Final answer:
option a.Increases in the risk-free rate will increase the value of call options and decrease the value of put options.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increases in the risk-free rate typically increase the value of a call option because the present value of the exercise price decreases, making the option more attractive to hold for the potential upside.
Conversely, this will decrease the value of a put option because the present value of the exercise price one would get by exercising the option becomes less valuable. Therefore, the correct group of answers is A. increase; decrease.
Increases in the risk-free rate will decrease the value of a call option and increase the value of a put option.