.

For the left-hand one, the payoff is given by \begin{align*} (K-S_T)\pmb{1}_{S_T \le K} + (S_T-K)\pmb{1}_{S_T \ge K} = (K-S_T)^+ + (S_T-K)^+, \end{align*} that is, a straddle that involves both a European call and put with the same strike price and maturity date.

For the right-hand one, the payoff is given by \begin{align*} (K_1-S_T)\pmb{1}_{S_T \le K_1} + (S_T-K_2)\pmb{1}_{S_T \ge K_2} = (K_1-S_T)^+ + (S_T-K_2)^+,\tag{1} \end{align*} that is, a strangle that involves both a European call and put with the same maturity date, but different strikes.

For valuation, as an example, let's consider (1). According to the Black-Scholes' formula, the value of Payoff (1) is given by \begin{align*} V=\Big[K_1 e^{-rT} \Phi(-d_2^1) - S_0 \Phi(-d_1^1)\Big] + \Big[S_0 \Phi(d_1^2) - K_2 e^{-rT} \Phi(d_2^2)\Big], \end{align*} where the first term is the value of the put option payoff $(K_1-S_T)^+$ and the second is the value of the call option payoff $(S_T-K_2)^+$. Here, \begin{align*} d_1^1 &= \frac{\ln \frac{S_0}{K_1} + (r+\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2)T}{\sigma \sqrt{T}},\\ d_2^1 &= d_1^1 - \sigma \sqrt{T},\\ d_1^2 &= \frac{\ln \frac{S_0}{K_2} + (r+\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2)T}{\sigma \sqrt{T}},\\ d_2^2 &= d_1^2 - \sigma \sqrt{T}.\\ \end{align*} The delta hedge ratio is the sum of deltas of the first put option and the second call options, that is, \begin{align*} \frac{\partial V}{\partial S_0} &= -\Phi(-d_1^1) + \Phi(d_1^2)\\ &=\Phi(d_1^1) + \Phi(d_1^2) - 1, \end{align*} and the gamma hedge ratio is the sum of gammas of the first put option and the second call options, that is, \begin{align*} \frac{\partial^2 V}{\partial S_0^2} &= \frac{\Phi'(d_1^1)}{S_0\sigma \sqrt{T}}+ \frac{\Phi'(d_1^2)}{S_0\sigma \sqrt{T}}\\ &=\frac{\Phi'(d_1^1) + \Phi'(d_1^2)}{S_0\sigma \sqrt{T}}. \end{align*}

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  • $\begingroup$ Does this answer provide the "Black-Scholes price, the Delta, and the Gamma of them"? $\endgroup$
    – Wolfy
    Mar 17, 2016 at 17:59
  • $\begingroup$ Those are two vanilla options. You can then compute the price for each of them using Black-scholes' formula. Consequently the delta and gamma can be computed. $\endgroup$
    – Gordon
    Mar 17, 2016 at 18:08
  • $\begingroup$ I am not sure if I understand completely, unless you think I simply can't see it could you edit your answer to include the Black-Scholes formula and how we compute the delta and gamma? $\endgroup$
    – Wolfy
    Mar 17, 2016 at 18:17
  • $\begingroup$ It is just a sum of two options, please try. $\endgroup$
    – Gordon
    Mar 17, 2016 at 18:19
  • $\begingroup$ When you say it is the sum of 2 options that sounds like the payoff of the option portfolio. I know how to compute delta if we are given the parameters: interest rate, volatility, price of stock, strike price. But I am not sure how to compute gamma $\endgroup$
    – Wolfy
    Mar 17, 2016 at 19:50

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