Flatter Skew Signals

Skew

The observed asymmetry in option pricing, often deviating from the Black-Scholes model’s implied volatility surface, reflects market expectations regarding future price movements. Flatter skew signals represent a compression of this asymmetry, indicating a reduced range of potential outcomes and a convergence of implied volatilities across strike prices. This phenomenon can arise from decreased uncertainty, a shift in market sentiment towards a narrower trading range, or the influence of large institutional holders. Consequently, flatter skew signals often suggest a period of relative market stability or a reduced likelihood of extreme price fluctuations.