An empirical comparison of implied tree models for KOSPI 200 index options

This paper compares implied tree models for KOSPI 200 index options with regards to the pricing and hedging performance. With Cox, Ross, and Rubinstein's [Cox, J., Ross, S., & Rubinsteinm, M., 1979. Option pricing: A simplified approach. Journal of Financial Economics, 7, 229-263] standard binomial tree (SBT) model as a benchmark, we analyzed three models: Rubinstein's [Rubinstein, M., 1994. Implied binomial trees. Journal of Finance, 49, 771-818] implied binomial tree (IBT), Jackwerth's [Jackwerth, J. C., 1997. Generalized binomial trees. Journal of Derivatives, 5, 7-17] generalized binomial tree (GBT), and Derman and Kani's [Derman, E., & Kani, I., 1994. Riding on a smile. Risk, 7, 32-39] implied volatility tree (IVT) models. The SBT model, the simplest, shows the best performance. Moreover, the delta-hedged strategy in all of the binomial models generates, on average, negative gains. This finding, consistent with the findings by Bakshi and Kapadia [Bakshi, G., & Kapadia, N., 2003. Delta-hedged gains and the negative market volatility risk premium. Review of Financial Studies, 16, 527-566], indicates the existence of a negative market volatility risk premium.