Pricing Bermudan options under local L\'evy models with default

We consider a defaultable asset whose risk-neutral pricing dynamics are described by an exponential L\'evy-type martingale. This class of models allows for a local volatility, local default intensity and a locally dependent L\'evy measure. We present a pricing method for Bermudan options based on an analytical approximation of the characteristic function combined with the COS method. Due to a special form of the obtained characteristic function the price can be computed using a Fast Fourier Transform-based algorithm resulting in a fast and accurate calculation. The Greeks can be computed at almost no additional computational cost. Error bounds for the approximation of the characteristic function as well as for the total option price are given

Bayesian interpretation of periodograms

The usual nonparametric approach to spectral analysis is revisited within the regularization framework. Both usual and windowed periodograms are obtained as the squared modulus of the minimizer of regularized least squares criteria. Then, particular attention is paid to their interpretation within the Bayesian statistical framework. Finally, the question of unsupervised hyperparameter and window selection is addressed. It is shown that maximum likelihood solution is both formally achievable and practically useful

Calculation of Densities of States and Spectral Functions by Chebyshev Recursion and Maximum Entropy

We present an efficient algorithm for calculating spectral properties of large sparse Hamiltonian matrices such as densities of states and spectral functions. The combination of Chebyshev recursion and maximum entropy achieves high energy resolution without significant roundoff error, machine precision or numerical instability limitations. If controlled statistical or systematic errors are acceptable, cpu and memory requirements scale linearly in the number of states. The inference of spectral properties from moments is much better conditioned for Chebyshev moments than for power moments. We adapt concepts from the kernel polynomial approximation, a linear Chebyshev approximation with optimized Gibbs damping, to control the accuracy of Fourier integrals of positive non-analytic functions. We compare the performance of kernel polynomial and maximum entropy algorithms for an electronic structure example.Comment: 8 pages RevTex, 3 postscript figure

The Evaluation Of Barrier Option Prices Under Stochastic Volatility

This paperc onsiders the problem o fnumerically evaluating barrier option prices when the dynamics of the underlying are driven by stochastic volatility following the square root process of Heston (1993). We develop a method of lines approach to evaluate the price as well as the delta and gamma of the option. The method is able to effciently handle bothc ontinuously monitored and discretely monitored barrier options and can also handle barrier options with early exercise features. In the latter case, we can calculate the early exercise boundary of an American barrier option in both the continuously and discretely monitored cases.barrier option; stochastic volatility; continuously monitored; discretely monitored; free boundary problem; method of lines; Monte Carlo simulation