Implying sigma from an at-the-money price in a normal model
Question
In a model where the stock's terminal value is normal, centred on the current spot with standard deviation , you observe the market price of an at-the-money call (ignore discounting). How can you estimate quickly?
Short answer
. In this model the at-the-money call is worth exactly , so inverting gives directly; with non-zero rates, first undo the discount factor.
Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q2.21, p.18; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.
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