The mathematical modelling and numerical solution of options pricing problems

Accurate and efficient numerical solutions have been described for a selection of financial options pricing problems. The methods are based on finite difference discretisation coupled with optimal solvers of the resulting discrete systems. Regular Cartesian meshes have been combined with orthogonal co-ordinate transformations chosen for numerical accuracy rather than reduction of the differential operator to constant coefficient form. They allow detailed resolution in the regions of interest where accuracy is most desired, and grid coarsening where there is least interest. These transformations are shown to be effective in producing accurate solutions on modest computational grids. The spatial discretisation strategy is chosen to meet accuracy requirements as sell as to produce coefficient matrices with favourable sparsity and stability properties. In the case of single factor European options, a modified Crank-Nicolson, second order accurate finite difference scheme is presented, which uses adaptive upwind differences when the mesh Peclet conditions are violated. The resulting tridiagonal system of equations is solved using a direct solver. A careful study of grid refinement displays convergence towards the true solution and demonstrates a high level of accuracy can be obtained with this approach. Laplace inversion methods are also implemented as an alternative solution approach for the one-factor European option. Results are compared to those produced by the direct solver algorithm and are shown to be favourable. It is shown how Semi-Lagrange time-integration can solve the path-dependent Asian pricing problem, by integrating out the average price term and simplifying the finite difference equations into a parameterised Black-Scholes form. The implicit equations that result are unconditionally stable, second order accurate and can be solved using standard tridiagonal solvers. The Semi-Lagrange method is shown to be easily used in conjunction with co-ordinate transformations applied in both spatial directions. A variable time-stepping scheme is implemented in the algorithm. Early exercise is also easily incorporated, the resulting linear complementarity problem can be solved using a projection or penalty method (the penalty method is shown to be slightly more efficient). Second order accuracy has been confirmed for Asian options that must be held to maturity. A comparison with published results for continuous-average-rate put and call options, with and without early exercise, shows that the method achieves basis point accuracy and that Richardson extrapolation can also be applied

Mesh Free Methods for Differential Models In Financial Mathematics

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDMany problems in financial world are being modeled by means of differential equation. These problems are time dependent, highly nonlinear, stochastic and heavily depend on the previous history of time. A variety of financial products exists in the market, such as forwards, futures, swaps and options. Our main focus in this thesis is to use the numerical analysis tools to solve some option pricing problems. Depending upon the inter-relationship of the financial derivatives, the dimension of the associated problem increases drastically and hence conventional methods (for example, the finite difference methods or finite element methods) for solving them do not provide satisfactory results. To resolve this issue, we use a special class of numerical methods, namely, the mesh free methods. These methods are often better suited to cope with changes in the geometry of the domain of interest than classical discretization techniques. In this thesis, we apply these methods to solve problems that price standard and non-standard options. We then extend the proposed approach to solve Heston's volatility model. The methods in each of these cases are analyzed for stability and thorough comparative numerical results are provided

Mesh free methods for differential models in financial mathematics

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDMany problems in financial world are being modeled by means of differential equation. These problems are time dependent, highly nonlinear, stochastic and heavily depend on the previous history of time. A variety of financial products exists in the market, such as forwards, futures, swaps and options. Our main focus in this thesis is to use the numerical analysis tools to solve some option pricing problems. Depending upon the inter-relationship of the financial derivatives, the dimension of the associated problem increases drastically and hence conventional methods (for example, the finite difference methods or finite element methods) for solving them do not provide satisfactory results. To resolve this issue, we use a special class of numerical methods, namely, the mesh free methods. These methods are often better suited to cope with changes in the geometry of the domain of interest than classical discretization techniques. In this thesis, we apply these methods to solve problems that price standard and non-standard options. We then extend the proposed approach to solve Heston' volatility model. The methods in each of these cases are analyzed for stability and thorough comparative numerical results are provided.South Afric

Modelling, Mathematical Analysis and Numerical Simulation to Value Derivatives Related to Renewable Energy Certificates

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Métodos Matemáticos e Simulación Numérica en Enxeñaría e Ciencias Aplicadas. 551V01[Resumo] O obxectivo principal desta tese céntrase na modelaxe, análise matemática e resolución numérica de problemas de ecuacións en derivadas parciais (EDPs) para a fixación de prezos de certificados de enerxía renovable (RECs, polas súas siglas en inglés) e produtos derivados asociados. Na modelaxe, o prezo do REC xoga un papel importante. Proponse un modelo de EDP non lineal con dous factores estocásticos. Os factores estocásticos son os certificados verdes acumulados e a taxa de xeración de enerxía renovable. Unha novidade desta tese é o tratamento numérico do término convectivo non lineal na EDP. Para resolver o problema linealizado obtido, propóñense esquemas de semi-Lagrange en tempo conxugados con diferenzas finitas, ou m´etodos alternativos de Lagrange-Galerkin. Utilizouse unha metodoloxía semellante para a valoración dos derivados de REC para obter un modelo de EDP lineal unha vez coñecido o prezo do REC. A existencia de solución obtense neste escenario. Abórdase a fixación de prezos de opcións europeas e futuros sobre RECs. Finalmente, móstranse os resultados do comportamento dos modelos e dos métodos numéricos implementados.[Resumen] El objetivo principal de esta tesis se centra en el modelado, análisis matemático y resolución numérica de problemas de ecuaciones en derivadas parciales (EDPs) para la fijación de precios de certificados de energía renovable (RECs, por sus siglas en inglés) y productos derivados asociados. En el modelado, el precio del REC juega un papel relevante. Se propone un modelo de EDP no lineal con dos factores estocásticos. Los factores estocásticos son los certificados verdes acumulados y la tasa de generación de energía renovable. Una novedad de esta tesis es el tratamiento numérico del término convectivo no lineal en la EDP. Para resolver el problema linealizado obtenido, se proponen esquemas de semi-Lagrange en tiempo combinados con diferencias finitas, o métodos alternativos de Lagrange-Galerkin. Se ha utilizado una metodología equivalente para la valoración de los derivados de REC para obtener un modelo de EDP lineal una vez conocido el precio del REC. La existencia de solución se obtiene en este escenario. Se aborda la fijación de precios de opciones europeas y futuros sobre RECs. Finalmente, se muestran resultados del comportamiento de los modelos y de los métodos numéricos implementados.[Abstract] The main objective of this thesis concerns to the modelling, mathematical analysis and numerical solution of partial differential equations (PDEs) models for pricing renewable energy certificates (RECs) and associated derivatives products. In the modelling, the price of the REC plays a relevant role. A non-linear PDE model with two stochastic factors is proposed. The stochastic factors are the accumulated green certificates and the renewable electricity generation rate. One novelty of this thesis comes from the numerical treatment of the non-linear convective term in the PDE. In order to solve the obtained linearized problem, semi-Lagrangian schemes in time combined with finite differences discretizations, or alternative Lagrange-Galerkin methods are proposed. An equivalent methodology has been used for the valuation of the REC derivatives to obtain a linear PDE model once the REC price is known. Existence of solution is obtained in this setting. The application to the pricing of European options and futures on RECs is addressed. Finally, we show illustrative results of the performance of the models and numerical methods that have been implemented.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/033Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/01This research has been partially funded by the following projects: • Project PID2019-108584RB-I00 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovavi_on. • Project MTM2016-76497-R from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. • Project ED431C 2018/033 from Xunta de Galicia. • Project ED431G 2019/01 from Xunta de Galicia. All previous projects include FEDER funding