Rainbow option

Rainbow option is a derivative exposed to two or more sources of uncertainty,[1] as opposed to a simple option that is exposed to one source of uncertainty, such as the price of underlying asset.

Overview

Rainbow options are usually calls or puts on the best or worst of n underlying assets, or options which pay the best or worst of n assets.[2] The number of assets underlying the option is called the number of colours of the rainbow.[3] The options are often considered a correlation trade since the value of the option is sensitive to the correlation between the various basket components.

Rainbow options are used, for example, to value natural resources deposits. Such assets are exposed to two uncertainties—price and quantity.

Some simple options can be transformed into more complex instruments if the underlying risk model that the option reflected does not match a future reality. In particular, derivatives in the currency and mortgage markets have been subject to liquidity risk that was not reflected in the pricing of the option when sold.

Pricing and valuation

Rainbow options are usually priced using an appropriate industry-standard model (such as Black–Scholes) for each individual basket component, and a matrix of correlation coefficients applied to the underlying stochastic drivers for the various models. While degenerate cases have simpler solutions, the general case must be approached with Monte Carlo methods.

References

  1. ↑ "What Does Rainbow Option Mean?". investopedia.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  2. ↑ "Supported Equity Derivatives". mathworks.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  3. ↑ Rainbow options

External links


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