We develop a volatility estimator that can be directly applied to tick-by-tick data. More specifically, we consider a model that allows for (i) irregular observation times that can be endogenous, (ii) dependent noise that can have diurnal features and be dependent on the latent price process,...

We study the term structure of variance swaps, equity and variance risk premia. A model-free analysis reveals a significant price jump component in variance swap rates. A model-based analysis shows that investors' willingness to ensure against volatility risk increases after a market drop. This...