What is Black scholes model?

Black - Scholes model

Black - Scholes option pricing model (Eng. Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, OPM) - a model that defines the theoretical price of European options, implying that if the underlying asset is traded in the market, the option price on it has implicitly positioned itself in the market. This model is widespread in practice and, among other things, can also be used for the valuation of all derivatives, including warrants, convertible securities, and even for the valuation of the equity capital of financially dependent companies.

According to the Black-Scholes model, a key element in determining the value of an option is the expected volatility of the underlying asset. Depending on the fluctuation of the asset, the price for it increases or decreases, which directly affects the value of the option. Thus, if the value of the option is known, it is possible to determine the level of volatility expected by the market


·         Securities (the underlying asset) are traded continuously, and their price behavior follows a geometric Brownian model of motion with known parameters (in particular, these parameters are constant throughout the option period).

·         In the option base asset, dividends are not paid over the entire term of the options.

·         There are no transaction costs associated with buying or selling shares or options.

·         The short-term risk-free interest rate is known and is constant over the life of the option.

·         Any buyer of security can obtain a loan at a short-term risk-free interest rate to pay a portion of its price.

·         Short selling is allowed without restrictions, and the seller will immediately receive all cash for the securities that were sold short at today's price.

·         There is no possibility of arbitration.

The derivation of the model is based on the concept of risk-free hedging. By buying shares as well as selling call options on those shares, an investor can build a risk-free position where the earnings from the shares will accurately offset the losses on the options and vice versa.

The risk-free hedge position must return at the same rate as the risk-free interest rate, otherwise, there will be an opportunity for arbitrage profit, and the investor, trying to take advantage of this opportunity, will bring the option price to the equilibrium level determined by the model.

The Black-Scholes model directly follows the Merton model, which allows modeling the value of the company's equity capital based on the value of the firm's value and its debt, which is represented as a bond without coupon [4]. In this case, we represent equity capital S in the form of a long call option over the total value of firm V at the strike price in face value of the zero-coupon bond F:


Debt D, in turn, can be represented as a portfolio either with a long position with a bond without coupon F and a sell option on company V's capital at the strike price F, or a long position on company V's capital and a short call option at V with F strike:





D

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