The Use of NYMEX Options to Forecast Crude Oil Prices

Abstract

The recent introduction of traded options on crude oil futures contracts at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) gives energy economists a new tool for forecasting the price of crude oil. Since the pricing of these options requires that market participants assess the probability distribution of future crude oil prices, a properly specified model of option pricing can be used to "back out" this assessment from observed option prices.

Keywords

NYMEX options Oil prices Forecasting

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