FX options wrap - Pricing FX calm before US election storm
Price action in FX options reinforces the outlook that there's little to excite FX markets before the U.S. election, but plenty of risks to hedge in its wake.
The recent/current lack of FX realised volatility is weighing on implied volatility, especially for options that expire prior to the U.S. election. One-three-month expiry implied volatility losses are generally more limited by the risk of increased post U.S. election FX realised volatility.
USD calls have seen more demand and premium this week as Donald Trump and his inflationary policies take a poll lead. USD calls allow holders to buy the USD on a future date and their increased premium can be seen via risk reversals.
One-month EUR/USD 25 delta risk reversals reach highs for USD calls over puts since early July at 0.5, with similar gains for 1-month GBP/USD risk reversals and to 0.9 USD calls over puts for 1-month AUD/USD risk reversals.
EUR/USD implied volatility is supported amid the spot setback to the low 1.08's with noted demand for 6-12-month expiries and USD calls via related risk reversals.
Asian currencies took the biggest hit when Trump won the U.S. presidency in 2016, so no surprise to see the likes of 1-month expiry USD/CNH and USD/SGD implied volatility reaching 2-year highs. However, USD/JPY implied volatility has actually fallen amid the lack of current realised volatility and with plenty of additional event risk on the horizon, could offer good value at current levels.
AUD/USD is also expected to suffer amid a Trump win and could take out some key support levels. There are several strategies to protect against that scenario.
For more click on FXBUZ
1-month USD/JPY FXO implied vs 1-month realised volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/3AfQROS
USD/CNH and USD/SGD 1-month expiry FXO implied volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/40bTkEG
1-month FXO expiry 25 delta EUR/USD risk reversal https://tmsnrt.rs/4dQ65rM
(Richard Pace is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
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