Analytical Greeks for European Options

Medium·22 min read
Risk & GreeksBlack-ScholesGreeksP&L Decomposition

Quick Quiz

1. Why is Δcall=N(d1)\Delta_{\text{call}} = N(d_1) rather than N(d2)N(d_2), given that N(d2)=Q(ST>K)N(d_2) = \mathbb{Q}(S_T > K) is the risk-neutral probability of the call expiring in the money?

2. By put-call parity, which of the following pairs of Greeks are identical for European calls and puts with the same strike, maturity, and underlying?

3. The Black-Scholes PDE written in Greek notation is Θ+12σ2S2Γ+rSΔrC=0\Theta + \frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 S^2 \Gamma + rS\Delta - rC = 0. For a delta-hedged call with zero net delta, the daily P&L from a spot move dSdS and a theta accrual dtdt is:

4. Vanna is defined as 2C/Sσ\partial^2 C / \partial S\,\partial\sigma. Which of the following is the correct expression?

5. For a deep in-the-money European call near expiry (τ0\tau \to 0, SKS \gg K), Gamma approaches zero while Delta approaches 1.

6. A long OTM call position has positive vanna (n(d1)d2/σ>0-n(d_1)d_2/\sigma > 0 since d2<0d_2 < 0). In equity markets, spot and implied vol are negatively correlated (the leverage effect). What is the sign of the vanna contribution to the daily P&L of this position on a day when the market falls?