I found the following explanation in a paper by Grunspan (see attached paper page 6) but have trouble understanding it:
By differentiating Formula (3) with respect to m, it turns out that the Black-Scholes skew $\frac{\partial\sigma_{LN}}{\partial m}$ at the money ($m = 1$) generated by the Bachelier model is $\frac{\partial\sigma_{LN}}{\partial m} = -\frac{1}{2}\frac{\sigma_N}{S}$ ($\sigma_{LN}$ is by definition the implied lognormal volatility). Therefore, the Bachelier model is highly skewed ATM (a slope of $−50\%\times\frac{\sigma_N}{S}$). Another way to explain this feature is that given call prices, when we use the BS model, the function $\sigma_{LN}$ is a decreasing and convex function of $m$, i.e., it generates a skew, while the function $\sigma_N$ is a rather flat function of $m$. Thus, normal volatility is most suited for products such as swaptions for instance.
I am not sure what Formula (3) is, but it might be $\sigma_{LN} = \frac{1}{S}\frac{\ln m}{m-1}\sigma_N$.
My two questions are:
- How does he get the formula above, i.e. $\frac{\partial\sigma_{LN}}{\partial m} = -\frac{1}{2}\frac{\sigma_N}{S}$ and more importantly what does this tell us about the two skews?
- Doesn't this concern the slope of the Black-Scholes IV, since the slope of the log-normal volatility is equal to that?
Therefore, the Bachelier model is highly skewed ATM (a slope of $−50\%\times\frac{\sigma_N}{S}$).
Here is the paper: Grunspan Paper