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Does informed trading occur in the options market? Some revealing clues

Author

Listed:
  • Natividad Blasco
  • Pilar Corredor
  • Rafael Santamaría

Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between proxy variables for informed trading in the options market and a set of exogenous news variables. The aim was to test directly for the presence or absence of informed trading in the options market and for the possible impact of this trading on underlying asset prices. Our findings reveal that potential informed trading in options markets is channelled basically through out‐of‐the‐money options, except for volatility trading which mainly involves at‐the‐money options because of their liquidity. In both cases, we have found evidence in favour of investors’ strategic fragmentation of transactions into intermediate size trades (stealth trading). Finally, it is shown that lack of consensus among agents also generates increased trading, particularly in out‐of‐the‐money and at‐the‐money options.

Suggested Citation

  • Natividad Blasco & Pilar Corredor & Rafael Santamaría, 2010. "Does informed trading occur in the options market? Some revealing clues," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(3), pages 555-579, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:50:y:2010:i:3:p:555-579
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-629X.2009.00337.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mengyu Zhang & Thanos Verousis & Iordanis Kalaitzoglou, 2022. "Information and the arrival rate of option trading volume," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(4), pages 605-644, April.
    3. Lin, William T. & Tsai, Shih-Chuan & Zheng, Zhenlong & Qiao, Shuai, 2018. "Retrieving aggregate information from option volume," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 220-232.
    4. Corredor, Pilar & Ferrer, Elena & Santamaria, Rafael, 2015. "Sentiment-prone investors and volatility dynamics between spot and futures markets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 180-196.
    5. Jongho Kang & Jangkoo Kang & Jaeram Lee, 2022. "Who and what drives informed options trading after the market opens?," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(3), pages 338-364, March.
    6. Lin, William T. & Tsai, Shih-Chuan & Zheng, Zhenlong & Qiao, Shuai, 2017. "Does options trading convey information on futures prices?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 182-196.
    7. Corredor, Pilar & Ferrer, Elena & Santamaria, Rafael, 2014. "Is cognitive bias really present in analyst forecasts? The role of investor sentiment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 824-837.

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