Are Derivative Warrants Overpriced?

Joseph K.W. Fung*, Ted Z.X. Zeng

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This study investigates the pricing efficiency of Hang Seng Index (HSI) derivative warrants in Hong Kong. Different from similar research, the study examines the pricing efficiency of index warrants by comparing their implied volatilities (IV) with realized volatility (RV). Although prior studies find that warrants are more expensive than the corresponding options, they are not necessarily overpriced in the conventional sense-that is, relative to the RV. This approach allows the study to test the pricing efficiency of warrants via a test of their information content. Moreover, unlike studies that focus on data at market close, the study uses a large sample of highly synchronous intraday, firm, bid-ask quote data to avoid possible distortions arising from intraday variations in liquidity and pricing in the instruments. The data also helps eliminate the potential nonsynchronous price problem that may affect the test results. Consistent with the results from previous studies, we find that warrants are often more expensive than options. This result is attributed to the inability of non-issuers to sell short, and the high participation rate of unsophisticated investors in the warrants market. However, regression analysis shows that IVs from ATM and OTM warrants provide unbiased volatility forecasts, and that IVs from ATM options do not subsume the information content of ATM warrants. ATM warrant prices are in line with the RV and are efficiently priced. Simulation results show that writing warrants is more profitable than writing options, and that the overpricing is directly related to the volatility premium.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1144-1170
    Number of pages27
    JournalJournal of Futures Markets
    Volume32
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • Accounting
    • Business, Management and Accounting(all)
    • Finance
    • Economics and Econometrics

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Are Derivative Warrants Overpriced?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this