Real-world pricing for a modified constant elasticity of variance model

This paper considers a modified constant elasticity of variance (MCEV) model. This model uses the familiar constant elasticity of variance form for the volatility of the growth optimal portfolio (GOP) in a continuous market. It leads to a GOP that follows the power of a time-transformed squared Bessel process. This paper derives analytic real-world prices for zero-coupon bonds, instantaneous forward rates and options on the GOP that are both theoretically revealing and computationally efficient. In addition, the paper examines options on exchange prices and options on zero-coupon bonds under the MCEV model. The semi-analytic prices derived for options on zero-coupon bonds can subsequently be used to price interest rate caps and floors

Analytic pricing of contingent claims under the real-world measure

This article derives a series of analytic formulae for various contingent claims under the real-world probability measure using the stylised minimal market model (SMMM). This model provides realistic dynamics for the growth optimal portfolio (GOP) as a well-diversified equity index. It captures both leptokurtic returns with correct tail properties and the leverage effect. Under the SMMM, the discounted GOP takes the form of a time-transformed squared Bessel process of dimension four. From this property, one finds that the SMMM possesses a special and interesting relationship to non-central chi-square random variables with zero degrees of freedom. The analytic formulae derived under the SMMM include options on the GOP, options on exchange prices and options on zero-coupon bonds. For options on zero-coupon bonds, analytic prices facilitate efficient calculation of interest rate caps and floors. © 2008 World Scientific Publishing Company

Approximating the numéraire portfolio by naive diversification

Estimation theory has shown, owing to the limited estimation window available for real asset data, that the sample-based Markowitz mean-variance approach produces unreliable weights that fluctuate substantially over time. This article proposes an alternate approach to portfolio optimization, being the use of naive diversification to approximate the numéraire portfolio (NP). The NP is the strictly positive portfolio that, when used as benchmark, makes all benchmarked non-negative portfolios either mean decreasing or trendless. Furthermore, it maximizes expected logarithmic utility and outperforms any other strictly positive portfolio in the long run. The article proves for a well-securitized market that the naive equal value-weighted portfolio converges to the NP when the number of constituents tends to infinity. This result is model independent and, therefore, very robust. The systematic construction of diversified stock indices by naive diversification from real data is demonstrated. Even when taking transaction costs into account, these indices significantly outperform the corresponding market capitalization- weighted indices in the long run, indicating empirically their asymptotic proximity to the NP. Finally, in the time of financial crisis, a large equi-weighted fund carrying the investments of major pension funds and insurance companies would provide important liquidity. It would not only dampen the drawdown of a crisis, but would also moderate the excesses of an asset price bubble. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Laplace transform identities for diffusions, with applications to rebates and barrier options

Using a simple integral identity, we derive general expressions for the Laplace transform of the transition density of the process, if killing or reflecting boundaries are specified. We also obtain a number of useful expressions for the Laplace transforms of some functions of first-passage times for the diffusion. These results are applied to the special case of squared Bessel processes with killing or reflecting boundaries. In particular, we demonstrate how the above-mentioned integral identity enables us to derive the transition density of a squared Bessel process killed at the origin, without the need to invert a Laplace transform. Finally, as an application, we consider the problem of pricing barrier options on an index described by the minimal market model

A benchmark approach to filtering in finance

The paper propsoed the use of the growth optimal portfolio for pricing and hedging in imcomplete markets when there are unobserved factors that have to be filtered. The proposed filtering framework is applicable also in cases when there does not exist an equivalent risk neutral martingale measure. The reduction of the variance of derivative prices for increasing degrees of available iformation is measured

Real-World Forward Rate Dynamics With Affine Realizations

© 2015, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. We investigate the existence of affine realizations for Lévy driven interest rate term structure models under the real-world probability measure, which so far has only been studied under an assumed risk-neutral probability measure. For models driven by Wiener processes, all results obtained under the risk-neutral approach concerning the existence of affine realizations are transferred to the general case. A similar result holds true for models driven by compound Poisson processes with finite jump size distributions. However, in the presence of jumps with infinite activity we obtain severe restrictions on the structure of the market price of risk; typically, it must even be constant

Credit Derivative Evaluation and CVA Under the Benchmark Approach

© 2015, Springer Japan. In this paper, we discuss how to model credit risk under the benchmark approach. Firstly we introduce an affine credit risk model. We then show how to price credit default swaps (CDSs) and introduce credit valuation adjustment (CVA) as an extension of CDSs. In particular, our model can capture right-way—and wrong-way exposure. This means, we capture the dependence structure of the default event and the value of the transaction under consideration. For simple contracts, we provide closed-form solutions. However, due to the fact that we allow for a dependence between the default event and the value of the transaction, closed-form solutions are difficult to obtain in general. Hence we conclude this paper with a reduced form model, which is more tractable

Pricing volatility derivatives under the modified constant elasticity of variance model

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This paper studies volatility derivatives such as variance and volatility swaps, options on variance in the modified constant elasticity of variance model using the benchmark approach. The analytical expressions of pricing formulas for variance swaps are presented. In addition, the numerical solutions for variance swaps, volatility swaps and options on variance are demonstrated