Option replication and exotics journal

Discussion in 'Journals' started by riskarb, Jul 14, 2005.

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    #641     Jan 5, 2006
  2. I was told to increase size if I was comfortable with doing so in special situations. I traded a 750k debit when the account was at a one mil gain. I've doubled the account since inception of the journal.

    I'll increase the hedge proportion in-line with the gamma curvature -- so it will go to 100lots above '700.
     
    #642     Jan 5, 2006
  3. TGM

    TGM

    I trying to learn from this thread. I know a little (real little) about Gamma. So when you say Fat Gamma. You are refferring to selling options that are overpriced? Please define Fat Gamma for a newbie. I know that negative gamma means writing insurance (lucrative business IMO) and positive gamma when buying options. I also know that the Gamma measures the rate of change of the Delta. So what is Fat gamma? Are you reffering to Gamma Scalping?

    (sorry if the question seems dumb---I am looking at options more as a new years resolution. I usually trade outright futures)
    thanks
     
    #643     Jan 5, 2006
  4. Yes, I know that: the odds are terrible, u would have to risk 80/90 to get 20/10.
    Sometimes though it can be done on daily bets close to expiry if the underlying is usually volatile (better odds) but has very low probability of reaching the barrier.
     
    #644     Jan 5, 2006
  5. Not at all. Fat gamma relates to the higher expense the long gamma trader needs to pay as a function of increased volatility. Since these 7d bets are priced from stat-vol we call them gamma/vega trades. Selling fat gamma relates to a higher volatility, but these are gamma-dependent rather than vol-trades in terms of vega-sensitivity. Gamma becomes less sensitive to spot if vols increase, so it's said to trade "fat" ... other lingo would include fat sigma -- the debit trades inversely with vols, so the greater the vol/gamma risk, the smaller the debit requirement. My limit for this Nikkei trade was 65% of payout, so it's well within those parameters.
     
    #645     Jan 5, 2006
  6. Prevail

    Prevail Guest

    'Was referring to the sp, but multi year highs now.
     
    #646     Jan 6, 2006
  7. Yeah, I am still short, but traded a close, single no touch under the market. Long Nikkei futures, but the gain in yen will hurt the Nikkei.
     
    #647     Jan 6, 2006
  8. Ouch... I forgot about the currency impact on the hedge/payout. Makes for a more complicated matrix.
     
    #648     Jan 6, 2006
  9. Correct, but more concerned with direction/fx translation. I can fund these in any currency, but it's held in JPY, thankfully.
     
    #649     Jan 6, 2006
  10. In a more general vein and not related to this particular trade, I have always found the currency risk to be a real disincentive against intraday trading of overseas markets.
     
    #650     Jan 6, 2006
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