Risk minimizing portfolios and HJBI equations for stochastic differential games

In this paper, we consider the problem to find a market portfolio that minimizes the convex risk measure of the terminal wealth in a jump diffusion market. We formulate the problem as a two player (zero-sum) stochastic differential game. To help us find a solution, we prove a theorem giving the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs (HJBI) conditions for a general zero-sum stochastic differential game in a jump diffusion setting. We then use the theorem to study particular risk minimization problems. Finally, we extend our approach to cover general stochastic differential games (not necessarily zero-sum), and we obtain similar HJBI equations for the Nash equilibria of such games.     

Probabilistic approach to homogenization of a non-divergence form semilinear PDE with non-periodic coefficients

We consider a semilinear partial differential equation (PDE) of non-divergence form perturbed by a small parameter. We then study the asymptotic behavior of Sobolev solutions in the case where the coefficients admit limits in C?esaro sense. Neither periodicity nor ergodicity will be needed for the coefficients. In our situation, the limit (or averaged or effective) coefficients may have discontinuity. Our approach combines both probabilistic and PDEs arguments. The probabilistic one uses the weak convergence of solutions of backward stochastic differential equations (BSDE) in the Jakubowski S-topology, while the PDEs argument consists to built a solution, in a suitable Sobolev space, for the PDE limit. We finally show the existence and uniqueness for the associated averaged BSDE, then we deduce the uniqueness of the limit PDE from the uniqueness of the averaged BSDE.     

BSDEs in utility maximization with BMO market price of risk

This article studies quadratic semimartingale BSDEs arising in power utility maximization when the market price of risk is of BMO type. In a Brownian setting we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a solution but show that uniqueness fails to hold in the sense that there exists a continuum of distinct square-integrable solutions. This feature occurs since, contrary to the classical Itô representation theorem, a representation of random variables in terms of stochastic exponentials is not unique. We study in detail when the BSDE has a bounded solution and derive a new dynamic exponential moments condition which is shown to be the minimal sufficient condition in a general filtration. The main results are complemented by several interesting examples which illustrate their sharpness as well as important properties of the utility maximization BSDE.     

Computing conditional expectations of multidimensional diffusion processes

We study multidimensional diffusion processes and give an explicit representation for their conditional expectation. Starting from the solution formula for one dimensional stochastic differential equations found in Lanconelli and Proske [8], we compute the conditional expectation of a certain class of multidimensional diffusions without resorting to the Markov property of the process and therefore without requiring an explicit expression for the semi group associated to it.     

On the orthogonal component of BSDEs in a Markovian setting

In this note we consider a quadratic growth backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE) driven by a continuous martingale M. We prove (in Theorem 3.2) that if M is a strong Markov process and if the BSDE has the form (2.2) with regular data then the unique solution (Y,Z,N) of the BSDE is reduced to (Y,Z), i.e. the orthogonal martingale N is equal to zero, showing that in a Markovian setting the “usual” solution (Y,Z) (of a BSDE with regular data) has not to be completed by a strongly orthogonal component even if M does not enjoy the martingale representation property.     

The adapted solution and comparison theorem for backward stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps and applications

This paper deals with a class of backward stochastic differential equations with Poisson jumps and with random terminal times. We prove the existence and uniqueness result of adapted solution for such a BSDE under the assumption of non-Lipschitzian coefficient. We also derive two comparison theorems by applying a general Girsanov theorem and the linearized technique on the coefficient. By these we first show the existence and uniqueness of minimal solution for one-dimensional BSDE with jumps when its coefficient is continuous and has a linear growth. Then we give a general Feynman-Kac formula for a class of parabolic types of second-order partial differential and integral equations (PDIEs) by using the solution of corresponding BSDE with jumps. Finally, we exploit above Feynman-Kac formula and related comparison theorem to provide a probabilistic formula for the viscosity solution of a quasi-linear PDIE of parabolic type.     

Path regularity and explicit convergence rate for BSDE with truncated quadratic growth

We consider backward stochastic differential equations with drivers of quadratic growth (qgBSDE). We prove several statements concerning path regularity and stochastic smoothness of the solution processes of the qgBSDE, in particular we prove an extension of Zhang’s path regularity theorem to the quadratic growth setting. We give explicit convergence rates for the difference between the solution of a qgBSDE and its truncation, filling an important gap in numerics for qgBSDE. We give an alternative proof of second order Malliavin differentiability for BSDE with drivers that are Lipschitz continuous (and differentiable), and then derive an analogous result for qgBSDE.     

Second order backward stochastic differential equations with quadratic growth

We extend the well posedness results for second order backward stochastic differential equations introduced by Soner, Touzi and Zhang (2012)  [31] to the case of a bounded terminal condition and a generator with quadratic growth in the z$z$ variable. More precisely, we obtain uniqueness through a representation of the solution inspired by stochastic control theory, and we obtain two existence results using two different methods. In particular, we obtain the existence of the simplest purely quadratic 2BSDEs through the classical exponential change, which allows us to introduce a quasi-sure version of the entropic risk measure. As an application, we also study robust risk-sensitive control problems. Finally, we prove a Feynman–Kac formula and a probabilistic representation for fully non-linear PDEs in this setting.     

FBSDEs with time delayed generators: L-solutions, differentiability, representation formulas and path regularity

We extend the work of Delong and Imkeller (2010) [6] and [7] concerning backward stochastic differential equations with time delayed generators (delay BSDEs). We give moment and a priori estimates in general L^p-spaces and provide sufficient conditions for the solution of a delay BSDE to exist in L^p. We introduce decoupled systems of SDEs and delay BSDEs (delay FBSDEs) and give sufficient conditions for their variational differentiability. We connect these variational derivatives to the Malliavin derivatives of delay FBSDEs via the usual representation formulas. We conclude with several path regularity results, in particular we extend the classic L²-path regularity to delay FBSDEs.     

Mean-field backward stochastic differential equations and related partial differential equations

In [R. Buckdahn, B. Djehiche, J. Li, S. Peng, Mean-field backward stochastic differential equations. A limit approach. Ann. Probab. (2007) (in press). Available online: http://www.imstat.org/aop/future_papers.htm] the authors obtained mean-field Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDE) associated with a mean-field Stochastic Differential Equation (SDE) in a natural way as a limit of a high dimensional system of forward and backward SDEs, corresponding to a large number of “particles” (or “agents”). The objective of the present paper is to deepen the investigation of such mean-field BSDEs by studying them in a more general framework, with general coefficient, and to discuss comparison results for them. In a second step we are interested in Partial Differential Equations (PDE) whose solutions can be stochastically interpreted in terms of mean-field BSDEs. For this we study a mean-field BSDE in a Markovian framework, associated with a McKean–Vlasov forward equation. By combining classical BSDE methods, in particular that of “backward semigroups” introduced by Peng [S. Peng, J. Yan, S. Peng, S. Fang, L. Wu (Eds.), in: BSDE and Stochastic Optimizations; Topics in Stochastic Analysis, Science Press, Beijing (1997) (Chapter 2) (in Chinese)], with specific arguments for mean-field BSDEs, we prove that this mean-field BSDE gives the viscosity solution of a nonlocal PDE. The uniqueness of this viscosity solution is obtained for the space of continuous functions with polynomial growth. With the help of an example it is shown that for the nonlocal PDEs associated with mean-field BSDEs one cannot expect to have uniqueness in a larger space of continuous functions.     

BSDEs with stochastic Lipschitz condition and quadratic PDEs in Hilbert spaces

This paper is devoted to real valued backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs for short) with generators which satisfy a stochastic Lipschitz condition involving BMO martingales. This framework arises naturally when looking at the BSDE satisfied by the gradient of the solution to a BSDE with quadratic growth in Z$Z$. We first prove an existence and uniqueness result from which we deduce the differentiability with respect to parameters of solutions to quadratic BSDEs. Finally, we apply these results to prove the existence and uniqueness of a mild solution to a parabolic partial differential equation in Hilbert space with nonlinearity having quadratic growth in the gradient of the solution.     

Stochastic optimization theory of backward stochastic differential equations with jumps and viscosity solutions of Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations

In this paper we study stochastic optimal control problems with jumps with the help of the theory of Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDEs) with jumps. We generalize the results of Peng [S. Peng, BSDE and stochastic optimizations, in: J. Yan, S. Peng, S. Fang, L. Wu, Topics in Stochastic Analysis, Science Press, Beijing, 1997 (Chapter 2) (in Chinese)] by considering cost functionals defined by controlled BSDEs with jumps. The application of BSDE methods, in particular, the use of the notion of stochastic backward semigroups introduced by Peng in the above-mentioned work allows a straightforward proof of a dynamic programming principle for value functions associated with stochastic optimal control problems with jumps. We prove that the value functions are the viscosity solutions of the associated generalized Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations with integral-differential operators. For this proof, we adapt Peng’s BSDE approach, given in the above-mentioned reference, developed in the framework of stochastic control problems driven by Brownian motion to that of stochastic control problems driven by Brownian motion and Poisson random measure.     

Convergence des EDSRs et homogéneisation des inégalités variationnelles semilinéaires dans un convexe

We study the limit of the solution of a Semi-linear Variational Inequality (SVI for short) involving a second order differential operator of parabolic type with periodic coefficients and highly oscillating term. Our basic tool is the approach given by Pardoux [16]. In particular, we use the weak convergence of an associated reflected Backward Stochastic Differential Equation (BSDE for short).     

Generalized reflected BSDEs driven by a Lévy process and an obstacle problem for PDIEs with a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition

In this paper, we derive the existence and uniqueness of the solution for a class of generalized reflected backward stochastic differential equations (GRBSDEs in short) driven by a Lévy process, which involve the integral with respect to a continuous process by means of the Snell envelope, the penalization method and the fixed point theorem. In addition, we obtain the comparison theorem for the solutions of the GRBSDEs. As an application, we give a probabilistic formula for the viscosity solution of an obstacle problem for a class of partial differential-integral equations (PDIEs in short) with a nonlinear Neumann boundary condition.     

Backward stochastic differential equations with Azéma's martingale

The aim of this paper is to study backward stochastic differential equations (BSDE) driven by Azéma's martingale and the associated deterministic functional equations. More precisely, we introduce BSDE's vs. Azéma's martingale in a general frame, then we prove that the existence of a solution to a Markovian BSDE implies the existence of a solution to a deterministic functional equation of a new type. Uniqueness for the functional equation is proved in a particular case. Then we discuss BSDE's vs. an asymmetric martingale: half Brownian motion/half Azéma's martingale, which leads to an asymmetric deterministic functional equation.     

A BLACK-SCHOLES FORMULA FOR OPTION PRICING WITH DIVIDENDS

Abstract. We obtain a Black-Scholes formula for the arbitrage-free pricing of Eu-ropean Call options with constant coefficients when the underlylng stock generatesdividends. To hedge the Call option, we will always borrow money from bank. We seethe influence of the dividend term on the option pricing via the comparison theoremof BSDE(backward stochastic di~erential equation [5], [7]). We also consider the option pricing problem in terms of the borrowing rate R whichis not equal to the interest rate r. The corresponding Black-Sdxoles formula is given.We notice that it is in fact the borrowing rate that plays the role in the pricing formula.     

BSDEs under partial information and financial applications

In this paper we provide existence and uniqueness results for the solution of BSDEs driven by a general square-integrable martingale under partial information. We discuss some special cases where the solution to a BSDE under restricted information can be derived by that related to a problem of a BSDE under full information. In particular, we provide a suitable version of the Föllmer–Schweizer decomposition of a square-integrable random variable working under partial information and we use this achievement to investigate the local risk-minimization approach for a semimartingale financial market model.     

Power utility maximization under partial information: Some convergence results

In this paper we consider the power utility maximization problem under partial information in a continuous semimartingale setting. Investors construct their strategies using the available information, which possibly may not even include the observation of the asset prices. Resorting to stochastic filtering, the problem is transformed into an equivalent one, which is formulated in terms of observable processes. The value process, related to the equivalent optimization problem, is then characterized as the unique bounded solution of a semimartingale backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE). This yields a unified characterization for the value process related to the power and exponential utility maximization problems, the latter arising as a particular case. The convergence of the corresponding optimal strategies is obtained by means of BSDEs. Finally, we study some particular cases where the value process admits an explicit expression.     

Asymptotic expansion of stochastic flows

Summary We study the asymptotic expansion in small time of the solution of a stochastic differential equation. We obtain a universal and explicit formula in terms of Lie brackets and iterated stochastic Stratonovich integrals. This formula contains the results of Doss [6], Sussmann [15], Fliess and Normand-Cyrot [7], Krener and Lobry [10], Yamato [17] and Kunita [11] in the nilpotent case, and extends to general diffusions the representation given by Ben Arous [3] for invariant diffusions on a Lie group. The main tool is an asymptotic expansion for deterministic ordinary differential equations, given by Strichartz [14].     

Backward doubly stochastic differential equations and systems of quasilinear SPDEs

Summary We introduce a new class of backward stochastic differential equations, which allows us to produce a probabilistic representation of certain quasilinear stochastic partial differential equations, thus extending the Feynman-Kac formula for linear SPDE's.The research of this author was partially supported by DRET under contract 901636/A000/DRET/DS/SRThe research of this author was supported by a grant from the French Ministère de la Recherche et de la Technologie, which is gratefully acknowledged