FX options wrap - Election risk, long gamma, hedge fund flow
Shorter dated expiry FX option implied volatility is reaching extreme levels and underscoring the perceived risk of heightened FX realised volatility driven by the impending U.S. election results.
No surprise to hear that "gamma demand" is at the fore, given that options with long gamma typically benefit the most from increased FX volatility. Gamma is most prevalent in short-dated expiry options with strikes close to the current FX spot price, which explains the significant premiums for these options.
Overnight/next day expiry options should include the election results and their implied volatilities were consequently much higher on Tuesday, with USD/MXN and USD/CNH leading. EUR/USD overnight expiry implied volatility jumped from 9.0 to 29.0 - a premium/break-even of 41 USD pips to 132 USD pips. USD/CNH implied volatility was up from 9.0 to 30.0 and USD/MXN from 15.0 to 100.00 - multi-year highs.
One- and two-week implied volatilities have also hit long-term highs, with key one-month expiries following suit across major currency pairs. The market appears slightly long on USD, reflecting recent U.S. economic resilience and the inflation risks associated with a potential Trump presidency, driving some demand for USD put options as a countering hedge.
Hedge funds have reportedly fuelled much of this USD put demand, alongside buying AUD call spreads, which are expected to appreciate with AUD/USD if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election.
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1-month expiry FXO implied volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/3NWDKWe
1wk implied vol https://tmsnrt.rs/3YS5jGx
Overnight expiry FXO implied volatility https://tmsnrt.rs/4hC4kkU
(Richard Pace is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
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