Doob's maximal identity, multiplicative decompositions and enlargements of filtrations

In the theory of progressive enlargements of filtrations, the supermartingale $Z_{t}=\mathbf{P}(g>t\mid \mathcal{F}_{t})$ associated with an honest time g, and its additive (Doob-Meyer) decomposition, play an essential role. In this paper, we propose an alternative approach, using a multiplicative representation for the supermartingale Z_{t}, based on Doob's maximal identity. We thus give new examples of progressive enlargements. Moreover, we give, in our setting, a proof of the decomposition formula for martingales, using initial enlargement techniques, and use it to obtain some path decompositions given the maximum or minimum of some processes.Comment: Typos correcte

On a flow of transformations of a Wiener space

In this paper, we define, via Fourier transform, an ergodic flow of transformations of a Wiener space which preserves the law of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process and which interpolates the iterations of a transformation previously defined by Jeulin and Yor. Then, we give a more explicit expression for this flow, and we construct from it a continuous gaussian process indexed by R^2, such that all its restriction obtained by fixing the first coordinate are Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes

Probability laws related to the Jacobi theta and Riemann zeta function and Brownian excursions

This paper reviews known results which connect Riemann's integral representations of his zeta function, involving Jacobi's theta function and its derivatives, to some particular probability laws governing sums of independent exponential variables. These laws are related to one-dimensional Brownian motion and to higher dimensional Bessel processes. We present some characterizations of these probability laws, and some approximations of Riemann's zeta function which are related to these laws.Comment: LaTeX; 40 pages; review pape

Multiplicative decompositions and frequency of vanishing of nonnegative submartingales

In this paper, we establish a multiplicative decomposition formula for nonnegative local martingales and use it to characterize the set of continuous local submartingales Y of the form Y=N+A, where the measure dA is carried by the set of zeros of Y. In particular, we shall see that in the set of all local submartingales with the same martingale part in the multiplicative decomposition, these submartingales are the smallest ones. We also study some integrability questions in the multiplicative decomposition and interpret the notion of saturated sets in the light of our results.Comment: Typos corrected. Close to the published versio

J. L. Doob (27 February 1910--7 June 2004)

Doob's essential contributions to Probability theory are discussed; this includes the main early results on martingale theory, Doob's $h$-transform, as well as a summary of Doob's three books. Finally, Doob's `stochastic triangle' is viewed in the light of the stochastic analysis of the eighties.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AOP480 the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Options on realized variance and convex orders

Realized variance option and options on quadratic variation normalized to unit expectation are analysed for the property of monotonicity in maturity for call options at a fixed strike. When this condition holds the risk-neutral densities are said to be increasing in the convex order. For Leacutevy processes, such prices decrease with maturity. A time series analysis of squared log returns on the S&P 500 index also reveals such a decrease. If options are priced to a slightly increasing level of acceptability, then the resulting risk-neutral densities can be increasing in the convex order. Calibrated stochastic volatility models yield possibilities in both directions. Finally, we consider modeling strategies guaranteeing an increase in convex order for the normalized quadratic variation. These strategies model instantaneous variance as a normalized exponential of a Leacutevy process. Simulation studies suggest that other transformations may also deliver an increase in the convex order

The fine structure of asset returns: an empirical investigation

We investigate the importance of diffusion and jumps in a new model for asset returns. In contrast to standard models, we allow for jump components displaying finite or infinite activity and variation. Empirical investigations of time series indicate that index dynamics are devoid of a diffusion component, which may be present in the dynamics of individual stocks. This leads to the conjecture, confirmed on options data, that the risk-neutral process should be free of a diffusion component. We conclude that the statistical and risk-neutral processes for equity prices are pure jump processes of infinite activity and finite variation