Showing a call price is convex in strike
Question
Prove that the price of a European call, viewed as a function of its strike, is convex.
Short answer
The payoff is convex in , and pricing is a positive linear operation. For , pathwise, so by no-arbitrage . Equivalently, a butterfly spread has a non-negative payoff and so a non-negative price.
Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q2.31, p.19; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.
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Open the worked solutionLessons behind this question
- Duration and Convexity: Measuring and Managing Interest Rate Sensitivity
- Jensen's Inequality and Convexity
- Option Mechanics: Calls, Puts, Moneyness, Intrinsic Value, and Exchange vs. OTC Markets
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