USD Interest Rate Swaption Strategies During the Unconventional Monetary Policy and Pandemic Eras

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of USD interest rate swaption straddle strategies during the unconventional monetary policy and pandemic eras. We construct long–short portfolio swaption straddles using longer tenors and maturities than those in the previous literature. Moreover, we propose an equally weighted strategy that takes risk exposures to both volatility and jump risks. This strategy generates a higher Sharpe ratio than the delta–gamma neutral strategy during the unconventional monetary policy period. This result is weakly associated with spot swap forward rate jumps and robust, including transaction costs. We also observe that adopting longer maturity swaptions in the long position leads to higher values of risk and returns.