Project description
Option market makers and a new risk factor in asset pricing
Financial markets depend to a large extent on derivatives, which act as insurance against unexpected market movements. Nevertheless, existing asset pricing models often overlook how the behaviour of intermediaries such as option market makers affects asset prices. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the OPMMAP project is using signed volume data from the Chicago Board Options Exchange differentiated by investor type in order to develop a new risk factor for asset returns based on option market maker activity. It focuses on capturing how market makers’ inventory imbalances influence asset pricing, drawing on theories of heterogeneous agents, financial intermediation and risk transfer in derivatives markets. Ultimately, the project will provide tools to support investors, policymakers and regulators.
Objective
This proposal introduces a new risk factor for the cross-section of asset returns based on option market maker activity. Financial markets increasingly rely on derivatives such as options to transfer risk, yet traditional models often overlook how intermediaries' behavior affects asset prices. Using signed volume data differentiated by investor type from the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), this research constructs a factor that captures the impact of market makers' inventory imbalances on the pricing of financial assets. This factor is motivated by theories of heterogeneous agents, financial intermediation, and risk transfer mechanisms, where options markets play a critical role in reallocating risks across investors and intermediaries.
The main objective is to provide a more accurate, empirically validated framework for understanding asset returns, risk premia, and market dynamics. The project combines expertise in financial econometrics, asset pricing, and derivatives markets to test how this new factor improves risk measurement and asset price prediction beyond traditional risk factors.
The outcomes of this research will benefit investors, policymakers, and regulators by offering tools to enhance risk management, assess financial stability, and better understand how derivative markets influence the broader economy. The research aligns with the European Union’s goals of promoting financial stability, economic resilience, and innovation in financial markets.
This action, to be developed at Nova SBE in Portugal under the supervision of Prof. M. Boons, will not only address the described relevant research questions as it will also provide training and career development to improve my skills and foster my future career. By joining Nova SBE, I will expand my network and strengthen complementary skills. In turn, I will bring my expertise in financial econometrics and derivatives to significantly expand their research capacity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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1099-085 Lisboa
Portugal
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