Deekstar Currency Trading Forex Information Image-click here for homepage Bookmark Page

Translate all Articles into 35 Languages!

Translate



Option Arbitrage in the Forex Market


What is arbitrage? Arbitrage is the simultaneous buying and selling of identical financial instruments taking advantage of price discrepancies between different brokers, exchanges, clearing firms, etc. and thus locking in a profit. On paper, arbitrage is a risk-less trading strategy. In the real world however, risks abound.

So why trade arbitrage? Well, if the risks can be managed, arbitrage can be extremely profitable if you can find the opportunities and take advantage of the opportunities before they disappear. After all, the arbitrage opportunity is present because one side is slow to react to market news, momentum, etc. When it corrects the opportunity is gone.

Why arbitrage forex options? Well, because the opportunity exists if you look far it. The forex market is a cash inter-bank / inter-dealer market. In simplest terms, this means the foreign currencies traded in the forex market are traded directly between banks, foreign currency dealers and forex investors wishing either to diversify, speculate or to hedge foreign currency risk. The forex market is not a "market" in the traditional sense due to the fact that there is no centralized location for forex trading activity and, therefore, trades placed in the forex market are considered over-the-counter (OTC). Forex trading between parties occurs through computer terminals, exchanges and over telephones at thousands of locations worldwide.

Therefore the forex market is not as efficient as the NYSE for example. Price discrepancies exist between trading platforms, clearing firms, banks, etc if only for a small period of time. Options pricing is also affected for the same reasons but since there are other components involved in pricing an option than just the price of underlying currency, they tend to exist for longer periods of time.

One of the most common causes of option pricing differences is the calculation of volatility. Volatility is generally the standard deviation measured over a period of time. Sounds simple enough right? Well, if compare the volatility measure across different forex option providers, you'll likely find differences as large as 2%. When you find this you have also probably found an arbitrage opportunity.

Now that you've found an arbitrage opportunity, how do you trade it? Well, that's a bit trickier and this article cannot possibly cover all the risks associated with pulling off the trade but I will list some issues you should consider.

First of all, are the options really the same? Are the contract sizes, expiration dates and times the same? American or European style?

You also need to consider execution risk. Will there be slippage. Will there be a time delay in getting filled. Is the market moving too fast?

Exit strategy, how are you going to exit the trade and still capture the profit? What happens if the options expire in-the money? Out-of-the-money? What if you get assigned a position on one option but not the other?

These are just a few of the issues one must consider when trying to profit from option arbitrage. The key to option arbitrage is not unlike any other trade -- planning and risk management. Plan the trade, manage the risks, and execute the plan and you will be successful.

John Nobile,
Senior Account Executive,
CFOS/FX,
http://www.cfosfx.com


MORE RESOURCES:

The Hindu

Curbing derivatives might hurt, not help, Greece
The Associated Press
... said President Barack Obama, after a White House meeting Tuesday, offered a "very positive" response to European ideas for restricting currency trading. ...
Europe moves to ban trading in credit default swapsWashington Post
Defending the Softer Side of the CDS MarketWall Street Journal (blog)

all 502 news articles »


Emerging-Market Debt Trading Volume Up 7% In '09;Still Off High
Wall Street Journal
In 2008 local currency trading was at $2.837 trillion, representing about 68% of total volume. Brazilian debt was the most frequently traded at $747 billion ...
UPDATE 1-Emerging debt trade volumes up 7.0 pct in 2009-EMTAReuters India

all 6 news articles »


Korean Won May Gain 1.3% to 17-Month High: Technical Analysis
BusinessWeek
“It looks like the dollar will test lower against the won,” said Gerrard Katz, head of currency trading at Standard Chartered Plc in Hong Kong. ...

and more »


Ruble Gains Versus Dollar as Central Bank Eases Defense on Oil
BusinessWeek
The Russian currency gained 0.1 percent to 29.7974 per dollar, compared with 29.8394 on March 5, in Moscow trading. It was 0.2 percent higher at 40.3767 per ...



Trading in forward renminbi surges
Financial Times
"There has been a huge amount of selling interest at the front end of the market," said Gerrard Katz, head of currency trading at Standard Chartered in Hong ...

and more »


Mexico peso hits 2-month high, stocks gain
Reuters
[ID:nN10131734] "This comes on top of a series of economic data that could provide a clearer sign of recovery," said Enrique Trejo, head of currency trading ...

and more »


Rand May Breach 10 Per Euro for First Time in 2 Years, RMB Says
BusinessWeek
The rand snapped a five- day gain versus the European currency, trading 0.2 percent weaker at 10.0647 per euro by 10:37 am in Johannesburg. ...

and more »


Gazprom Neft, VTB, Sberbank, Rosneft: Russian Equity Preview
BusinessWeek
... high against the central bank's target dollar-euro basket, forcing the regulator to adjust the currency's trading band to allow further appreciation. ...

and more »


Renaissance Capital Hires Credit Suisse's Yukovich
BusinessWeek
Yukovich led Credit Suisse's local currency trading operations in the former Soviet Union until September and joined RenCap's Moscow office last week, ...



How Regulators Plan To Limit Leverage, And Make Retail Currency Trading Go The ...
The Business Insider
This isn't about limiting retail forex trading, it's about killing retail forex trading. See when you're talking about currency, there's really nothing to ...

and more »

Google News

Tennis Machine Comparisons | Online Shopping Mall | Price Comparison UK | Beatles Box Set | ebay Auctions | Women's Shopping | Buy Movies Mp3's | Jewelry Shopping | Site Map
Google
 
© InternationalCurrencyTrading Dot Info. Currency Trading Forex Services Information 2006 - 2009