A general framework for pricing Asian options under stochastic volatility on parallel architectures

In this paper, we present a transform-based algorithm for pricing discretely monitored arithmetic Asian options with remarkable accuracy in a general stochastic volatility framework, including affine models and time-changed Lévy processes. The accuracy is justified both theoretically and experimentally. In addition, to speed up the valuation process, we employ high-performance computing technologies. More specifically, we develop a parallel option pricing system that can be easily reproduced on parallel computers, also realized as a cluster of personal computers. Numerical results showing the accuracy, speed and efficiency of the procedure are reported in the paper.     

Optimal investment, stochastic labor income and retirement

We address an optimal consumption-investment-retirement problem with stochastic labor income. We study the Merton problem assuming that the agent has to take four different decisions: the retirement date which is irreversible; the labor and the consumption rate and the portfolio decision before retirement. After retirement the agent only chooses the portfolio and the consumption rate. We confirm some classical results and we show that labor, portfolio and retirement decisions interact in a complex way depending on the spanning opportunities.     

On the application of Wishart process to the pricing of equity derivatives: the multi-asset case

Given the inherent complexity of financial markets, a wide area of research in the field of mathematical finance is devoted to develop accurate models for the pricing of contingent claims. Focusing on the stochastic volatility approach (i.e. we assume to describe asset volatility as an additional stochastic process), it appears desirable to introduce reliable dynamics in order to take into account the presence of several assets involved in the definition of multi-asset payoffs. In this article we deal with the multi asset Wishart Affine Stochastic Correlation model, that makes use of Wishart process to describe the stochastic variance covariance matrix of assets return. The resulting parametrization turns out to be a genuine multi-asset extension of the Heston model: each asset is exactly described by a single instance of the Heston dynamics while the joint behaviour is enriched by cross-assets and cross-variances stochastic correlation, all wrapped in an affine modeling. In this framework, we propose a fast and accurate calibration procedure, and two Monte Carlo simulation schemes.

     

Optimal impulse control of a portfolio with a fixed transaction cost

The aim of this work is to investigate a portfolio optimization problem in presence of fixed transaction costs. We consider an economy with two assets: one risky, modeled by a geometric Brownian motion, and one risk-free which grows at a certain fixed rate. The agent is fully described by his/her utility function and the objective is to maximize the expected utility from the liquidation of wealth at a terminal date. We deal with different forms of utility functions (power, logarithmic and exponential utility), describing in each case how the fixed transaction costs influence the agent’s behavior. We show when it is optimal to recalibrate his/her portfolio and which are the best adjusted portfolios. We also analyze how the optimal strategy is influenced by the risk-aversion, as well as other model parameters.     

Pricing exotic derivatives exploiting structure

In this paper we introduce a new fast and accurate numerical method for pricing exotic derivatives when discrete monitoring occurs, and the underlying evolves according to a Markov one-dimensional stochastic processes. The approach exploits the structure of the matrix arising from the numerical quadrature of the pricing backward formulas to devise a convenient factorization that helps greatly in the speed-up of the recursion. The algorithm is general and is examined in detail with reference to the CEV (Constant Elasticity of Variance) process for pricing different exotic derivatives, such as Asian, barrier, Bermudan, lookback and step options for which up to date no efficient procedures are available. Extensive numerical experiments confirm the theoretical results. The MATLAB code used to perform the computation is available online at http://www1.mate.polimi.it/∼marazzina/BP.htm.     

Integrated structural approach to Credit Value Adjustment

This paper proposes an integrated pricing framework for Credit Value Adjustment of equity and commodity products. The given framework, in fact, generates dependence endogenously, allows for calibration and pricing to be based on the same numerical schemes (up to Monte Carlo simulation), and also allows the inclusion of risk mitigation clauses such as netting, collateral and initial margin provisions. The model is based on a structural approach which uses correlated Lévy processes with idiosyncratic and systematic components; the pricing numerical scheme, instead, efficiently combines Monte Carlo simulation and Fourier transform based methods. We illustrate the tractability of the proposed framework and the performance of the proposed numerical scheme by means of a case study on a portfolio of commodity swaps using real market data.