Question

2. (double-weight) A European put option is ""in the money."" The price of the underlying security now rises. a. What happens to the premium on the put? b. What happens to the premium on the corresponding call option (same exercise price and date of expiration)? Compare the (absolute) size of the changes in the two premiums (the one on the put and the one on the call). Explain

Answer 1

Answer:

(A) premium on put option falls (B) premium on call option rises (C) premium on call changes more in absolute terms

Explanation:

An European put expires on a specific maturity date and can only be exercised on that date. A put option grants the right to sell an underlying security at an exercise price (X) on the exercise date, irrespective of the price the underlying security is trading at (S). On the other hand, a call option grants the right the buy an underlying security at the exercise price. The call or put option buyer will pay a Premium to the option writer to obtain this right. The amount charged as premium depends on how valuable the option is.

The value of a put option (P) = X-S (thus, the lower the price of the underlying security, the more valuable the put option is, vice versa)

The value of a call option (C) = S-X (thus, the higher the price of the underlying security, the more valuation the call option is, vice versa)

If the price of the underlying security rises,

(A) the put option will become less valuable, and its premium will fall

(B) the call option will become more valuable, and its premium will rise.

(C) the absolute size of the change in the call option will be larger than that of the put option. This is because the more the price of the underlying security increases, the more valuable the call option will become (as an example, if I have an option to buy an item at $10 and the current price of the item is $20, I can pay a positive value for that option. If the market price of the item increases to $50, I can pay even more for the option to buy the item at $10).

Whereas, the value of a put option will remain static once the price of the underlying rises beyond the exercise price. For instance, if I have the option to sell an item at $10 when the market price is $20, I just will not exercise the option. I will not change my decision if the market price rises to $50.