What Is Implied Volatility In Options?

Last Updated on October 30, 2023 by BFSLTeam BFSLTeam

Understanding Implied Volatility Meaning

Volatility is the metric that gauges the ebb and flow of security. When a security undergoes rapid and frequent fluctuations, it exhibits high volatility, whereas slow and gradual movements indicate low volatility. Historical volatility, also known as realised volatility, tracks the actual movement of the underlying asset over a specific time frame. On the other hand, implied volatility represents the market’s anticipation of how volatile an option will be until its expiration.

What’s Implied Volatility?

Understanding implied volatility (IV) is of paramount significance for options traders due to two primary reasons. Firstly, it offers insights into the potential future market volatility. Secondly, it plays a crucial role in probability assessments, assisting in determining the likelihood of a stock reaching a specific price by a particular date.

However, it’s important to note that implied volatility doesn’t offer directional market predictions. Despite its value, it relies on an option pricing model, rendering the data somewhat speculative.

Difference Between Implied Volatility and Historical Volatility

Aspect	Implied Volatility (IV)	Historical Volatility (HV)
Definition	Forward-looking metric based on options prices. Represents expected fluctuations in an underlying stock or index.	Based on past trading ranges of underlying securities and indexes. Measures price changes historically.
Calculation Basis	Derived from option prices.	Calculated from actual price movements (e.g., daily stock price changes).
Forecasting	Doesn’t predict future market movements but estimates potential volatility.	Reflects past performance; doesn’t forecast future behaviour.
Indicator	Represents market expectations.	Describes actual realised volatility.
Use in Options	Affects options pricing (premiums).	Not directly used in options pricing but provides context for risk assessment.

Exploring Implied Volatility as a Trading Tool

• Implied volatility is a valuable tool for investors.
• It provides insights into market expectations regarding potential stock price changes, whether significant or minor.
• It doesn’t predict the direction of stock price movements.
• Historical Volatility (HV) and Implied Volatility (IV) differ.
• HV relies on past stock movements to anticipate future changes.
• IV considers historical data and market expectations.
• Traders often prefer IV for its comprehensive perspective.
• IV helps traders calculate an estimated price range throughout an option’s lifespan.
• This aids in identifying anticipated shifts in the underlying stock’s value.
• It also helps in determining strategic entry and exit points.
• IV assists traders in assessing the risk-return trade-off.
• It helps gauge whether the market aligns with their perspective.
• Ultimately, IV guides traders in evaluating the level of risk associated with a specific trade.

Also Read: Max Pain In Options

Understanding Implied Volatility (IV) in Stock Trading

Implied volatility (IV) holds a key role in the realm of stock trading, particularly for option buyers. The premiums paid by option buyers are directly linked to the market’s anticipated level of volatility. Interestingly, in the world of illiquid option transactions, it’s not the price that takes centre stage but rather the negotiation of implied volatility. IV isn’t solely a concern for traders; it also serves as a valuable tool for analysts in gauging the overall market sentiment. These IV values are readily available, associated with each contract, and can be easily accessed through exchange websites and trading terminals.

Analysts pay special attention to the implied volatility levels of at-the-money (ATM) Nifty options, those options with strike prices nearest to the current market value. The IVs of these options provide crucial insights into market expectations.

In the world of trading, the sentiment of traders plays a significant role in interpreting IV. Pessimistic traders, those expecting a market downturn, often turn to put options as a hedge. This preference for put options increases the IV of these contracts, signalling bearishness in the market. On the other hand, when traders have less concern about guarding against significant market shifts, IV values tend to decline. A comfortable IV range for many traders typically falls between 20% to 25%.

Recent trends indicate that IVs for at-the-money (ATM) Nifty options have decreased to approximately 14%. This suggests that traders are currently not expecting any imminent events that could trigger significant volatility.

It’s important to note that, in theory, implied volatility doesn’t inherently indicate the direction the market will take. However, in practice, high IVs are often perceived as a bearish signal by traders. This stems from the notion that the expectation of a market downturn has a more pronounced influence on trading behaviour than the anticipation of an upturn. High IVs are frequently regarded as an indicator of bearishness, as investors and fund managers tend to seek protection when they sense a heightened risk of sudden market declines.

Influencing Factors on Implied Volatility

Implied volatility, often influenced by the interplay of supply and demand, plays a pivotal role in the options market. When there’s a surge in demand for an asset, its price tends to soar, subsequently raising its implied volatility. This, in turn, results in an increased option premium due to the higher perceived risk associated with the asset. Conversely, in scenarios where supply outpaces demand, implied volatility tends to decline, consequently reducing the options premium. Additionally, the time horizon of an option also affects its implied volatility, with shorter-term options typically exhibiting lower implied volatility, while longer-term options tend to showcase higher implied volatility. This difference stems from the fact that longer-term options provide more time for the underlying asset’s price to make favourable movements compared to their shorter-term counterparts.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilising Implied Volatility

Advantages:

1. Implied volatility offers a valuable means of quantifying market sentiment surrounding an asset.

2. It serves as a fundamental component in the calculation of option prices.

3. Implied volatility can aid in formulating effective trading strategies.

Disadvantages:

1. Implied volatility, while useful, does not provide directional predictions regarding asset price movements; it cannot forecast whether prices will rise or fall.

2. It remains highly susceptible to external factors, such as news and events, given its speculative nature.

3. Implied volatility relies exclusively on pricing data and does not incorporate fundamental analysis, potentially limiting its scope and accuracy in certain market conditions.

In Summary

Implied volatility is a constantly changing metric, responding in real-time to the ebb and flow of the options market. It stands as a unique indicator, offering traders and investors a glimpse into potential future market volatility. While forecasting the future remains a challenging task, implied volatility endeavours to provide insights to support trading decisions. The choice of the right option is just as crucial as the timing of contract closure for a successful trade.

In this dynamic landscape, especially when dealing with inherently volatile instruments, implied volatility emerges as a pivotal metric for investors. When the implied volatility of an option increases after executing a trade, it signifies profitability for the option buyer and a loss for the seller. Conversely, a decrease in implied volatility post-trade execution results in the reverse scenario. Consequently, implied volatility holds significance for both buyers and sellers in this context.