Options Markets for Large Customer

06 February 2006

Options may look attractive, but it might be worth looking in detail at all the costs associated with entering into this kind of insurance premium.

There appear to be a number of options markets being developed in the Uk power market. Spectron have been promoting a Winter 06 Call market with at the money calls. (i.e the strike price is at the same level as the current price) bid at around 44% this is 6% below the volatility being traded just before Christmas. There is also a in the money call offered at around 48% which looks high and so one would expect market value at around 45.5%.

A large retailer if uncovered for the next Winter could buy one of these options with the chance to insure against an upside move. If they bought the right but not the obligation to trade at £66, this would mean that at the end of September if the market was at £100 they could exercise their option and buy power at £66. If the market collapsed they would let the option expire worthless.

The insurance premium is around £9/MWh so it is expensive but with market volatility as high as it is, there is every chance of the market at some point reaching £100.


Industry  Volatility 

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