Abstract: | A simple option-pricing formula based on the Weibull distribution is introduced. The simplicity of the algebraic form and ease of implementation are comparable to those of Black-Scholes. Application to S&P 500 options shows that the pricing biases present in the Black-Scholes model are eliminated. Prices produced by the presented model generally lie within or close to the bid-ask spread. For long-term options (over one year), the Weibull formula exhibits significantly higher precision than the Black-Scholes formula does. While a rigorous comparison of all available models is necessary, the simplicity and precision of the proposed model are its main advantages over the existing models. |