Market illiquidity and bounds on European option prices

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The paper analyses the impact of illiquidity of a stock paying no dividends on the pricing of European options written on that stock. In particular, it is shown how illiquidity generates price bounds on an option on this stock, even in the absence of other imperfections, such as transaction costs and trading constraints, or the assumption of stochastic volatility. Moreover, price bounds are shown to be asymmetric with respect to the option price under perfect liquidity. This fact explains, under some conditions, the appearance of a smile effect when the implied volatility is estimated from the mid-quote.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)475-498
Number of pages24
JournalThe European Journal of Finance
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2003

Keywords

  • Dividends
  • European options
  • Illiquidity
  • Price bounds
  • Smile effect
  • Stock

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Market illiquidity and bounds on European option prices'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this