An important principle in options pricing is called a put-call parity. It says that the value of a call option , at one strike price , implies a certain fair value for the corresponding put, and vice versa. The argument, for this pricing relationship, relies on the arbitrage opportunity that results if there is divergence between the value of calls and puts with the same strike price and expiration date. Arbitrageurs would step in to make profitable, risk-free trades until the departure from put-call parity is eliminated.

Knowing how these trades work can give you a better feel for how put options , call options and the underlying stocks are all interrelated. This relationship is strictly for European-style options, but the concept also applies to American-style options, adjusting for dividends and interest rates. If the dividend increases, the puts expiring after the ex-dividend date will rise in value, while the calls will decrease by a similar amount.

Changes in interest rates have the opposite effects. Rising interest rates increase call values and decrease put values. Option-arbitrage strategies involve what are called synthetic positions. All of the basic positions in an underlying stock, or its options, have a synthetic equivalent.

What this means is that the risk profile the possible profit or loss , of any position, can be exactly duplicated with other, but, more complex strategies.

The rule for creating synthetics is that the strike price and expiration date, of the calls and puts, must be identical. For creating synthetics, with both the underlying stock and its options, the number of shares of stock must equal the number of shares represented by the options.

To illustrate a synthetic strategy, let's look at a fairly simple option position, the long call. When you buy a call, your loss is limited to the premium paid while the possible gain is unlimited. Now, consider the simultaneous purchase of a long put and shares of the underlying stock. Once again, your loss is limited to the premium paid for the put, and your profit potential is unlimited if the stock price goes up. Below is a graph that compares these two different trades. If the two trades appear identical, that's because they are.

The owner of the stock would receive that additional amount, but the owner of a long call option would not.

We can use this idea of the synthetic position, to explain two of the most common arbitrage strategies: The reasoning behind using synthetic strategies for arbitrage is that since the risks and rewards are the same, a position and its equivalent synthetic should be priced the same. A conversion involves buying the underlying stock, while simultaneously buying a put and selling a call. For a reverse conversion, you short the underlying stock while simultaneously selling a put and buying a call a synthetic long stock position.

Remember, these trades guarantee a profit with no risk only if prices have moved out of alignment, and the put-call parity is being violated. If you placed these trades when prices are not out of alignment, all you would be doing is locking in a guaranteed loss.

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This trade illustrates the basis of arbitrage — buy low and sell high for a small, but fixed, profit. As the gain comes from the price difference, between a call and an identical put, once the trade is placed, it doesn't matter what happens to the price of the stock. Because they basically offer the opportunity for free money, these types of trades are rarely available.

When they do appear, the window of opportunity lasts for only a short time i. That's why they tend to be executed primarily by market makers , or floor traders , who can spot these rare opportunities quickly and do the transaction in seconds with very low transaction costs. A put-call parity is one of the foundations for option pricing, explaining why the price of one option can't move very far without the price of the corresponding options changing as well.

So, if the parity is violated, an opportunity for arbitrage exists. Arbitrage strategies are not a useful source of profits for the average trader , but knowing how synthetic relationships work, can help you understand options while providing you with strategies to add to your options-trading toolbox.

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Sophisticated content for financial advisors around investment strategies, industry trends, and advisor education. Put-Call Parity and Arbitrage Opportunity By Jim Graham Updated February 6, — 6: Adjustments for American Options This relationship is strictly for European-style options, but the concept also applies to American-style options, adjusting for dividends and interest rates. The Synthetic Position Option-arbitrage strategies involve what are called synthetic positions.

Arbitrage Using Conversion and Reversals We can use this idea of the synthetic position, to explain two of the most common arbitrage strategies: The Bottom Line A put-call parity is one of the foundations for option pricing, explaining why the price of one option can't move very far without the price of the corresponding options changing as well.

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Changes in interest rates can give rise to arbitrage opportunities that, while short-lived, can be very lucrative for traders who capitalize on them. During times of volatility, traders can benefit greatly from trading options rather than stocks. Options offer alternative strategies for investors to profit from trading underlying securities, provided the beginner understands the pros and cons.

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Put-Call Parity And Arbitrage Opportunity

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Arbitrage Trading Strategies - Different Arbitrage for Options

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Options arbitrage - Wikipedia

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