Local Volatility Pricing Models for Long-Dated FX Derivatives

Abstract

We study the local volatility function in the foreign exchange (FX) market, where both domestic and foreign interest rates are stochastic. This model is suitable to price long-dated FX derivatives. We derive the local volatility function and obtain several results that can be used for the calibration of this local volatility on the FX option's market. Then, we study an extension to obtain a more general volatility model and propose a calibration method for the local volatility associated with this model.     

首达渗流中关于lim{(N_(on))/n}(n→∞)的一个结果

在二维首达渗流中,设边上通过时间的分布为F（x）,首达时a_（on）的轨道（route）的最短长度为N_（on）,人们猜测存在.本文对F（0）<1/2的情形,就一类特殊的分布证明此猜想成立.     

Some first passage time problems for the shortest queue model

We consider the symmetric shortest queue (SQ) problem. Here we have a Poisson arrival stream of rate λ feeding two parallel queues, each having an exponential server that works at rate μ. An arrival joins the shorter of the two queues; if both are of equal length the arrival joins either with probability 1/2. We consider the first passage time until one of the queues reaches the value m ₀, and also the time until both reach this level. We give explicit expressions for the first two first passage moments, conditioned on the initial queue lengths, and also the full first passage distribution. We also give some asymptotic results for m ₀→∞ and various values of ρ=λ/μ. H. Yao work was partially supported by PSC-CUNY Research Award 68751-0037. C. Knessl work was supported in part by NSF grants DMS 02-02815 and DMS 05-03745.     

First Passage Densities and Boundary Crossing Probabilities for Diffusion Processes

We consider the boundary crossing problem for time-homogeneous diffusions and general curvilinear boundaries. Bounds are derived for the approximation error of the one-sided (upper) boundary crossing probability when replacing the original boundary by a different one. In doing so we establish the existence of the first-passage time density and provide an upper bound for this function. In the case of processes with diffusion interval equal to ℝ this is extended to a lower bound, as well as bounds for the first crossing time of a lower boundary. An extension to some time-inhomogeneous diffusions is given. These results are illustrated by numerical examples.      

Crossing Probabilities for Diffusion Processes with Piecewise Continuous Boundaries

We propose an approach to compute the boundary crossing probabilities for a class of diffusion processes which can be expressed as piecewise monotone (not necessarily one-to-one) functionals of a standard Brownian motion. This class includes many interesting processes in real applications, e.g., Ornstein–Uhlenbeck, growth processes and geometric Brownian motion with time dependent drift. This method applies to both one-sided and two-sided general nonlinear boundaries, which may be discontinuous. Using this approach explicit formulas for boundary crossing probabilities for certain nonlinear boundaries are obtained, which are useful in evaluation and comparison of various computational algorithms. Moreover, numerical computation can be easily done by Monte Carlo integration and the approximation errors for general boundaries are automatically calculated. Some numerical examples are presented.      

含噪音高频数据动态整合估计波动率的方法

时间域和状态域方法是两种常见的非参数估计方法.前者主要使用的是最近的历史数据,而后者则主要依赖于过去的历史信息.本文在时间域上,通过对含噪音高频数据采用双时间尺度方法获得其波动率,进而获得经动态整合后的波动率.     

A note on the first passage time of diffusions with holding and jumping boundary

In this note we are concerned with the first passage time (FPT) of diffusions with holding and jumping boundary (DHJ) in one dimensional case. We first show that the Laplace transform of FPT of DHJ can be represented explicitly by the behavior of the killed process for one holding and jumping point. The results are then extended to the Laplace transform of FPT of DHJ with two end points. Finally, we demonstrate how the results are applied to a Wiener-type neuronal model in the presence of exponential refractoriness.     

Direct consequences of the basic Ballot Theorem

We use only the classic basic ballot result and simple combinatorial arguments to derive the distributions of the first passage time and the number of visits in the usual random walk model.     

A degradation path-dependent approach for remaining useful life estimation with an exact and closed-form solution

Remaining useful life (RUL) estimation is regarded as one of the most central components in prognostics and health management (PHM). Accurate RUL estimation can enable failure prevention in a more controllable manner in that effective maintenance can be executed in appropriate time to correct impending faults. In this paper we consider the problem of estimating the RUL from observed degradation data for a general system. A degradation path-dependent approach for RUL estimation is presented through the combination of Bayesian updating and expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The use of both Bayesian updating and EM algorithm to update the model parameters and RUL distribution at the time obtaining a newly observed data is a novel contribution of this paper, which makes the estimated RUL depend on the observed degradation data history. As two specific cases, a linear degradation model and an exponential-based degradation model are considered to illustrate the implementation of our presented approach. A major contribution under these two special cases is that our approach can obtain an exact and closed-form RUL distribution respectively, and the moment of the obtained RUL distribution from our presented approach exists. This contrasts sharply with the approximated results obtained in the literature for the same cases. To our knowledge, the RUL estimation approach presented in this paper for the two special cases is the only one that can provide an exact and closed-form RUL distribution utilizing the monitoring history. Finally, numerical examples for RUL estimation and a practical case study for condition-based replacement decision making with comparison to a previously reported approach are provided to substantiate the superiority of the proposed model.     

Operational asset replacement strategy: A real options approach

This paper analyses the problem of replacement by investigating the optimal moment of investment replacement in a given tax environment with a given depreciation policy. An operation and maintenance cost minimization model, based on the definition of equivalent annual cost, is applied to a real options paradigm. The developed methodology allows for an innovative evaluation of the flexibility of replacement process analysis. A new two-factor evaluation function is introduced to quantify decisions on asset replacement under a unique cycle environment. This study improves upon previous findings in the literature as it accounts for autonomous salvage value processes. Based on partial differential equations, this model achieves a general analytical solution and particular numerical solution. The results differ significantly from those observed in one-factor models by showing evidence of over-evaluation in optimal levels of replacement, and by confirming suspicions that different types of uncertainties produce non-monotonous effects on the optimal replacement level. The scientific contribution of this study lies in new and stronger approaches to equivalent annual cost literature, supplying an algorithm for operation and maintenance cost minimization that is conditioned by autonomous salvage value. This study also contributes to the real options literature by developing a two-factor model with Brownian processes applied to asset replacement.     

仿射期限结构模型的非包含随机波动局限

一般的,含随机波动率成分的仿射期限结构模型认为,即时收益率瞬时方差是收益率水平的线性组合.本文利用我国银行间固定利率国债数据,构建了不依赖于特定仿射模型的检验方法,并对该推论进行了检验.实证结果表明,无论是事前估计还是事后估计的收益率方差,都不能表示成为横截面收益率的仿射函数.即尽管先前许多研究说明仿射模型能非常好地描...     

A Convenient Way to Characterize Equivalent Martingale Measures in Incomplete Markets

It is an empirical fact that the (empirically) relevant models for asset prices often describe markets that are incomplete in terms of their underlying assets, yielding many possible equivalent martingale measures under the no-arbitrage assumption. By using actual derivative prices, i.e., prices as observed in the market, additional information about the empirically relevant equivalent martingale measures might be obtained. In order to be able to process such information easily one needs a convenient way to represent all possible equivalent martingale measures in relation to derivative prices. In this paper we present such a convenient characterization. Conceptually, our characterization is not different from existing characterizations using, for example, Radon–Nikodym derivatives of martingale measures with respect to objective probabilities, but our characterization offers some advantages. The main advantage is that pricing derivatives is split up into two steps. The first step is solving a related complete markets pricing problem. This is a well-studied problem, so that it can easily be solved generally. In the second step a weighted average of the first step complete markets price must be calculated. Pricing under different equivalent martingale measures in the original market only differs with respect to the second step. The empirically relevant weighting can be determined by confronting the theoretical with the actually observed prices. As a byproduct we obtain a new and natural definition of idiosyncratic risk, which we show to be in line with the use of this term in the literature.To illustrate the ideas we discuss several examples. Among others we obtain the Hull–White formula for options on assets with stochastic volatility under close to minimal conditions that (for example) do not rely on a specification of the processes in terms of Itô diffusion.we relax the assumption of no-correlation between asset prices and volatilities in the Hull–White framework; we consider the case where the stochastic volatility does bear a risk-premium; we discuss pricing under stochastic interest rates; and we consider square-root type processes. All these pricing problems, and many more, can conveniently be handled using the approach based on our characterization of the equivalent martingale measures in continuous time markets that are incomplete in the underlying assets.     

Series Expansions for the First Passage Distribution of Wong–Pearson Jump-Diffusions

Abstract

We explore the Erlang series approach for the first-time passage problem for a particular class of jump-diffusions with polynomial state-dependent coefficients. This approach may be viewed as a discrete analog of the Laplace transform, which replaces the differential equations with polynomial coefficients satisfied by this function by algebraic recurrences. We identify cases in which the expansion is finite and in which the recurrence is of second order, and thus more easily solved.     

Heston随机波动率市场中带VaR约束的最优投资策略

本文研究了Heston随机波动率市场下, 基于VaR约束下的动态最优投资组合问题。
假设Heston随机波动率市场由一个无风险资产和一个风险资产构成,投资者的目标为最大化其终端的期望效用。与此同时, 投资者将动态地评估其待选的投资组合的VaR风险,并将其控制在一个可接受的范围之内。本文在合理的假设下,使用动态规划的方法,来求解该问题的最优投资策略。在特定的参数范围内,利用数值方法计算出近似的最优投资策略和相应值函数, 并对结果进行了分析。     

Optimal risk probability for first passage models in semi-Markov decision processes

This paper studies the risk minimization problem in semi-Markov decision processes with denumerable states. The criterion to be optimized is the risk probability (or risk function) that a first passage time to some target set doesn't exceed a threshold value. We first characterize such risk functions and the corresponding optimal value function, and prove that the optimal value function satisfies the optimality equation by using a successive approximation technique. Then, we present some properties of optimal policies, and further give conditions for the existence of optimal policies. In addition, a value iteration algorithm and a policy improvement method for obtaining respectively the optimal value function and optimal policies are developed. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the value iteration procedure and essential characterization of the risk function.