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Supported Equity Derivative Functions

Asian Option

An Asian option is a path-dependent option with a payoff linked to the average value of the underlying asset during the life (or some part of the life) of the option. They are similar to lookback options in that there are two types of Asian options: fixed (average price option) and floating (average strike option). Fixed Asian options have a specified strike, while floating Asian options have a strike equal to the average value of the underlying asset over the life of the option.

There are four Asian option types, each with its own characteristic payoff formula:

  • Fixed call (average price option): max(0,SavX)

  • Fixed put (average price option): max(0,XSav)

  • Floating call (average strike option): max(0,SSav)

  • Floating put (average strike option): max(0,SavS)

where:

Sav is the average price of underlying asset.

S is the price of the underlying asset.

X is the strike price (applicable only to fixed Asian options).

Sav is defined using either a geometric or an arithmetic average.

The following functions support Asian options.

Function

Purpose

asianbycrr

Price Asian options from a CRR binomial tree.

asianbyeqp

Price Asian options from an EQP binomial tree.

asianbyitt

Price Asian options using an implied trinomial tree (ITT).

asianbystt

Price Asian options using a standard trinomial tree (STT).

instasian

Construct an Asian option.

asianbyls

Price European or American Asian options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

asiansensbyls

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European or American Asian options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

asianbykv

Price European geometric Asian options using the Kemna Vorst model.

asiansensbykv

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European geometric Asian options using the Kemna Vorst model.

asianbylevy

Price European arithmetic Asian options using the Levy model.

asiansensbylevy

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European arithmetic Asian options using the Levy model.

asianbyhhm

Calculate prices of European discrete arithmetic fixed Asian options using the Haug, Haug, Margrabe model.

asiansensbyhhm

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European discrete arithmetic fixed Asian options using the Haug, Haug, Margrabe model

asianbytw

Calculate prices of European arithmetic fixed Asian options using the Turnbull Wakeman model.

asiansensbytw

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European arithmetic fixed Asian options using the Turnbull Wakeman model.

Barrier Option

A barrier option is similar to a vanilla put or call option, but its life either begins or ends when the price of the underlying stock passes a predetermined barrier value. There are four types of barrier options.

Up Knock-In

This option becomes effective when the price of the underlying stock passes above a barrier that is above the initial stock price. Once the barrier has knocked in, it will not knock out even if the price of the underlying instrument moves below the barrier again.

Up Knock-Out

This option terminates when the price of the underlying stock passes above a barrier that is above the initial stock price. Once the barrier has knocked out, it will not knock in even if the price of the underlying instrument moves below the barrier again.

Down Knock-In

This option becomes effective when the price of the underlying stock passes below a barrier that is below the initial stock price. Once the barrier has knocked in, it will not knock out even if the price of the underlying instrument moves above the barrier again.

Down Knock-Out

This option terminates when the price of the underlying stock passes below a barrier that is below the initial stock price. Once the barrier has knocked out, it will not knock in even if the price of the underlying instrument moves above the barrier again.

Rebates

If a barrier option fails to exercise, the seller may pay a rebate to the buyer of the option. Knock-outs may pay a rebate when they are knocked out, and knock-ins may pay a rebate if they expire without ever knocking in.

The following functions support barrier options.

Function

Purpose

barrierbycrr

Price barrier options from a CRR binomial tree.

barrierbyeqp

Price barrier options from an EQP binomial tree.

barrierbyitt

Price barrier options using an implied trinomial tree (ITT).

barrierbystt

Price barrier options using a standard trinomial tree (STT).

barrierbyfd

Price barrier option using finite difference method.

barriersensbyfd

Calculate barrier option price and sensitivities using finite difference method.

barrierbybls

Price a European barrier option using Black-Scholes option pricing model.

barriersensbybls

Calculate price and sensitivities for a European barrier option using Black-Scholes option pricing model.

barrierbyls

Price a barrier option using Longstaff-Schwartz model.

barriersensbyls

Calculate price and sensitivities for a barrier option using Longstaff-Schwartz model.

instbarrier

Construct a barrier option.

Double Barrier Option

A double barrier option is similar to the standard single barrier option except that they have two barrier levels: a lower barrier (LB) and an upper barrier (UB). The payoff for a double barrier option depends on whether the underlying asset remains between the barrier levels during the life of the option. Double barrier options are less expensive than single barrier options as the probability of being knocked out is higher. Because of this, double barrier options allow investors to achieve reduction in the option premiums as and match an investor’s belief about the future movement of the underlying price process.

There are two types of double barrier options:

  • Double Knock-in

    This option becomes effective when the price of the underlying asset reaches one of the barriers. It gives the option holder, the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the underlying security at the strike price, if the underlying asset goes above or below the barrier levels during the life of the option.

  • Double Knock-out

    This option gives the option holder, the right but not the obligation to buy or sell the underlying security at the strike price, as long as the underlying asset remains between the barrier levels during the life of the option. This option terminates when the price of the underlying asset passes one of the barriers.

The following functions support double barrier options.

Function

Purpose

dblbarrierbybls

Price European double barrier options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

dblbarriersensbybls

Calculate the price and sensitivities for a European double barrier options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

dblbarrierbyfd

Price double barrier option prices using the finite difference method.

dblbarriersensbyfd

Calculate the price and sensitivities for a double barrier option using the finite difference method.

Basket Option

A basket option is an option on a portfolio of several underlying equity assets. Payout for a basket option depends on the cumulative performance of the collection of the individual assets. A basket option tends to be cheaper than the corresponding portfolio of plain vanilla options for these reasons:

  • If the basket components correlate negatively, movements in the value of one component neutralize opposite movements of another component. Unless all the components correlate perfectly, the basket option is cheaper than a series of individual options on each of the assets in the basket.

  • A basket option minimizes transaction costs because an investor has to purchase only one option instead of several individual options.

The payoff for a basket option is as follows:

  • For a call: max(WiSiK;0)

  • For a put: max(KWiSi;0)

where:

Si is the price of asset i in the basket.

Wi is the quantity of asset i in the basket.

K is the strike price.

Financial Instruments Toolbox™ software supports Longstaff-Schwartz and Nengiu Ju models for pricing basket options. The Longstaff-Schwartz model supports both European, Bermuda, and American basket options. The Nengiu Ju model only supports European basket options. If you want to price either an American or Bermuda basket option, use the functions for the Longstaff-Schwartz model. To price a European basket option, use either the functions for the Longstaff-Schwartz model or the Nengiu Ju model.

Function

Purpose

basketbyls

Price basket options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

basketsensbyls

Calculate price and sensitivities for basket options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

basketbyju

Price European basket options using the Nengjiu Ju approximation model.

basketsensbyju

Calculate European basket options price and sensitivity using the Nengjiu Ju approximation model.

basketstockspec

Specify a basket stock structure.

Chooser Option

A chooser option enables the holder to decide before the option expiration date whether the option is a call or put.

A chooser option has a specified decision time t1 where the holder has to make the decision whether the option is a call or put. At the expiration time t2 the option expires. If the holder chooses a call option, the payout is max ( SK , 0). For the choice of a put option, the payout is max ( KS , 0) where K is the strike price of the option and S is the equity price at expiry.

Function

Purpose

chooserbybls

Price a European simple chooser options using Black-Scholes model.

Compound Option

A compound option is basically an option on an option; it gives the holder the right to buy or sell another option. With a compound option, a vanilla stock option serves as the underlying instrument. Compound options thus have two strike prices and two exercise dates.

There are four types of compound options:

  • Call on a call

  • Put on a put

  • Call on a put

  • Put on a call

    Note

    The payoff formulas for compound options are too complex for this discussion. If you are interested in the details, consult the paper by Mark Rubinstein entitled “Double Trouble,” published in Risk 5 (1991).

Consider the third type, a call on a put. It gives the holder the right to buy a put option. In this case, on the first exercise date, the holder of the compound option pay the first strike price and receives a put option. The put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset for the second strike price on the second exercise date.

The following functions support compound options.

Function

Purpose

compoundbycrr

Price compound options from a CRR binomial tree.

compoundbyeqp

Price compound options from an EQP binomial tree.

compoundbyitt

Price compound options using an implied trinomial tree (ITT).

compoundbystt

Price compound options using a standard trinomial tree (STT).

instcompound

Construct a compound option.

Convertible Bond

A convertible bond is a financial instrument that combines equity and debt features. It is a bond with the embedded option to turn it into a fixed number of shares. The holder of a convertible bond has the right, but not the obligation, to exchange the convertible security for a predetermined number of equity shares at a preset price. The debt component is derived from the coupon payments and the principal. The equity component is provided by the conversion feature.

Convertible bonds have several defining features:

  • Coupon — The coupon in convertible bonds are typically lower than coupons in vanilla bonds since investors are willing to take the lower coupon for the opportunity to participate in the company’s stock via the conversion.

  • Maturity — Most convertible bonds are issued with long-stated maturities. Short-term maturity convertible bonds usually do not have call or put provisions.

  • Conversion ratio — Conversion ratio is the number of shares that the holder of the convertible bond will receive from exercising the call option of the convertible bond:

    Conversion ratio = par value convertible bond/conversion price of equity

    For example, a conversion ratio of 25 means a bond can be exchanged for 25 shares of stock. This also implies a conversion price of $40 (1000/25). This, $40, would be the price at which the owner would buy the shares. This can be expressed as a ratio or as the conversion price and is specified in the contract along with other provisions.

  • Option type:

    • Callable Convertible: a convertible bond that is callable by the issuer. The issuer of the bond forces conversion, removing the advantage that conversion is at the discretion of the bondholder. Upon call, the bondholder can either convert the bond or redeem at the call price. This option enables the issuer to control the price of the convertible bond and if necessary refinance the debt with a new cheaper one.

    • Puttable Convertible: a convertible bond with a put feature that allows the bondholder to sell back the bond at a premium on a specific date. This option protects the holder against rising interest rates by reducing the year to maturity.

Function

Purpose

cbondbycrr

Price convertible bonds using a CRR binomial tree with the Tsiveriotis and Fernandes model.

cbondbyeqp

Price convertible bonds using an EQP binomial tree with the Tsiveriotis and Fernandes model.

cbondbyitt

Price convertible bonds using an implied trinomial tree with the Tsiveriotis and Fernandes model.

cbondbystt

Price convertible bonds using a standard trinomial tree with the Tsiveriotis and Fernandes model.

instcbond

Construct a cbond instrument for a convertible bond.

Lookback Option

A lookback option is a path-dependent option based on the maximum or minimum value the underlying asset achieves during the entire life of the option.

Financial Instruments Toolbox software supports two types of lookback options: fixed and floating. Fixed lookback options have a specified strike price, while floating lookback options have a strike price determined by the asset path. So, there are a total of four lookback option types, each with its own characteristic payoff formula:

  • Fixed call: max(0,SmaxX)

  • Fixed put: max(0,XSmin)

  • Floating call: max(0,SSmin)

  • Floating put: max(0,SmaxS)

where:

Smax is the maximum price of underlying stock found along the particular path followed to the node.

Smin is the minimum price of underlying stock found along the particular path followed to the node.

S is the price of the underlying stock on the node.

X is the strike price (applicable only to fixed lookback options).

The following functions support lookback options.

Function

Purpose

lookbackbycrr

Price lookback options from a CRR binomial tree.

lookbackbyeqp

Price lookback options from an EQP binomial tree.

lookbackbyitt

Price lookback options using an implied trinomial tree (ITT).

lookbackbystt

Price lookback options using standard trinomial tree.

instlookback

Construct a lookback option based on an equity tree model.

lookbackbycvgsg

Calculate prices of European lookback fixed and floating strike options using the Conze-Viswanathan and Goldman-Sosin-Gatto models. For more information, see Lookback Option.

lookbacksensbycvgsg

Calculate prices and sensitivities of European fixed and floating strike lookback options using the Conze-Viswanathan and Goldman-Sosin-Gatto models. For more information, see Lookback Option.

lookbackbyls

Calculate prices of lookback fixed and floating strike options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model. For more information, see Lookback Option.

lookbacksensbyls

Calculate prices and sensitivities of lookback fixed and floating strike options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model. For more information, see Lookback Option.

Digital Option

A digital option is an option whose payoff is characterized as having only two potential values: a fixed payout, when the option is in the money or a zero payout otherwise. This is the case irrespective of how far the asset price at maturity is above (call) or below (put) the strike.

Digital options are attractive to sellers because they guarantee a known maximum loss when the option is exercised. This overcomes a fundamental problem with the vanilla options, where the potential loss is unlimited. Digital options are attractive to buyers because the option payoff is a known constant amount, and this amount can be adjusted to provide the exact quantity of protection required.

Financial Instruments Toolbox supports four types of digital options:

  • Cash-or-nothing option — Pays some fixed amount of cash if the option expires in the money.

  • Asset-or-nothing option — Pays the value of the underlying security if the option expires in the money.

  • Gap option — One strike decides if the option is in or out of money; another strike decides the size of the payoff.

  • Supershare — Pays out a proportion of the assets underlying a portfolio if the asset lies between a lower and an upper bound at the expiry of the option.

  • One-touch and double one-touch — (also known as binary barrier options or American digitals) are path-dependent options in which the existence and payment of the options depend on the movement of the underlying spot through their option life. For more information, see One-Touch and Double One-Touch Options.

The following functions calculate pricing and sensitivity for digital options.

Function

Purpose

cashbybls

Calculate the price of cash-or-nothing digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

assetbybls

Calculate the price of asset-or-nothing digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

gapbybls

Calculate the price of gap digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

supersharebybls

Calculate the price of supershare digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

cashsensbybls

Calculate the price and sensitivities of cash-or-nothing digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

assetsensbybls

Calculate the price and sensitivities of asset-or-nothing digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

gapsensbybls

Calculate the price and sensitivities of gap digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

supersharesensbybls

Calculate the price and sensitivities of supershare digital options using the Black-Scholes model.

Rainbow Option

A rainbow option payoff depends on the relative price performance of two or more assets. A rainbow option gives the holder the right to buy or sell the best or worst of two securities, or options that pay the best or worst of two assets.

Rainbow options are popular because of the lower premium cost of the structure relative to the purchase of two separate options. The lower cost reflects the fact that the payoff is generally lower than the payoff of the two separate options.

Financial Instruments Toolbox supports two types of rainbow options:

  • Minimum of two assets — The option holder has the right to buy(sell) one of two risky assets, whichever one is worth less.

  • Maximum of two assets — The option holder has the right to buy(sell) one of two risky assets, whichever one is worth more.

The following rainbow options speculate/hedge on two equity assets.

Function

Purpose

minassetbystulz

Calculate the European rainbow option price on minimum of two risky assets using the Stulz option pricing model.

minassetsensbystulz

Calculate the European rainbow option prices and sensitivities on minimum of two risky assets using the Stulz pricing model.

maxassetbystulz

Calculate the European rainbow option price on maximum of two risky assets using the Stulz option pricing model.

maxassetsensbystulz

Calculate the European rainbow option prices and sensitivities on maximum of two risky assets using the Stulz pricing model.

Vanilla Option

A vanilla option is a category of options that includes only the most standard components. A vanilla option has an expiration date and straightforward strike price. American-style options and European-style options are both categorized as vanilla options.

The payoff for a vanilla option is as follows:

  • For a call: max(StK,0)

  • For a put: max(KSt,0)

where:

St is the price of the underlying asset at time t.

K is the strike price.

The following functions support specifying or pricing a vanilla option.

Function

Purpose

optstockbybaw

Calculate the American options prices using the Barone-Adesi-Whaley option pricing model.

optstocksensbybaw

Calculate the American options prices and sensitivities using the Barone-Adesi-Whaley option pricing model.

optstockbycrr

Calculate the price of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using a CRR tree.

optstockbyeqp

Calculate the price of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using an EQP tree.

optstockbyfd

Calculate vanilla option prices using finite difference method.

optstocksensbyfd

Calculate vanilla option prices and sensitivities using finite difference method.

optByLocalVolFD

Calculate vanilla option price by local volatility model, using finite differences.

optSensByLocalVolFD

Calculate vanilla option price or sensitivities by local volatility model, using finite differences.

optByHestonFD

Calculate vanilla option price by Heston model using finite differences.

optSensByHestonFD

Calculate vanilla option price and sensitivities by Heston model using finite differences.

optByBatesFD

Calculates vanilla European option price by Bates model using finite differences.

optSensByBatesFD

Calculates vanilla European option price and sensitivities by Bates model using finite differences.

optByMertonFD

Calculates vanilla European option price by Merton76 model using finite differences.

optSensByMertonFD

Calculates vanilla European option price and sensitivities by Merton76 model using finite differences.

optstockbyitt

Calculate the price of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using an ITT tree.

optstockbystt

Calculate the price of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using an STT tree.

optstockbylr

Calculate the price of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using the Leisen-Reimer (LR) binomial tree model.

optstocksensbylr

Calculate the price and sensitivities of a European, Bermuda, or American stock option using the Leisen-Reimer (LR) binomial tree model.

optstockbybls

Price options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

optstocksensbybls

Calculate option prices and sensitivities using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

optstockbyrgw

Calculate American call option prices using the Roll-Geske-Whaley option pricing model.

optstocksensbyrgw

Calculate American call option prices and sensitivities using the Roll-Geske-Whaley option pricing model.

optstockbybjs

Price American options using the Bjerksund-Stensland 2002 option pricing model.

optstocksensbybjs

Calculate American option prices and sensitivities using the Bjerksund-Stensland 2002 option pricing model.

optstockbyls

Price vanilla options using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

optstocksensbyls

Calculate vanilla option prices and sensitivities using the Longstaff-Schwartz model.

optByHestonFFT

Calculate option price by Heston model using FFT and FRFT.

optSensByHestonFFT

Calculate option price and sensitivities by Heston model using FFT and FRFT.

optByHestonNI

Calculate option price by Heston model using numerical integration.

optSensByHestonNI

Calculate option price and sensitivities by Heston model using numerical integration.

optByBatesFFT

Calculate option price by Bates model using FFT and FRFT.

optSensByBatesFFT

Calculate option price and sensitivities by Bates model using FFT and FRFT.

optByBatesNI

Calculate option price by Bates model using numerical integration.

optSensByBatesNI

Calculate option price or sensitivities by Bates model using numerical integration.

optByMertonFFT

Calculate option price by Merton76 model using FFT and FRFT.

optSensByMertonFFT

Calculate option price and sensitivities by Merton76 model using FFT and FRFT.

optByMertonNI

Calculate option price by Merton76 model using numerical integration.

optSensByMertonNI

Calculate option price and sensitivities by Merton76 model using numerical integration.

instoptstock

Specify a European or Bermuda option.

Bermuda Put and Call Schedule

A Bermuda option resembles a hybrid of American and European options. You exercise it on predetermined dates only, usually monthly. In Financial Instruments Toolbox software, you indicate the relevant information for a Bermuda option in two input matrices:

  • Strike — Contains the strike price values for the option.

  • ExerciseDates — Contains the schedule when you can exercise the option.

Spread Option

A spread option is an option written on the difference of two underlying assets. For example, a European call on the difference of two assets X1 and X2 would have the following pay off at maturity:

max(X1X2K,0)

where:

K is the strike price.

The following functions support spread options.

Function

Purpose

spreadbykirk

Price European spread options using the Kirk pricing model.

spreadsensbykirk

Calculate European spread option prices and sensitivities using the Kirk pricing model.

spreadbybjs

Price European spread options using the Bjerksund-Stensland pricing model.

spreadsensbybjs

Calculate European spread option prices and sensitivities using the Bjerksund-Stensland pricing model.

spreadbyfd

Price European or American spread options using the Alternate Direction Implicit (ADI) finite difference method.

spreadsensbyfd

Calculate price and sensitivities of European or American spread options using the Alternate Direction Implicit (ADI) finite difference method.

spreadbyls

Price European or American spread options using Monte Carlo simulations.

spreadsensbyls

Calculate price and sensitivities for European or American spread options using Monte Carlo simulations.

One-Touch and Double One-Touch Options

A touch option (also known as binary barrier options or American digitals) are path-dependent options in which the existence and payment of the options depend on the movement of the underlying spot through their option life.

There are two types of touch options:

  • One-Touch

    The one-touch (no-touch) option provides a payoff if the underlying spot ever (never) trades at or beyond the barrier level and zero otherwise.

  • Double One-Touch

    The double one-touch and double no-touch option works the same way as a one-touch option, but has two barriers. A double one-touch (double no-touch) option provides a payoff if the underlying spot ever (never) touches either the upper or lower barriers levels.

The following functions support touch options.

Function

Purpose

touchbybls

Price one-touch and no-touch binary options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

touchsensbybls

Calculate price and sensitivities for one-touch and no-touch binary options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

dbltouchbybls

Price double one-touch and double no-touch binary options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model

dbltouchsensbybls

Calculate price and sensitivities for double one-touch and double no-touch binary options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model

Forwards Option

A forward option is a non-standardized contract between two parties to buy or to sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed upon today. The buyer of a forward option contract has the right to hold a particular forward position at a specific price any time before the option expires. The forward option seller holds the opposite forward position when the buyer exercises the option. A call option is the right to enter into a long forward position and a put option is the right to enter into a short forward position. A closely related contract is a futures contract. A forward is like a futures in that it specifies the exchange of goods for a specified price at a specified future date. The table below displays some of the characteristics of forward and futures contracts.

ForwardsFutures
Customized contractsStandardized contracts
Over the counter tradedExchange traded
Exposed to default riskClearing house reduces default risk
Mostly used for hedgingMostly used by hedgers and speculators
Settlement at the end of contract (no Margin required)Daily changes are settled day by day (Margin required)
Delivery usually takes placeDelivery usually never happens

The payoff for a forward option, where the value of a forward position at maturity depends on the relationship between the delivery price (K) and the underlying price (ST) at that time, is:

  • For a long position: fT=STK

  • For a short position: fT=KST

The following functions support pricing a forwards option.

Function

Purpose

optstockbyblk

Price options on forwards using the Black option pricing model.

optstocksensbyblk

Determine option prices and sensitivities on forwards using the Black pricing model.

Futures Option

A future option is a standardized contract between two parties to buy or sell a specified asset of standardized quantity and quality for a price agreed upon today (the futures price) with delivery and payment occurring at a specified future date, the delivery date. The contracts are negotiated at a futures exchange, which acts as an intermediary between the two parties. The party agreeing to buy the underlying asset in the future, the "buyer" of the contract, is said to be "long", and the party agreeing to sell the asset in the future, the "seller" of the contract, is said to be "short."

ForwardsFutures
Customized contractsStandardized contracts
Over the counter tradedExchange traded
Exposed to default riskClearing house reduces default risk
Mostly used for hedgingMostly used by hedgers and speculators
Settlement at the end of contract (no Margin required)Daily changes are settled day by day (Margin required)
Delivery usually takes placeDelivery usually never happens

A futures contract is the delivery of item J at time T and:

  • There exists in the market a quoted price F(t,T), which is known as the futures price at time t for delivery of J at time T.

  • The price of entering a futures contract is equal to zero.

  • During any time interval [t,s], the holder receives the amount F(s,T)F(t,T) (this reflects instantaneous marking to market).

  • At time T, the holder pays F(T,T) and is entitled to receive J. Note that F(T,T) should be the spot price of J at time T.

The following functions support pricing a futures option.

Function

Purpose

optstockbyblk

Price options on futures using the Black option pricing model.

optstocksensbyblk

Determine option prices and sensitivities on futures using the Black pricing model.

See Also

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