SPX Credit Spread Trader

Discussion in 'Journals' started by El OchoCinco, May 17, 2005.

  1. Guys, when I increase vols the loss zone stretches on a huge drop in price but I would still be able to close out the position before expiration for a limited loss.

    Of course I am gonna look at how this looks for puts as well....
     
    #10921     Oct 9, 2006
  2. I am speaking specifically on how the position reacts with a trade to the strike, not away. Strip vols drop, but otm call vols will actually increase due to smile characteristics. Take a look at Nov 1350 vols vs. 1395 vols... 200bp attributable to smile. A reasonable move lower won't increase deep otm call vols; again, shape of the skew.
     
    #10922     Oct 9, 2006
  3. I think the haircut should be pretty much flat... based on the deltas.

     
    #10923     Oct 9, 2006
  4. So if it moves to the ATM strike, won't the OTM strike vols drop as they become ATM?

    Even if I add 2% on the vols in the position it still has a profit at the 1390 strike at expiration of the first wing.

     
    #10924     Oct 9, 2006
  5. Can't model skew on ToS retail platform :D Only on ThinkPipes.
     
    #10925     Oct 9, 2006

  6. Your strikes are 1390, currently otm. 2 devs otm on the calls equates to -200bp lower on skew. You need to mode vols at discrete intervals, or use current atm vols in your analysis of a trade to 1390.

    1390 strike vols will not be trading at 8.85%. Use the current atm vols to model a trade to your strike.

    Edit: corrected strike to 1390. No impact on vols. Model +2.00 on vols.
     
    #10926     Oct 9, 2006
  7. Risk:

    1390 strikes... sorry if I wrote it wrong somewhere...

    Also I changed the model to assume IV of about 14% and the risk graph changes only a little (net vega of the spread is almost flat so not surprising).
     
    #10927     Oct 9, 2006
  8. Seriously? What a toy. Anyway, until you guys wise-up, model a single vol at 10.50%. Not perfect, but it will give MinMax figures in-line with reality.
     
    #10928     Oct 9, 2006
  9. Yeah, the vegas are small.
     
    #10929     Oct 9, 2006
  10. You mean flat skew? Can't do that either. All Strip vols can be shifted up or down but only together. EDIT: Current market skew is used in the model.
     
    #10930     Oct 9, 2006