On the modelling of nested risk-neutral stochastic processes with applications in insurance

We propose a modelling framework for risk-neutral stochastic processes nested in a real-world stochastic process. The framework is important for insurers that deal with the valuation of embedded options and in particular at future points in time. We make use of the class of State Space Hidden Markov models for modelling the joint behaviour of the parameters of a risk-neutral model and the dynamics of option market instruments. This modelling concept enables us to perform non-linear estimation, forecasting and robust calibration. The proposed method is applied to the Heston model for which we find highly satisfactory results. We use the estimated Heston model to compute the required capital of an insurance company under Solvency II and we find large differences compared to a basic calibration method.     

Market calibration under a long memory stochastic volatility model

In this article, we study a long memory stochastic volatility model (LSV), under which stock prices follow a jump-diffusion stochastic process and its stochastic volatility is driven by a continuous-time fractional process that attains a long memory. LSV model should take into account most of the observed market aspects and unlike many other approaches, the volatility clustering phenomenon is captured explicitly by the long memory parameter. Moreover, this property has been reported in realized volatility time-series across different asset classes and time periods. In the first part of the article, we derive an alternative formula for pricing European securities. The formula enables us to effectively price European options and to calibrate the model to a given option market. In the second part of the article, we provide an empirical review of the model calibration. For this purpose, a set of traded FTSE 100 index call options is used and the long memory volatility model is compared to a popular pricing approach – the Heston model. To test stability of calibrated parameters and to verify calibration results from previous data set, we utilize multiple data sets from NYSE option market on Apple Inc. stock.     

A GARCH option pricing model with α-stable innovations

We develop an option pricing model which is based on a GARCH asset return process with α-stable innovations with truncated tails. The approach utilizes a canonic martingale measure as pricing measure which provides the possibility of a model calibration to market prices. The GARCH-stable option pricing model allows the explanation of some well-known anomalies in empirical data as volatility clustering and heavy tailedness of the return distribution. Finally, the results of Monte Carlo simulations concerning the option price and the implied volatility with respect to different strike and maturity levels are presented.     

Efficient option risk measurement with reduced model risk

Options require risk measurement that is also computationally efficient as it is important to derivatives risk management. There are currently few methods that are specifically adapted for efficient option risk measurement. Moreover, current methods rely on series approximations and incur significant model risks, which inhibit their applicability for risk management.In this paper we propose a new approach to computationally efficient option risk measurement, using the idea of a replicating portfolio and coherent risk measurement. We find our approach to option risk measurement provides fast computation by practically eliminating nonlinear computational operations. We reduce model risk by eliminating calibration and implementation risks by using mostly observable data, we remove internal model risk for complex option portfolios by not admitting arbitrage opportunities, we are also able to incorporate liquidity or model misspecification risks. Additionally, our method enables tractable and convex optimisation of portfolios containing multiple options. We conduct numerical experiments to test our new approach and they validate it over a range of option pricing parameters.     

Vector Majorization and a Robust Option Replacement Trading Strategy

We show that vector majorization and its related preference sets can be used to establish useful option pricing bounds for a robust option replacement investment strategy. This robust trading strategy can help to overcome some of the difficulties in implementing arbitrage option trading strategies when there exists model inaccuracy. Dedicated to Boris Mordukhovich on his 60th birthday.     

Pricing Options on Defaultable Stocks*

? ?. This work was inspired by the SAMSI workshops on Financial Mathematics, Statistics and Econometrics (Fall 2005, Spring 2006 North Carolina). The author wishes to thank the organizers for the travel grant to participate in this stimulating event. I also would like to thank Bo Yang for his research assistance and the two anonymous referees and an anonymous associate editor for their valuable suggestions. Stock option price approximations are developed for a model which takes both the risk of default and the stochastic volatility into account. The intensity of defaults is assumed to be influenced by the volatility. It is shown that it might be possible to infer the risk neutral default intensity from the stock option prices. The proposed option price approximation has a rich implied volatility surface structure and fits the data implied volatility well. A calibration exercise shows that an effective hazard rate from bonds issued by a company can be used to explain the impliedvolatility skew of the option prices issued by the same company. It is also observed that the implied yield spread obtained from calibrating all the model parameters to the option prices matches the observed yield spread.     

Stable local volatility function calibration using spline kernel

We propose an optimization formulation using the l ₁ norm to ensure accuracy and stability in calibrating a local volatility function for option pricing. Using a regularization parameter, the proposed objective function balances calibration accuracy with model complexity. Motivated by the support vector machine learning, the unknown local volatility function is represented by a spline kernel function and the model complexity is controlled by minimizing the 1-norm of the kernel coefficient vector. In the context of support vector regression for function estimation based on a finite set of observations, this corresponds to minimizing the number of support vectors for predictability. We illustrate the ability of the proposed approach to reconstruct the local volatility function in a synthetic market. In addition, based on S&P 500 market index option data, we demonstrate that the calibrated local volatility surface is simple and resembles the observed implied volatility surface in shape. Stability is illustrated by calibrating local volatility functions using market option data from different dates.     

Testing robustness in calibration of stochastic volatility models

Many numerical aspects are involved in parameter estimation of stochastic volatility models. We investigate a model for stochastic volatility suggested by Hobson and Rogers [Complete models with stochastic volatility, Mathematical Finance 8 (1998) 27] and we focus on its calibration performance with respect to numerical methodology.In recent financial literature there are many papers dealing with stochastic volatility models and their capability in capturing European option prices; in Figà-Talamanca and Guerra [Towards a coherent volatility pricing model: An empirical comparison, Financial Modelling, Phisyca-Verlag, 2000] a comparison between some of the most significant models is done. The model proposed by Hobson and Rogers seems to describe quite well the dynamics of volatility.In Figà-Talamanca and Guerra [Fitting the smile by a complete model, submitted] a deep investigation of the Hobson and Rogers model was put forward, introducing different ways of parameters' estimation. In this paper we test the robustness of the numerical procedures involved in calibration: the quadrature formula to compute the integral in the definition of some state variables, called offsets, that represent the weight of the historical log-returns, the discretization schemes adopted to solve the stochastic differential equation for volatility and the number of simulations in the Monte Carlo procedure introduced to obtain the option price.The main results can be summarized as follows. The choice of a high order of convergence scheme is not fully justified because the option prices computed via calibration method are not sensitive to the use of a scheme with 2.0 order of convergence or greater. The refining of the approximation rule for the integral, on the contrary, allows to compute option prices that are often closer to market prices. In conclusion, a number of 10 000 simulations seems to be sufficient to compute the option price and a higher number can only slow down the numerical procedure.     

Assessment and propagation of input uncertainty in tree‐based option pricing models

This paper aims to provide a practical example of assessment and propagation of input uncertainty for option pricing when using tree‐based methods. Input uncertainty is propagated into output uncertainty, reflecting that option prices are as unknown as the inputs they are based on. Option pricing formulas are tools whose validity is conditional not only on how close the model represents reality, but also on the quality of the inputs they use, and those inputs are usually not observable. We show three different approaches to integrating out the model nuisance parameters and show how this translates into model uncertainty in the tree model space for the theoretical option prices. We compare our method with classical calibration‐based results assuming that there is no options market established and no statistical model linking inputs and outputs. These methods can be applied to pricing of instruments for which there is no options market, as well as a methodological tool to account for parameter and model uncertainty in theoretical option pricing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust multiclass kernel-based classifiers

In this research, a robust optimization approach applied to multiclass support vector machines (SVMs) is investigated. Two new kernel based-methods are developed to address data with input uncertainty where each data point is inside a sphere of uncertainty. The models are called robust SVM and robust feasibility approach model (Robust-FA) respectively. The two models are compared in terms of robustness and generalization error. The models are compared to robust Minimax Probability Machine (MPM) in terms of generalization behavior for several data sets. It is shown that the Robust-SVM performs better than robust MPM.     

A robust optimization approach to closed-loop supply chain network design under uncertainty

The concern about significant changes in the business environment (such as customer demands and transportation costs) has spurred an interest in designing scalable and robust supply chains. This paper proposes a robust optimization model for handling the inherent uncertainty of input data in a closed-loop supply chain network design problem. First, a deterministic mixed-integer linear programming model is developed for designing a closed-loop supply chain network. Then, the robust counterpart of the proposed mixed-integer linear programming model is presented by using the recent extensions in robust optimization theory. Finally, to assess the robustness of the solutions obtained by the novel robust optimization model, they are compared to those generated by the deterministic mixed-integer linear programming model in a number of realizations under different test problems.     

A trust-region method applied to parameter identification of a simple prey–predator model

In this paper, the calibration of the non linear Lotka–Volterra model is used to compare the robustness and efficiency (CPU time) of different optimisation algorithms.Five versions of a quasi-Newton trust-region algorithm are developed and compared with a widely used quasi-Newton method. The trust-region algorithms is more robust and three of them are numerically cheaper than the more usual line search approach.Computation of the first derivatives of the objective function is cheaper with the backward differentiation (or adjoint model) technique than with the forward method as soon as the number of parameter is greater than a few ones. In the optimisation problem, the additional information about the Jacobian matrix made available by the forward method reduces the number of iterations but does not compensate for the increased numerical costs.A quasi-Newton trust-region algorithm with backward differentiation and BFGS update after both successful and unsuccessful iterations represents a robust and efficient algorithm that can be used to calibrate very demanding dynamic models.     

Multifactor Heston's stochastic volatility model for European option pricing

In this study, we extend the multiscale stochastic volatility model of [Fouque J‐P, Lorig MJ, SIAM J Financial Math. 2011;2(1):221‐254] by incorporating a slow varying factor of volatility. The resulting model can be viewed as a multifactor extension of the Heston model with two additional factors driving the volatility levels. An asymptotic analysis consisting of singular and regular perturbation expansions is developed to obtain an approximation to European option prices. We also find explicit expressions for some essential functions that are available only in integral formulas in the work of [Fouque J‐P, Lorig MJ, SIAM J Financial Math. 2011;2(1):221‐254]. This finding basically leads to considerable reduction in computational time for numerical calculation as well as calibration problems. An accuracy result of the asymptotic approximation is also provided. For numerical illustration, the multifactor Heston model is calibrated to index options on the market, and we find that the resulting implied volatility surfaces fit the market data better than those produced by the multiscale stochastic volatility model of [Fouque J‐P, Lorig MJ, SIAM J Financial Math. 2011;2(1):221‐254], particularly for long‐maturity call options.     

Long-Range Dependence in the Risk-Neutral Measure for the Market on Lehman Brothers Collapse

This paper discusses the long-range dependence in the risk-neutral stock return process of the S&P 500 index option market. To observe the long-range dependence together with fat-tails, I define the parametric model of fractional Lévy process. Since the continuous time fractional Lévy process allows arbitrage, I use discrete time option pricing model based on the fractional Lévy process. By model calibration, we can capture the long-range dependence in the S&P 500 index option market. The paper finds that the long range dependence becomes stronger for the volatile market caused by the Lehman Brothers Collapse, comparing with other less volatility markets.     

Efficient calibration for problems in option pricing

The pricing of derivatives has gained considerable importance in the finance industry and leads to challenging problems in numerical optimization. We focus on the numerical solution of a stochastic model for option prices. In particular, we are concerned with the calibration of these models to real data, which leads to large scale optimization problems. We consider the numerical solution of these optimization problems and give some indication how to reduce the complexity of these problems. Special emphasis is devoted to a multi-layer strategy which is embedded into the optimization iteration. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Option pricing and hedging for optimized Lévy driven stochastic volatility models

This paper pays attention to Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) based stochastic volatility models with marginal law given by Classical Tempered Stable (CTS) distribution and Normal Inverse Gaussian (NIG) distribution, which are subclasses of infinite activity Lévy processes and are compared to finite activity Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard (BNS) model. They are applied to option pricing and hedging in capturing leptokurtic features in asset returns and clustering effect in volatility that are consistently observed phenomena in underlying asset dynamics. The analytical formula of option pricing can be obtained through use of characteristic functions and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique. Additionally, we introduce two hybrid optimization techniques such as hybrid Particle Swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and hybrid Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm into parameters calibration schemes to improve the calibration quality for newly constructed models. Finally, we conduct experiments on Chinese emerging option markets to examine the performance of proposed models exploiting hybrid optimization techniques.     

Robust portfolio selection involving options under a “ marginal+joint ” ellipsoidal uncertainty set

In typical robust portfolio selection problems, one mainly finds portfolios with the worst-case return under a given uncertainty set, in which asset returns can be realized. A too large uncertainty set will lead to a too conservative robust portfolio. However, if the given uncertainty set is not large enough, the realized returns of resulting portfolios will be outside of the uncertainty set when an extreme event such as market crash or a large shock of asset returns occurs. The goal of this paper is to propose robust portfolio selection models under so-called “ marginal+joint” ellipsoidal uncertainty set and to test the performance of the proposed models. A robust portfolio selection model under a “marginal + joint” ellipsoidal uncertainty set is proposed at first. The model has the advantages of models under the separable uncertainty set and the joint ellipsoidal uncertainty set, and relaxes the requirements on the uncertainty set. Then, one more robust portfolio selection model with option protection is presented by combining options into the proposed robust portfolio selection model. Convex programming approximations with second-order cone and linear matrix inequalities constraints to both models are derived. The proposed robust portfolio selection model with options can hedge risks and generates robust portfolios with well wealth growth rate when an extreme event occurs. Tests on real data of the Chinese stock market and simulated options confirm the property of both the models. Test results show that (1) under the “ marginal+joint” uncertainty set, the wealth growth rate and diversification of robust portfolios generated from the first proposed robust portfolio model (without options) are better and greater than those generated from Goldfarb and Iyengar’s model, and (2) the robust portfolio selection model with options outperforms the robust portfolio selection model without options when some extreme event occurs.     

光滑树图期权定价模型的叉熵分析法

为了克服CRR模型收敛的波动性,以及强调历史信息的预测作用的情况,提出了一个新奇的光滑收敛的树图模型.新模型基于历史信息,运用最小叉熵原理
来推导树图的关键参数p,u,d, 然后使用倒推法推断期权的价格.显然,新模型所得的期权的价格隐含着历史信息.由于最小叉熵原理是一个凸规划问题,能求得唯一的最优解,所以,新模型也适用于不完全金融市场期权定价.最后,数值算例表明,相比于CRR模型,新模型收敛光滑平稳且有更高的计算精度;对上涨(下跌)的二元期权、欧式期权,新模型都能光滑收敛于B-S公式.     

到达不确定呼叫中心人员配置的鲁棒优化模型

针对呼叫中心实际运营中顾客到达不确定的特点,采用鲁棒离散优化方法,建立呼叫中心人员配置的鲁棒模型。利用对偶原理将鲁棒模型转换易于求解的线性鲁棒对等式,通过调节模型中的鲁棒参数来权衡鲁棒解的保守性与最优性之间的关系,计算模型中约束违背概率上限来表示鲁棒解的可靠性。通过现实呼叫中心数据算例,验证了模型的有效性,分析了不同鲁棒水平下各时间段服务人员配置规律,以及系统最小成本与违背概率之间的权衡关系。最后,对到达扰动系数进行了敏感性分析。