The nature of informed option trading: Evidence from the takeover market


Book Description

This study examines the kind of information ‘informed’ traders have prior to a takeover announcement using options of target firms and elaborates on the cross-sectional relationship between options and stocks around takeover announcements. Financial markets are driven by information and by individuals that generate, process, and disclose this information to the market. Naturally, there have to be individuals who possess more information about a firm or a future event than other market participants. Mergers and acquisitions are particularly interesting events in this regard because they can have significant implications for the firms and stakeholders involved, as well as for the competitive dynamics in the respective market. Because of the large potential price impact of such transactions, traders with private information about a prospective takeover are expected to trade on this information to make a profit. But who are these ‘informed traders’ and what kind of information do they possess? This study tries to give a respond to this question.




Options Installment Strategies


Book Description

An “installment strategy” in its most basic form, combines two options, one long-term position and one short-term. This strategy is designed as a conservative, no-cost method to either eliminate risk for future trading when stock is owned; or to fix the price for a future purchase of the underlying security. Portfolio managers and experienced individual traders face a chronic problem – risk versus time. This goes beyond the well-known time decay of options and expands to the ever-present market risk to an underlying security. How do you execute a successful, conservative strategy and eliminate or reduce market risk? In this book, a range of effective and creative strategies set out a conservative hedging system. This involves the combination of long-term long positions offset by short-term short positions in various configurations. Options Installment Strategies presents variations on the well-known calendar spread and demonstrates how specific strategies work well in short-term swings and even during extended periods of consolidation.




The Econometrics of Sequential Trade Models


Book Description

The present study has been accepted as a doctoral thesis by the Depart ment of Economics of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main. It grew out from my five year long participation in two research projects, "Econometric analysis of transaction intensity and volatility on fi nancial markets", and "Microstructure on financial markets", that were both conducted by the chair of Statistics and Econometrics (Empirical Economic Research) at the Department of Economics and Business Administration, Jo hann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main and financed by the state of Hessen. During this time I have benefitted from many people. First and foremost I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Hujer, for initiating and supporting my studies with great encouragement. I am also very grateful to Prof. Dr. Christian Schlag for acting as the second thesis supervisor. Furthermore, I wish to thank Prof. Dr. Joachim Grammig who introduced me to the topics covered in this study in the first place and helped me to sharpen my views on econometrics and financial market microstructure theory through many discussions and also through his willingness to work with me on several related studies.







Federal Register


Book Description




Options Markets


Book Description

Includes the first published detailed description of option exchange operations, the first published treatment using only elementary mathematics and the first step-by-step procedure for implementing the Black-Scholes formula in actual trading.







Finding Alphas


Book Description

Design more successful trading systems with this practical guide to identifying alphas Finding Alphas seeks to teach you how to do one thing and do it well: design alphas. Written by experienced practitioners from WorldQuant, including its founder and CEO Igor Tulchinsky, this book provides detailed insight into the alchemic art of generating trading signals, and gives you access to the tools you need to practice and explore. Equally applicable across regions, this practical guide provides you with methods for uncovering the hidden signals in your data. A collection of essays provides diverse viewpoints to show the similarities, as well as unique approaches, to alpha design, covering a wide variety of topics, ranging from abstract theory to concrete technical aspects. You'll learn the dos and don'ts of information research, fundamental analysis, statistical arbitrage, alpha diversity, and more, and then delve into more advanced areas and more complex designs. The companion website, www.worldquantchallenge.com, features alpha examples with formulas and explanations. Further, this book also provides practical guidance for using WorldQuant's online simulation tool WebSim® to get hands-on practice in alpha design. Alpha is an algorithm which trades financial securities. This book shows you the ins and outs of alpha design, with key insight from experienced practitioners. Learn the seven habits of highly effective quants Understand the key technical aspects of alpha design Use WebSim® to experiment and create more successful alphas Finding Alphas is the detailed, informative guide you need to start designing robust, successful alphas.