When Alan Greenspan was as chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed), his policies were referred to as 'Greenspan put.' As a type of loss insurance, comparable to a standard put option, the Greenspan-led Fed was particularly aggressive in stopping excessive stock market declines.
From 1987 until 2006, Greenspan served as the Federal Reserve's (Fed) chairman. Throughout his tenure, he actively used the federal funds rate and other tools at the disposal of the Fed to boost the markets, particularly the stock markets, in an effort to bolster the American economy.
Investors were more prone to taking excessive risks in the stock market as a result of Greenspan's policies, which occasionally resulted in market bubbles and increased volatility. Experienced investors turned to the tried-and-true trading tactic of buying put options to safeguard their portfolios against extreme market declines brought on by the inevitable implosion of these market bubbles. These investors needed protection from the acts of short-sellers, speculators, and others.
Traders have employed puts to counter undesirable market volatility that might negatively impact their portfolios as part of a trading strategy to hedge against price risk. By using this approach, investors might limit their losses and perhaps make money while maintaining their stock investments.
The term 'Greenspan put' is distinct from the conventional put option strategy in that it does not include a particular approach to trading or investing. Instead, it refers to the widely held belief that the Greenspan-led Fed would take unusually proactive measures to stop large stock market declines, a belief that has never been publicly validated.
Trading and investing became more alluring as a result of the presumption that the Fed would intervene and provide assistance. Professional investors were less able to justify whether it was a wise move to engage in particular stocks as values soared above clearly acceptable rangesespecially internet-related businesses, which were flourishing.
Put options are becoming an increasingly popular form of insurance for investors in this climate since stock values may see significant changes. Seasd investors found it challenging to purchase stocks without taking put-option protection into consideration because to the inflated valuations and rising prices.
The Greenspan put, in general, ushered in an era that promoted risk-taking since it was anticipated that the Fed would be implicitly provide insurance against severe market declines, just like a conventional put option would.