The information content of option-implied volatility for credit default swap valuation

Charles Cao, Fan Yu, Zhaodong Zhong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Credit default swaps (CDS) are similar to out-of-the-money put options in that both offer a low cost and effective protection against downside risk. This study investigates whether put option-implied volatility is an important determinant of CDS spreads. Using a large sample of firms with both CDS and options data, we find that individual firms' put option-implied volatility dominates historical volatility in explaining the time-series variation in CDS spreads. To understand this result, we show that implied volatility is a more efficient forecast for future realized volatility than historical volatility. More importantly, the volatility risk premium embedded in option prices covaries with the CDS spread. These findings complement existing empirical evidence based on market-level data.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)321-343
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Financial Markets
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics

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