The Puzzle of Index Option Returns

B-Tier
Journal: Review of Asset Pricing Studies
Year: 2013
Volume: 3
Issue: 2
Pages: 229-257

Authors (3)

George M. Constantinides (not in RePEc) Jens Carsten Jackwerth (not in RePEc) Alexi Savov (New York University (NYU))

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We construct a panel of S&P 500 Index call and put option portfolios, daily adjusted to maintain targeted maturity, moneyness, and unit market beta, and test multi-factor pricing models. The standard linear factor methodology is applicable because the monthly portfolio returns have low skewness and are close to normal. We hypothesize that any one of crisis-related factors incorporating price jumps, volatility jumps, and liquidity (along with the market) explains the cross-sectional variation in returns. Our hypothesis is not rejected, even when the factor premia are constrained to equal the corresponding premia in the cross-section of equities. The alphas of short-maturity out-of-the-money puts become economically and statistically insignificant.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:rasset:v:3:y:2013:i:2:p:229-257.
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25