Cheap USD/JPY options to hedge major event risks
Oct 18 (Reuters) -A lack of FX realised volatility has reduced the price of USD/JPY option premiums, which are almost screaming value ahead of some major event risks.
FX options thrive on FX volatility, which is an unknown quantity but a key parameter for the premium. Dealers therefore use implied volatility, which is basically their best guess. A perfectly priced option would see actual/realised volatility match implied volatility over its life, with any disparity creating a opportunity to trade the volatility.
USD/JPY implied volatility has been under pressure amid the recent lack of USD/JPY realised volatility and is trading new recent lows in sub 3-month expiries. Past measures of realised volatility are above current implied volatility and that only serves to enhance the value potential.
There are plenty of major events on the near term horizon with the potential to increase realised volatility and benefit those holding options/implied volatility. Japanese elections on Oct. 27, a BoJ policy announcement on Oct. 31 and of course, the U.S. election on Nov. 5, which is preceded by U.S. jobs data on Nov. 1 and followed by the U.S. Federal Reserve policy announcement on Nov. 7.
Benchmark 1-month USD/JPY implied volatility includes all of these events and has dropped from a 13.5 peak after its expiry initially included the U.S. election, to its lowest levels since mid August in the mid/low 11's. One-month daily realised volatility has slipped too, but retains a significant 1.0 premium to current implied.
The U.S. election is demanding a significant implied volatility premium in other currency pairs, alongside demand and premium for USD call options to protect against a Trump win and USD gains.
FX options wrap nL1N3LT0M1
For more click on FXBUZ
USD/JPY FXO implied volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/4dX3agW
1-month USD/JPY FXO implied vs 1-month realised volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/3AfQROS
(Richard Pace is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
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