A robust system of portfolio margining for futures and options.

A robust system of portfolio margining

for futures and options

Principles

Design of the system: main principles

A required precondition for a risk free system: usage of limits on futures prices fluctuation and the exchange’s capability to control them. Using price limits makes possible building of a system completely covering the exchange against market and credit risks: options and futures portfolio margin is to ensure 100% coverage of possible losses.

Acceptable level of margin in a normally functioning competitive market is ensured by the portfolio approach towards margining

The new approach is in a milder regime for those participant who fail to meet the margin requirements. Their options portfolio is not liquidated, rather it passes under temporary control of the exchange that conducts correcting (hedging) of the portfolio through a number of futures operations according to pre-established rules.


All procedures constituting the system (corrective management procedure, procedure of liquidation) are to maintain systemic integrity of the market. In other words the exchange must not promote chain effect and cross-defaults among the participants.


Allowance for various scenarios of market developments, including full loss of liquidity on the futures market. Though for the developed markets the latter is hardly probable, for the Russian derivatives market it also have to be foreseen.

Minimization of the impact on the market during the corrective management carried out by the exchange.

Margin level requirements set by the brokers must be not lower those set by the exchange. The correctness of the margining is ensured by the decentralization (subadditivity) feature of the margin, provided by the system’s construction.


What determines margin level requirements

In any system the margin level depends on the method of corrective management of assignor’s portfolio carried out by the exchange.

Standard approach: liquidation of the positions

Suggested approach: retaining of options positions realization of corrective strategy

Method of guaranteed margin calculation

In the system with fixed period of maintenance of assignor’s option positions margin is defined as a minimal amount required to cover all losses under the given portfolio in case of the participant’s default on the assumption that on daily basis the exchange conducts futures

transactions at closing prices from the corridor, determined by the limits and the closing price of the previous trading day

prices limits remain unchanged during the terms of the options

Functioning of the System

Placement of Orders by the Participants

The main principle is to check real time every order if it is admissible with respect to the margin requirements. All possible variants of the portfolio composition implied by order execution should be considered.

In admissibility verification not only the structure of the orders but also the current portfolio of the participant and the active orders must be taken into account by the exchange.

Procedure of participant’s margin deficit reconciliation

In case of margin deficit arising on the clearing account of a participant, the latter is given opportunity to restructure the portfolio o by his own or paying margin call so as to comply with the margin level requirements.

Such restructuring can be conducted until margin requirements compliance is reached or until the time allotted by the rules of the exchange elapses.

Delegation of Rights to Manage the Portfolio to the

exchange

In the event that the participant fails to reconcile the margin deficit within the allotted time, the right to manage his portfolio passes to the exchange and the given participant becomes an assignor

Under the internal rules of the exchange the right to manage the assignor’s portfolio is delegated to the exchange, which effects corrective futures trades on behalf of the assignor according to a pre-established in the rules of the exchange algorithm

Portfolio passes to the exchange:

case of a liquid market On passage of the management rights to the

exchange, the latter conducts calculation of parameters of corrective control, which guarantees that the assignor will be able to meet all his obligations.

To one step of corrective control corresponds one day.

Minimization of the exchange’s impact on the market:

initial period of control Conducting of futures transactions at market

prices. Monitoring of the depth of the market is

carried out in order to determine the price elasticity to the volume of the order.

In case of high elasticity of market price from the volume of order, corrective orders are placed in small portions at market relaxation time periods.

Special (reverse) auction: second period of control

Should the corrective management not be fully realised after the initial period of control, limited orders for futures are placed for the volume of the outstanding amount of corrective management volume.

Price of the order is gradually changed in favour of the contractor right up to reaching the respective price limit.

Trades, concluded within the second period of corrective management are not taken into consideration in calculations of the weighted closing price.

Compulsory conclusion of corrective trades:

third period of control Should the corrective management be not

completed within the second period, then one or several contractors are selected with whom compulsory trades are concluded, which will complete corrective management.

This transaction is carried out in accordance with the respective limits under condition that the margin requirements to the contractor’s portfolio do not increase.

The case of non-liquid marketIn the event that it has been impossible to strike corrective trades at the available prices within the price limits, which indicate at full loss of liquidity by the market (reluctance to conclude deals at the most favorable prices, and in the case when no commission for the deals is collected, at superfavorable prices), then The price limits corridor is narrowed or the maturity is

shortened If the previous measures are not success, immediate early

execution of all outstanding contracts at the weighted average price for a specified period of time (last trading day, for example) is performed

Completion of the corrective management

Corrective management is completed In the moment of execution of options contracts, or If the margin deficit is reconciled. The latter is

possible as a result of corrective management conducted by the

exchange, or in the event that the amount required by margin call is paid

to the clearing acount.

On the day following the day of margin deficit reconciliation the participant is returned the right to manage his portfolio.

Prerequisites of the system design

philosophy

Gross-margining

In gross-margining margin is being summarized by separate instruments

One of the possible gross-margining schemes looks as follows: long positions are evaluated as payoff functions

(minimal possible non-arbitrage price). short positions are evaluated at maximum possible

non-arbitrage prices (calcualated by a special algorithm)

Comparison with the “gross-scheme” Compared to the gross-margining scheme the margin level

required in the described system is significantly lower:

Blue line: the function of payouts under the portfolio Green line: margining under the described system Red line: margining under “gross-scheme”

Options for 3 futures Limit on price changes: 20 kopecks To maturity: 5 days

Liquidation of the portfolio. Example.

The market is constituted by 3 agents holding the following portfolios:

1. 1 long call 28.71 short call 28.9 (Red line, the margin equals to 0, as there are no obligations)

2. 1 long call 28.91 short call 29.1 (Blue line, the margin is 0)

3. 1 short call 28.71 long call 29.1 (Purple line)

Three open call options on the market with strikes 28.7, 28.9, 29.1Current futures price – 28.95 (Green line)

The 3rd participant claims default.

His positions are closed. After the closing the participants hold the following portfolios:

1. 1 short call 28.9 (the margin grows to 1.83, shortage of funds)

2. 1 long call 28.9 (the margin is 0)

Conclusion: the margin required for the closing is high and comes close to the “gross”-margin

Liquidation of the portfolio. Example.

Drawbacks of standard models like Black-Scholes

The Black-Scholes model provides quite precise tools to evaluate an options and futures portfolio in a sufficiently liquid market. On such market this allows to use such effectively functioning systems as SPAN, involving liquidation of the portfolio in case of a participants’ default.

In real life the usage of Black-Scholes model is unrealistic, and it cannot be assumed as a basis of a guaranteed margining system.

For example, the market of USD futures on the MICEX (Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange), as well as another Russian derivatives markets, Black-Scholes models cannot be conceived as even distantly applicable, in particular, because of low liquidity.

Demonstration of the system’s functioning

Example of standard portfolio margining in the described

system

Short call Bear spread

Options for 3 futures, limit of prices changes – 20 kop. To maturity – 5 days.

Blue line – payoff function of the portfolio

Green line – margin (with minus)

Butterfly Straddle





system





system

Choice of specification: influence of the volume of options contract

Dependence of the specific margin for 1 futures on the quantity of futures in the contract (non-homogeneity)

Dark blue line – payoff functionGreen line – 1 futures in the contract Red line – 3 Blue line – 5 Purple line – 10

Features of margin as a function of the portfolio’s parameters

Dependence of the margin level on the quantity of futures (by the example of short call option)

Dependence of margin on the number of days to maturity

Limits: a tool to manage uncertainty

Potentially, even in the case of a pure futures market widening of limits worsens the situation with margin (the margin will grow the following day). It can stimulate cross-defaults if the participants remain unwilling to apply additional margin.

In the case of an options market widening of the the limits is possible but can be dangerous as mentioned above in the case of market stress.

Narrowing of limits is always possible. It is a flexible instrument enabling to resolve numerous stalemate situations caused by low liquidity.

Limits Limits can be narrowed in different ways

Uniform narrowing of the limits

Different upper and bottom limits

Nearing the maturity date

Extreme case – early execution

Dependence of margin on the level of limits

Dependence of margin for 1 short options for 3 futures (5 days to maturity) on the price limits (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 kop.)

Example of portfolio correction under the normal market conditions

The market is constituted by 3 agents, all holding spreads

1st day – Everything is OK. 2d day – One of the participant fails to meet the

increased margin requirements. The portfolio passes under control of the exchange, the latter conducts corrective transactions

3d day – Assignor’s portfolio requires further correction

4th day – The portfolio is returned under assignor’s management

Up-front or futures-style?

Up-front or futures-style?

Introduction of futures-style options compared to up-front options is similar to lending to the participants on the security of their portfolio (possibility of negative margin from up-front standpoint). This mechanism lowers required margin level.

Besides, futures-style options are more natural, since for different portfolios with similar payoff functions the margin requirements are the same.

However, from the participant’s viewpoint variation margin is rather frequently compensated by higher margin requirements.

Conclusion: margin requirements for futures-style options are not greater than those for up-front options.

Example. Up-front or futures-style?

Blue line – payoff function of the portfolio:

2 short futures 1 long call Green line – margin level

in the case of up-front Red line – difference

between variation margin and margin requirements

Term of option It is possible to introduce:

1-week options 1-month options

In the case of 1-month options it is suggested that maturity dates for futures and options match.

In the case of 1-week options maturity dates for both instruments are actually different.

In the case of matching terms the amount of margin will not be less than that in the case of unmatching maturity dates.

American or European? With or without delivery?

For a European option for futures with the maturity date matching with that of the futures there is no difference whether it provides for physical delivery or not.

In the case of American option there is serious difference: Margin level for a portfolio of American up-front options with

physical delivery exceeds the margin level of European options portfolio.

Margin level for American futures-style options is not higher than that of European options. However, in such system it is unreasonable to for a holder of such American options to execute it both from the viewpoint of margin improvement as well as the eventual profit.

Example. American options without physical delivery

Introduction of American options without physical delivery leads to higher level of margin compared to European options.

Green line – current quoted price of futures – 29.4Dark blue line – initial portfolio: 1 short call, 29; 3 long futuresMargin 2.2Red line – portfolio after short call’s execution by a counterpart: 3 long futures. It is necessary to pay 1.2Margin requirements – 1.2Shortage 0.2

Example. American up-front options with physical delivery

Introduction of American up-front options with physical delivery leads to higher level of margin compared to European options.

Green line – current quoted price of futures – 29.1Dark blue line – initial portfolio: 1 short call 29; 1 long call 29.3. Margin – 0.9Red line – portfolio after short call’s execution: 3 short futures 29, 1 long call 29.3; Margin requirements – 1.5Shortage 0.6

Comparison of the variantsType of options European American

With variation margin (futures-style)

With the maturity dates of options and futures matching the type of settlement does not matter.

Introduction of an option with physical delivery is optimal.

Without variation margin (up-front)

Introduction of an option with physical delivery is optimal.

Unreasonable: margin level is significantly higher compared to the American futures-style options. Besides, the task in this case is much more complicated.

Liquidity loss scenarios

Liquidity loss scenarios

Situations are possible on the market, when no trades with the underlying can be conducted at any of the prices within the current day’s price limits. We refer to such situations as loss of liquidity. The following scenarios of liquidity loss are possible:

Price shock of the underlying goes beyond the daily futures price limits. In this case immediate early execution of all contracts is recommended, with further re-launch of the market basing on the real price of the underlying (for futures) asset

Stalemate situation: all participants have balanced positions and enough margin. However, buying or selling futures results in higher margin for any of the participants.

Stalemate situation

Stalemate situation is an absolutely new situation, impossible on a pure futures market.

In the described system the situation of stalemate coupled with existence of an assignor may result in impossibility of corrective management.

Formation of stalemate on a normally functioning market is hardly possible and first of all is a result of absence of speculators on the market.

The system based on futures-style options is more stalemate-proof compared to up-front options.

Loss of liquidity: situation of stalemate

A market with 3 participants, of them one becomes an assignor (purple line)

Resolving of stalemate with the help of price limits control

One of the participants becomes an assignor, but the stalemate on the market makes the correction impossible. The exchange narrows the price limits for the whole period of maturity.

Green line – current quoted price of futures. Dark blue line – payoff function of the assignor's portfolio Red line – margin level under the previous limits (20 kopecks) Point – amount of funds Blue line – margin level under narrowed limits (12 kop.)

One of the participants becomes an assignor, but the stalemate on the market makes the correction impossible. The exchange shortens maturity of the instruments.

Resolving of stalemate with the help of maturity shortening

Green line – current quoted price of futures. Dark blue line – payoff function of the assignor's portfolio Red line – margin level under the previous limits (20 kopecks) Point – amount of funds Blue line – margin level under neared maturity date (4 to 1 day)

Comparison with the margin level. 1a

The portfolio consists of call options:2 long options 3500; 2 short options 3600; 3 short options 3700; 4 long options 3800; 1 short option 3900

Portfolio payoff function

Black line – Portfolio payoff function (here and below)

Green line – margin in RTS system with minus (here and below)

Blue line – “guaranteed” margin with minus, 2 days to maturity

Purple line – “guaranteed” margin with minus, 10 days to maturity

Limit 200, 3 days to maturity,volume of options contract 5

Comparison with the margin level. 1b

Blue line – “guaranteed” margin with minus, 1 day to maturity


The portfolio consists of put options:2 options 3500, -2 options 3600, 1 options 3700Limit 200, 3 days to maturity, volume 5

Comparison with the margin level. 2



Red line – “guaranteed” margin, 40 days to maturity

The portfolio consists of call options:4 options 3500, -1 options 3600, -6 options 37002 options 3900Limit 200, volume of options contract 5


The portfolio consists of call option with strike 3700:Limit 200, volume of options contract 5








The portfolio consists of options: 1 put 3800, -1 call 3500 Limit 200, volume of options contract 5


SPAN Ideology The systems of SPAN type are built on the following assumptions:

The market is liquid: there is always a possibility to liquidate the portfolio without considerable losses due to bid-ask spread.

Liquidation value of the portfolio is determined by the current price and volatility according to a certain pricing model (for SPAN it is Black-Scholes).

Margin level is defined as the worst liquidation value of the portfolio for some finite number of scenarios of daily changes in the price of underlying and the volatility

Thus, SPAN takes into account only 1-day evolution of the market. The liquidation of the portfolio is implied in the case of margin deficit.

Corrective management

Similarly to SPAN, the described system considers the worst variant of market development. However, at that all scenarios on the whole time horizon up to the execution are considered, which enables exchange to follow the most “foresighted” strategy in case of margin deficit.

Different variants of realization of the described system are possible (including an unguaranteed system with lower margin requirements), all based on management of the futures part of the portfolio. For instance, an exchange can introduce a combined system in which the portfolio is liquidated if the corrective management does not succeed in a week.

Comparison of margin levels: guaranteed system vs. SPAN 1

Black line –payoff function

Green line – margin in SPAN

Blue line – “guaranteed” margin, limit 100

Purple line – “guaranteed” margin, limit 150

Portfolio: 1 short call option Mean square deviation of daily increment for a month – 49, once daily increments exceeded 100, 12 days to maturity

Portfolio: -2 put 4700, 1 put 5100, 1 call 5500Mean square deviation of daily increment for a month – 49, once daily increments exceeded 100, 8 days to maturity

Comparison of margin levels: guaranteed system vs. SPAN 2

Black line –payoff function

Green line – margin in SPAN

Blue line – “guaranteed” margin, limit 100

Purple line – “guaranteed” margin, limit 150

Compliance with the requirements of regulator (Report on margin, IOSCO, 1996)

Margin levels should be designed to reduce credit, market and other risks. There can be various variants of the described system differentiating by the level of guarantees (which determine the level of margin) to the extent of a guaranteed system. All times the system is risk-based.

Margin requirements may be used in combination with other mechanisms to minimize risk. The system is based on usage of daily price limits for the underlying. Besides it is conceived reasonable to use limits for open positions.

In calculated margin requirements, open positions should be revalued to current market prices at least once a day. The portfolio is revalued during the clearing session.

Clear procedure for margin setting, collection and monitoring. Margin should be collected by clearly specified times. Within the described system the participants are obliged to meet the margin requirements only once at the beginning of the trading day (as a result of the last clearing session). Additional calling of margin in the course of trading day is not permitted.

Compliance with the requirements of regulator

(Regulation of IOSCO of March 7, 1996)

In case of customer default, members should ensure that they are able to cover the positions of a defaulted customer. Provisions regarding customer defaults may include the liquidation of the customer's assets and closing of the account.

In case of customer default a special procedure is provided for: the portfolio temporarily passes under control of the exchange that, in turn, carries out a corrective strategy completely defined and specified by internal rules.



It may be useful to have special provisions for unusual or extreme market conditions. The described system provides for special rules for the case of loss of liquidity on the futures market.

Market integrity is promoted in many jurisdictions through risk controls, including margin requirements.The procedure of reconciliation of margin deficit, including minimizing of the impact of corrective management on the market in the case of default, and the special rules for the case of loss of liquidity, are called to ensure systemic integrity of the market.



A robust system of portfolio margining for futures and options.

Documents

system slide

futures portfolio margin

options slide

options portfolio

margin requirements

futures market

portfolio approach

margin level requirements