What Drives Option Prices?

Abstract

We rely on high frequency data to explore the joint dynamics of underlying and option markets. In particular, high frequency data make observable the realized variance process of the underlying markets, so its effects on option price dynamics are tested. Empirical results are confronted with the predictions of stochastic volatility models. The study reveals that while the modeling of stochastic volatility gives more robust models, the market does not process information on the realized variance to update option prices.