How do you calculate Delta Based Notional Value?

Discussion in 'Financial Futures' started by deonyang, Jun 4, 2016.

  1. deonyang

    deonyang

    for example WTI /CL is trading at $48.50.
    48.50 x 1000 = $48500 notional value of 1 future
    for a Call option of $53 strike and delta of 0.23, what is the delta based notional? How do i calculate it
     
  2. 1245

    1245

    Why would you want to know? You just need to know how many futures your are delta long for hedging. Why is notional needed unless you are a hedger?
     
    DirectMarketAccess likes this.
  3. deonyang

    deonyang

    because im trying to use /CL option theta to minor hedge long /HO crack spread
    I want to know how much delta should i decide to short for 5 : 1 ratio
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2016
  4. 1245

    1245

    Multiply the delta * the contract value above, $48,500*.23= $11,155. The strike price is not relevant for the calculation. As time passes, the delta will either go to 0 or 100 and adjust for you. Obviously the value will change every time the delta changes.

    1245
     
  5. deonyang

    deonyang

    thanks you very much
     
  6. Correct me if I am wrong... but an out of the money call option has zero notional value until it is in the money... Once its in the money, the notional value is the same as the underlying contract.
     
  7. Amalgam

    Amalgam

    It has no intrinsic value.
     
  8. 1245

    1245

    DirectMarketAccess,

    An OTM call has no intrinsic value as Amalgam has stated, but it has notional value. I would take the Delta of the call*the notional value of the underlying. The same is true with an ITM call.The OCC does this differently.

    I can not find the OCC reference, so I have to quote Investopedia. They use the shares you can control. One OTM call has the same notional value as one ITM call or the underlying.


    Equity Options
    Shares of stock also involve notional values. Instead of the term "notional," it is coined as "nominal."

    For example, buying stock option contracts would potentially give an investor more shares than he could control by purchasing shares directly. The notional value is the value of the investor can control rather than the value of he owns.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2016
    OddTrader likes this.
  9. How about " The notional value is the value of the investor can control, or the maximum value of he owns potentially at expiration. "