Glossary

Rho Glossary

Plain-English definitions for common terms related to rho, options pricing, and interest-rate sensitivity.

Rho

An option Greek that estimates how much an option's value may change when interest rates change.

Basis point

One one-hundredth of a percentage point. A 100 basis-point move equals 1.00 percentage point.

Option Greeks

Sensitivity measures used to estimate how option values may respond to different factors.

Delta

An estimate of how much an option's price may change for a one-point move in the underlying asset.

Gamma

An estimate of how much delta may change as the underlying price changes.

Theta

An estimate of how much an option's value may change as time passes, all else equal.

Vega

An estimate of how much an option's price may change when implied volatility changes.

Interest-rate sensitivity

The degree to which an instrument's value may change when interest rates move.

Present value

The current value of a future amount of money after discounting for time and interest rates.

Call option

An option contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the underlying asset at a specified strike price.

Put option

An option contract that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying asset at a specified strike price.

LEAPS

Longer-dated equity options, often with expirations more than one year away.

Contract multiplier

The number of underlying shares or units represented by one options contract.