Options, Futures and Swaps

Options

The option market continues to see explosive growth. BofAML is in the unique position to navigate this dynamic, growing market by providing extensive expertise in order routing, sophisticated technology and world class client coverage.

Options Trading Strategies

LIQUIDITY-SEEKING

FAST SWEEP      

Sweep top of book at multiple price points

SWEEP

Smart order routing to navigate the complex option market structure

CLEAN SWEEP

Navigate fragmented option market

ICEBERG

Display only apportion of the full order

HIDDEN SWEEP

Hidden order type that will not post to the market

 

SMART ROUTING

SMART                                                

VWAP crossing, GetDone price and benchmark driven customizations supported.

NBBO SWEEP

Stock specific heuristics optimize slice intervals, GetDone price supported.

SPRAY

Stock specific large block prints are excluded from volume calculations. GetDone price supported.

 

ADAPTIVE ALGOS

DELTA-ADJUSTED                                                                                                  

Functionality which adjusts an option order's limit price based on the underlying stock price movement and trader defined parameters. Additionally, the trader has the ability to add an equity hedge component with flexible execution parameters.

BLAST

Order where the trader submits a basket of option   orders within one underlying security, which simultaneously sweeps the market.

Futures

Benefits of Electronic Futures Execution

  • Real-Time Control – Real-time connectivity offers the flexibility to adjust your strategy in real time.

  • Anonymity – Minimize your footprint in the market.

  • Lower Cost Structure – Alternative to full service execution services allowing transaction costs to be more tightly controlled.

Futures Trading Strategies

DURATION STRATEGIES

VWAP     

Works an order over time, in line with the expected market volume (21-day average of rolling front month), attempting to meet or exceed the volume weighted average price over that time frame. Useful on large size over long durations.

TWAP

Works on order over time, in equal proportions, attempting to meet or exceed the time weighted average price over that time frame. Useful on moderate size and durations.

MicroSlice

Works an order over time, in equal proportions, attempting to aggressively execute a portion of the order every second until complete. Useful when targeting cash opens or closes.

LIQUIDITY STRATEGIES

POV

Works an order over time, in line with total exchange traded volume, at a rate specified by the client (Target %). Useful when optimal duration is unknown and real time participation is required.

IS - Implementation Shortfall

Uses market impact estimates, based on historical statistics, to schedule a trade in order to minimize implementation shortfall. Useful on large orders when optimal duration is unknown and impact is a concern.

Ambush

Discretely probes the market with IOC orders for swift execution and minimal impact. Useful on large orders when urgency is high and impact is of paramount concern.

Swaps

Overview

Sector Swaps are offered by BofA Merrill Lynch on the following indices:

  • U.S.: S&P 400, 500, 600 and 1500

  • Europe: Dow Jones 600, Dow Jones Euro Stoxx

  • Japan: Merrill Lynch designed indices

Customized baskets can be created for efficient long/short exposure.

BofA Merrill Lynch can provide basic-to-detailed analysis of a client's core portfolio to determine sector exposures and create most efficient hedge.

Sector/basket swaps offer packaged execution and leverage in a single OTC instrument with a Bloomberg ticker that is used to track live market data.

Sector Swaps can be used as an alternative to ETFs when further customization, flexibility and granularity are needed.

Benefits

  • Achieve greater hedge precision through exposure to multiple indices.

  • Minimize idiosyncratic risk and manage sector exposures.

  • Isolate alpha-generating positions by replacing inefficient broader market hedges.

  • Exhibit greater differentiation in performance relative to peer group due to wider choice of hedging vehicles.

  • Move cash efficiently in and out of specific equity exposures (industry sector or theme) in advance of specific stock selection.

  • Create a basket to provide the returns of a benchmark not served by ETFs or Futures.

  • Balance sheet efficiency – allows you to gain exposure without tying up capital.

  • Transaction efficiency – offers the liquidity of the underlying shares with one transaction.

  • Cost efficiency – generally cheaper than other trading alternatives.

  • Performance tracking efficiency – Bloomberg ticker offers transparency in tracking performance.

Products

  • Individual Stock Swaps

  • Customized Sector/ Basket Swaps

  • Portfolio Swaps

  • Paired Long/Short Pair Swaps

  • Access Trades

  • Hedge Fund Performance Swaps

  • Portable Alpha

Our Strengths

The BofA Merrill Lynch Swaps desk delivers a value-added package.

  • Market making capabilities

  • Ability to send orders to cash sales

  • Market impact and other analytic tools

  • Operational efficiencies (negative affirmation, web delivery, reserve concept, etc.)

  • Swap client service representatives

  • On-floor ISDA negotiating team

  • Swap bundled with optionality

Swaps Trading Strategies

ADAPTIVE LIQUIDITY SEEKING

INSTINCT   

Used to achieve a broader set of trading objectives and takes advantage of a quantitative impac model that tunes parameters on an order-specific basis.

BLOCKSEEKER™

Dark pool aggregator that uses crossing networks, hidden order types and anti-gaming pricing logic to stealthily execute an order. MLXN-only option available.

  • BLOCK Mode - Minimum cross quantity determined by stock specific model

  • STANDARD Mode - Default mode; pricing of midpoint or better

  • TARGETED Mode - Responds to displayed market liquidity events

I/S

Executes in-line and responds to real-time market changes. Price Sensitivity parameter allows order to speed up or slow down as price moves in/out of favor.

AMBUSH

Urgent liquidity seeking with intelligence to pause and adapt if causing impact. Only GETDONE mode will post.

SMA (SMART MARKET ACCESS)

Exhausts liquidity at each price level up to the order's limit price, then smart posts residual quantity. Support for peggin, no-post option, pre & post market trading.

CLASSIC

VWAP

VWAP crossing, GetDone price and benchmark driven customizations supported.

TWAP

Stock specific heuristics optimize slice intervals, GetDone price supported.

POV

Stock specific large block prints are excluded from volume calculations. GetDone price supported.

QMOC

Entire order can be sent as an MOC, subject to MOC cutoff time.

ADVANCED

ETF-aXe

Advanced algo for ETF execution that enhances liquidity and improves price performance by optimizing execution of the ETF, it's constituents and futures.

Perspective

Trader Trends

Does your broker run a 4.19 or a 4.82 40? Speed Matters!

In searching for hard to find liquidity, today's traders are increasingly relying on more aggressive algorithms to intelligently source safe trading venues. BofAML research has shown that dark liquidity can significantly improve order performance. BofAML has developed new routing technology, Instinct Access™, to reach these venues more quickly and actively than ever before.

More

Trader Trends

Swaps: Dynamically Financing Your Portfolio

Take advantage of short term funding movements by varying your roll dates. Using data from 2000-2012, BofAML's Delta One Desk calculates that the implied funding cost in S&P 500 futures cheapens on average by 3bps post expiration. As expiration gets closer, long SPX futures rollers drive rolls richer. In Q4 2012, our most recent and extreme example, funding richened 51bps over the last two weeks...

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Trader Trends

Fed Funds Rate Announcements Affect Overall Market Volume

Volume prediction and real-time volume tracking play a key role in algorithmic performance, especially for long-duration Scheduling strategies. Special market events can concentrate liquidity at certain times of day and alter the overall volume profile. At BofA Merrill Lynch we have found that Fed Funds Rate announcements affect the volume curve at the time of the announcement and affect overall...

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Trader Trends

Efficiently Source Liquidity at the End of the Day

End of day trading continues to play an important role in how institutions are completing orders and sourcing liquidity. BofAML has found during the last 15 minutes, typically spreads are tighter, volatility is lower and more liquidity is available to trade because of a number of micro-structure changes.

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Trader Trends

How can market movements be incorporated into single stock algorithm orders to improve execution quality?

High correlations between market indexes, ETF's and single stocks provide opportunities to improve the performance of single stock algorithms. Recognition of a trending market or delta in relative returns can be leveraged into more enlightened order placement. Instinct® can now recognize even a short term divergence in relative returns to improve trading performance.

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Contact Us

  • New York:
    1.212.449.6090

    Chicago:
    1.866.202.5908

    Europe:
    +44.207.996. 4521

    Japan:
    +81.3.6225.8398

    Asia Pacific:
    +852.2161.7550

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