Michal Šoltés

The paper is focused on selected aspects of the hedging using of Nova 3 option strategy created by barrier options, which are appropriate tools widely used for risk management of high risk underlying assets. Financial risk management using option strategies is an effective solution for limiting the loss from underlying asset’s price development. The Nova 3 option strategy is suitable for hedging against increase in price of the underlying asset in case of its purchase in future. In our approach, European up and knock-in call options together with standard put and barrier put options are used for investigation of hedging strategies in increasing markets. Theoretical models of suitable hedged profit functions in analytical expressions are analyzed also from their benefits and risks point of view. Created combinations of these hedging variants have to meet the requirements of zero-cost option strategy. Based on the own theoretical results, the hedged profit portfolio is applied to SPDR Gold Shares, where due to the lack of data on real barrier option premiums, these were calculated according to Haug model. Designed secured variants through Nova 3 option strategy were analyzed and compared to each other with the recommendations of the best possibilities for investors

The main aim of the paper is to measure hedging efficiency using the Short Put Ladder strategy formed by barrier options in the equity market. The researchers hedge full protection against price’s drop, combining the European down and knock-in put options with the lowest exercise price and vanilla or barrier put options with the higher exercise prices. The authors chose the analyzed alternatives according to the requirement of the zero-cost strategy. The aim of the investigated hedging variants is to secure the minimum constant selling price for the underlying asset’s price drop. Theoretical results of this approach were applied in the equity market, i.e., SPDR S&P 500 ETF. The authors analyzed and compared all hedging variants to each other, however, only the selected techniques were presented in the paper. The findings reveal that the barrier options used for managing the equity risk produce significant reductions of that risk. The right combination of options with the strike prices and the barrier levels wisely selected plays a significant role in risk elimination. Finally, according to the findings, the recommendations for potential investors are introduced.