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Quick estimate of an at-the-money straddle

Question

A stock trades at 2020 with volatility σ=0.4\sigma = 0.4. Estimate the value of an at-the-money straddle with T=0.36T = 0.36 years to expiry (ignore rates). Give two decimals.

Short answer

About 3.833.83. An ATM call or put is worth roughly σST/(2π)≈0.4 SσT\sigma S\sqrt{T/(2\pi)} \approx 0.4\, S\sigma\sqrt{T}. The straddle is twice that: 2⋅0.4⋅20⋅0.36/(2π)≈3.832 \cdot 0.4 \cdot 20 \cdot \sqrt{0.36/(2\pi)} \approx 3.83.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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