TD - European calls and puts, a straddle and a butterfly spread

£7.52

Question
In the question YOU MAY ASSUME
(i) that all Calls and Puts are of European type,
(ii) that (whether bought long or short) all Calls may be purchased for a
constant value C and all Puts may be purchased for a constant value
P,
(iii) that all calculations are to be made from the point of view of the holder
of the option (rather than that of the writer).
(a) A STRADDLE is an option strategy that consists of a position where
one is a long one Call and long one Put, both with same strike E and
expiry T. At expiry the underlying has a value S(T). What conditions
must S(T) satisfy in order for a straddle to be profitable?
Draw a profit diagram for a straddle, plotting the profit at expiry
against S(T). If an investor buys a straddle, what view is she or he
taking of the likely behaviour of the underlying?
(b) A BUTTERFLY SPREAD is an option strategy that consists of a position where one is long one Call with a strike E − K, long one call with
a strike E + K and short two calls, both with strike E, where the constant K satisfies 4C < K < E. All Calls are assumed to have the same
expiry T. At expiry the underlying has a value S(T). What conditions
must S(T) satisfy in order for a butterfly spread to be profitable?
Draw a profit diagram for a butterfly spread, plotting the profit at
expiry against S(T). If an investor buys a butterfly spread, what view
is she or he taking of the likely behaviour of the underlying?

Dropdown