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Safer Margins for Option Trading: How Accuracy Promotes Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Rafi Eldor

    (Interdisciplinary Center, Israel)

  • Shmuel Hauser

    (Ono Acdemic College and Ben-Gurion University, Israel)

  • Uzi Yaari

    (Rutgers University, USA)

Abstract

Margin requirements are designed to control the default risk inherent to commitments undertaken by traders writing options. Much like similar institutions, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange first adopted a system based on the Standard Portfolio Analysis of Risk (SPAN), which sets required levels of options margin according to the most pessimistic of 16 possible outcomes. Seeking to lower the probability of default without adversely affecting liquidity, the Exchange switched in 2001 to a more detailed margin system based on the most pessimistic of 44 scenarios. This unique change provides an ideal laboratory for testing the impact of increased margining precision on the efficiency of option trading. Based on a sample of over 3 million transactions, this study demonstrates that the more accurate pricing of default risk over the studied range increases efficiency by a number of measures, including a smaller implied standard deviation and deviations from put-call parity.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafi Eldor & Shmuel Hauser & Uzi Yaari, 2011. "Safer Margins for Option Trading: How Accuracy Promotes Efficiency," Multinational Finance Journal, Multinational Finance Journal, vol. 15(3-4), pages 217-234, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:mfj:journl:v:15:y:2011:i:3-4:p:217-234
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. George W. Fenn & Paul Kupiec, 1993. "Prudential margin policy in a futures‐style settlement system," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(4), pages 389-408, June.
    2. Chowdhry, Bhagwan & Nanda, Vikram, 1998. "Leverage and Market Stability: The Role of Margin Rules and Price Limits," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 71(2), pages 179-210, April.
    3. Hans R. Dutt & Ira L. Wein, 2003. "Revisiting the empirical estimation of the effect of margin changes on futures trading volume," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(6), pages 561-576, June.
    4. Black, Fischer & Scholes, Myron S, 1973. "The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 81(3), pages 637-654, May-June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Deqin Lin & Wenyang Deng & Siting Dai, 2022. "A Margin Design Method Based on the SPAN in Electricity Futures Market Considering the Risk of Power Factor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-14, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    option margins; option default risk; market efficiency; SPAN system;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G13 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Contingent Pricing; Futures Pricing
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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