Asian Option

  

This is an exotic option that is based on the average value of an underlying asset as opposed to the current price (spot price) at the time you buy or sell an asset. The dates of actual valuation (when prices are recorded for averaging purposes) would be laid out in your contract (hint: you should read it).

Generally, Asian options will be less expensive than standard (American or European) options because averaging the prices of an underlying asset takes out the upside of volatility. In other words, you’re missing out on the benefit of a big climb or drop in price because you’re stuck with the average of a whole bunch of prices.

Of course, this is a good thing if you want to avoid potential financial losses due to the one-stop-shop spot price. Asian options are also helpful if you’re worried about volatility, or if there’s a reason the price of an asset could drastically change.

Related or Semi-related Video

Finance: What is Intrinsic Value (of An ...6 Views

00:00

Finance allah shmoop what is the intrinsic value of an

00:06

option All right this is brandi She owns a twelve

00:11

dollars strike price call option toe buy a share of

00:15

my fifteen minutes are up dot com a retirement home

00:18

chain for reality tv stars who recently gained self awareness

00:24

Well the stock is trading for fifteen bucks a share

00:26

of this moment Her strike price is twelve so the

00:30

intrinsic value of that option is fifteen minutes twelve or

00:34

three bucks that is it is three dollars in the

00:38

money and if brandy converted it into a share this

00:41

moment and then immediately sold the stock for fifteen dollars

00:44

in cash well she'd make three bucks But there's a

00:47

catch per call option doesn't expire for five weeks so

00:52

that three dollars in the money is actually worth more

00:54

than three dollars because she has data or time yet

00:59

to exercise and convert or just sell the option itself

01:03

So it's worth mohr because well a stock might go

01:06

up from fifteen dollars in overtime Stocks go up so

01:09

in the next five weeks well couldn't go up a

01:11

dime twenty cents twenty five cents and make that three

01:14

Dollars worth three ten three twenty three Twenty five Sure

01:17

sure it could happen So yeah that's The difference between

01:20

actual value and intrinsic value You get seita kickers in

01:24

there making the option's worth more than just converting them

01:28

into stock and selling them right there And yeah it

01:30

looks like our one and a half minutes are up

Up Next

Finance: What is a naked option/position?
7 Views

A naked option isn't as risqueé as it sounds...it's just an option you sell without having enough of the underlying security to cover your butt if...

Finance: What is a swap, and what is a swaption?
49 Views

A swaption is a type of option that gives you the choice to swap the currency in which payments are made. No word on whether Monopoly money is acce...

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)