The critical importance of FX option strike expiries
July 19 (Reuters) -While it's not an exact science, larger impending FX option strikes can often have an effect on the FX spot market as their expiries draw closer. Here's why.
While there are many types of traders and investors influencing the FX markets, perhaps the most important when it comes to options are the many institutions that supply and manage liquidity. They may have hundreds of trades on their books at any one time, which require constant hedging to minimise exposure to the related currency pairs - often with cash.
Those using FX options to trade FX volatility will also be heavily involved in the cash market, constantly adjusting oppositions to offset currency risk and thereby banking the FX volatility.
As the option expiry approaches - typically 10am New York for G10 currency pairs - these hedging flows will typically increase as that cash-versus-option relationship becomes more crucial to profit and loss. If an option is likely to be exercised, the opposing party may need to buy/sell more of the underlying currency to meet their obligation.
If the option strike is near the current FX spot price, these hedging flows can often drive the FX spot market towards the strikes and help to contain price action until they expire, so it's worth knowing where they reside in advance.
There have been some massive strikes expiring in EUR/USD around 1.0900 over the last week, which can certainly be attributed to the relatively tight EUR/USD ranges.
Larger G10 FX option strike expiries - Friday July 19 nL1N3JB06N
For more click on FXBUZ
EUR/USD FX option strike expiries July 15-19 https://tmsnrt.rs/3Y6cM4z
(Richard Pace is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
</body></html>Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
