The following option prices were observed for calls and puts on a stock on July 6 of a particular year. Use this information for problems. The stock was priced at 165.13. The expirations are July 17, August 21, and October 16. The continuously compounded risk-free rates associated with the three expirations are 0.0503, 0.0535, and 0.0571, respectively. The standard deviation is 0.21.

For problems, determine the profits for the holding period indicated for possible stock prices of 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, and 180 at the end of the holding period. Answer any other questions as indicated. Your Excel spreadsheet Stratlyz8e.xls will be useful here for obtaining graphs as requested but it does not allow you to calculate the profits for several user-specified asset prices. It permits you to specify one asset price and a maximum and minimum. Use Stratlyz8e.xls to produce the graph for the range of prices from 150 to 180 but determine the profits for the prices of 150, 155, …, 180 by hand for positions held to expiration. For positions closed prior to expiration, use the spreadsheet BSMbin8e.xls to determine the option price when the position is closed; then calculate the profit by hand.

A slight variation of a straddle is a strap, which uses two calls and one put. Construct a long strap using the October 165 options. Hold the position until expiration. Determine the profits and graph the results. Identify the breakeven stock prices at expiration and the minimum profit. Compare the results with the October 165 straddle.

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Strike Jul 160 165 170 6.00 2.70 0.80 Calls Aug 8.10 5.25 3.25 Oct Jul 11.10 0.75 8.10 2.40 6.00 5.75 Puts Aug 2.75 4.75 7.50 Oct 4.50 6.75 9.00