Local time–space stochastic calculus for Lévy processes

We develop a stochastic calculus on the plane with respect to the local times of a large class of Lévy processes. We can then extend to these Lévy processes an Itô formula that was established previously for Brownian motion. Our method provides also a multidimensional version of the formula. We show that this formula generates many “Itô formulas” that fit various problems. In the special case of a linear Brownian motion, we recover a recently established Itô formula that involves local times on curves. This formula is already used in financial mathematics.     

Approximation via regularization of the local time of semimartingales and Brownian motion

Through a regularization procedure, a few schemes for approximation of the local time of a large class of continuous semimartingales and reversible diffusions are given. The convergence holds in the ucp sense. In the case of standard Brownian motion, we have been able to bound the rate of convergence in L²$L^2$, and to establish the a.s. convergence of some of our schemes.     

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.     

The regularity problem for generalized harmonic maps into homogeneous spaces

Let be a Riemannian surface and be a standard sphere, or more generally a Riemannian manifold on which a Lie group,, acts transitively by isometries. We define generalized harmonic maps by extending the notion of weakly harmonic maps in a natural way (motivated by Noether's Theorem), to mapsu W _loc ^1,1 (, ). We prove that, under some slight technical restrictions, for 1 <-p < 2, there are generalized harmonic mapsu W ^1,p(, ) that are everywhere discontinuous (in particular, this solves an open problem proposed by F. Bethuel, H. Brezis and F. Hélein, in [BBH]). We also show that the natural -regularity condition for such maps is to require <u to belong to the Lorentz space L(2, ). To prove this -regularity result we extend a compensated compactness result of R. Coifman, P.-L. Lions, Y. Meyer and S. Semmes, proved in [CLMS], to the case of Lorentz spaces in duality.     

On the regularity of American options with regime-switching uncertainty

We study the regularity of the stochastic representation of the solution of a class of initial–boundary value problems related to a regime-switching diffusion. This representation is related to the value function of a finite-horizon optimal stopping problem such as the price of an American-style option in finance. We show continuity and smoothness of the value function using coupling and time-change techniques. As an application, we find the minimal payoff scenario for the holder of an American-style option in the presence of regime-switching uncertainty under the assumption that the transition rates are known to lie within level-dependent compact sets.     

A random review replacement model for a system subject to compound poisson shocks

We present a transform–free analysis of the following model. The state of the system is initially 0 and thereafter increases jumpwise due to compound Poisson shocks. Each shock increases the state by a random amount. The system is inspected at random points in time. If the state is above a threshold at an inspection, the system is replaced, otherwise no action is taken. Each replacement instantaneously brings the state back to 0. (Existing models assume either exponential interinspection times or discrete shock magnitudes.) This model can be applied to reliability, inventory, and queueing problems.Interpretations are given throughout to make the results easier to understand and to apply     

Stability problems for Cantor stochastic differential equations

We consider driftless stochastic differential equations and the diffusions starting from the positive half line. It is shown that the Feller test for explosions gives a necessary and sufficient condition to hold pathwise uniqueness for diffusion coefficients that are positive and monotonically increasing or decreasing on the positive half line and the value at the origin is zero. Then, stability problems are studied from the aspect of Hölder-continuity and a generalized Nakao–Le Gall condition. Comparing the convergence rate of Hölder-continuous case, the sharpness and stability of the Nakao–Le Gall condition on Cantor stochastic differential equations are confirmed. Furthermore, using the Malliavin calculus, we construct a smooth solution to degenerate second order Fokker–Planck equations under weak conditions on the coefficients.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Superscript>-maximal regularity for second order Cauchy problems

We introduce the concept of L^p-maximal regularity for second order Cauchy problems. We prove L^p-maximal regularity for an abstract model problem and we apply the abstract results to prove existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions for nonlinear wave equations. The author acknowledges with thanks the support provided by the Department ofApplied Analysis, University of Ulm, and the travel grants provided by NBMH India and MSF Delhi, India.     

Free boundary problem for a fully nonlinear and degenerate parabolic equation in an angular domain

This paper concerns with the problem of how to running an insurance company to maximize his total discounted expected dividends. In our model, the dividend rate is limited in $[0,M]$ and the company is allowed to transfer any proportion of risk by reinsuring. So there are two strategies which we call dividend strategy and reinsurance strategy. The objective function and the corresponding optimal two strategies are the solution and the two free boundaries of the following Barenblatt parabolic equation

$v_t?\underset{0\le a\le 1}{\max }?(\frac{1}{2}{a}^2{\sigma }^2{v}_{xx}+a\mu v_x)+cv?\underset{0\le l\le M}{\max }?[(1?v_x)l]=0$

under certain boundary conditions on an angular domain

$Q_T=\{(x,t)|0<x<Mt,0<t\le T\}.$

The main effort is to analyze the properties of the solution and the free boundaries to show the optimal decision for the insurance company.