You Have Just Learned Through the Grapevine That Pfizer (Currently

question 42

Essay

You have just learned through the grapevine that Pfizer (currently at $50.625 per share)may be a takeover candidate at $65 per share.You would like to speculate on the rumor,but you are worried that the stock will drop significantly if the rumor is false.Therefore,you have decided to use options to exploit this information.You are given the following option data for today,May 15th:
calls puts

a. Set up an option position that will best exploit the information you have, assuming that the takeover will happen by September 16 (the expiration day of the September options).
b. Assume now that the annualized standard deviation of Pfizer's stock price is 0.40 and that the six-month T-bill rate is 6%. Furthermore, assume that Pfizer pays a quarterly dividend of 50 cents and that the dividends are paid in April, July, October and January. What would your Black-Scholes estimates be for the options in the position that you have described in part a?
c. If the beta of Pfizer stock is 1.0, what is the beta of the position that you have set up in part a?
d. What are the deltas of the options that you have chosen for your position?

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Definitions:

Erikson's

Pertains to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, which outlines eight stages from infancy to adulthood, focusing on the development of personality and identity.

Autonomy

The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision independently.

Shame and Doubt

Feelings of inadequacy that can arise in early childhood as part of psychosocial development, according to Erik Erickson's stages.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A form of psychotherapy that focuses on modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts through a goal-oriented, systematic process.