easy · FRM Part 2 Market Risk

The 'leverage effect' is often cited as a structural reason for the equity skew.

According to this theory, why does volatility tend to rise as stock prices fall?

  1. Market makers increase bid-ask spreads at lower prices, which is misinterpreted as higher implied volatility.
  2. As the equity value falls, the firm's debt-to-equity ratio increases, making the remaining equity riskier.
  3. Companies with falling stock prices are more likely to pay higher dividends to retain shareholders.
  4. Lower stock prices attract more retail investors, increasing the daily trading volume and volatility.

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