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Why trade a variance swap instead of a hedged option?

Asked at SIG, Jane Street

You forecast that realized volatility will exceed what the market is pricing, and you want the cleanest possible exposure to that view.

Compare a delta-hedged option with a variance swap. Why might you prefer the variance swap for a pure volatility bet?

Your answer

This one is open-ended. Work it through, then check your reasoning against the full solution.

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