Series Representations for Multivariate Time-Changed Lévy Models

In this paper, we analyze a Lévy model based on two popular concepts - subordination and Lévy copulas. More precisely, we consider a two-dimensional Lévy process such that each component is a time-changed (subordinated) Brownian motion and the dependence between subordinators is described via some Lévy copula. The main result of this paper is the series representation for our model, which can be efficiently used for simulation purposes.     

Lévy processes and quasi-shuffle algebras

We investigate the algebra of repeated integrals of semimartingales. We prove that a minimal family of semimartingales generates a quasi-shuffle algebra. In essence, to fulfil the minimality criterion, first, the family must be a minimal generator of the algebra of repeated integrals generated by its elements and by quadratic covariation processes recursively constructed from the elements of the family. Second, recursively constructed quadratic covariation processes may lie in the linear span of previously constructed quadratic covariation processes and of the family, but may not lie in the linear span of repeated integrals of these. We prove that a finite family of independent Lévy processes that have finite moments generates a minimal family. Key to the proof are the Teugels martingales and a strong orthogonalization of them. We conclude that a finite family of independent Lévy processes forms a quasi-shuffle algebra. We discuss important potential applications to constructing efficient numerical methods for the strong approximation of stochastic differential equations driven by Lévy processes.     

Estimation of Tempered Stable Lévy Models of Infinite Variation

Truncated realized quadratic variations (TRQV) are among the most widely used high-frequency-based nonparametric methods to estimate the volatility of a process in the presence of jumps. Nevertheless, the truncation level is known to critically affect its performance, especially in the presence of infinite variation jumps. In this paper, we study the optimal truncation level, in the mean-square error sense, for a semiparametric tempered stable Lévy model. We obtain a novel closed-form 2nd-order approximation of the optimal threshold in a high-frequency setting. As an application, we propose a new estimation method, which combines iteratively an approximate semiparametric method of moment estimator and TRQVs with the newly found small-time approximation for the optimal threshold. The method is tested via simulations to estimate the volatility and the Blumenthal-Getoor index of a generalized CGMY model and, via a localization technique, to estimate the integrated volatility of a Heston type model with CGMY jumps. Our method is found to outperform other alternatives proposed in the literature when working with a Lévy process (i.e., the volatility is constant), or when the index of jump intensity Y is larger than 3/2 in the presence of stochastic volatility.

     

Optimal Stopping Problems in Lévy Models with Random Observations

In the standard optimal stopping problems, actions are artificially restricted to the moments of observations of costs or benefits. In the standard experimentation and learning models based on two-armed Poisson bandits, it is possible to take an action between two sequential observations. The latter models do not recognize the fact that timing decisions depend not only on the rate of arrival of observations, but also on the stochastic dynamics of costs or benefits. We combine these two strands of literature and consider optimal stopping problems with random observations and updating. We formulate the dichotomy principle, an extension of the smooth pasting principle.

     

两指标Lévy过程的Lévy Markov性

关于两指标过程的Lévy Markov性,[2]证明了:对于广义Brownian Sheet和广义OUP_2,对适当的DR_+,有: 那里充分利用了过程的轨道连续性及正态系的一个性质:独立性等价于不相关性,[2]的这个结果使[1]中结果 (对一般的两指标Markov过程成立)对此特殊过程得到改进,本文的结果是:对于随机连续的独立增量过程(即两指标Lévy过程),对具有分段光滑边界的D∈B_+,有:由于两指标Lévy过程以广义Brownian Sheet,广义OUP_2及Poisson单为特例,故此结果推广了[2]的结果,而方法不同于[2]     

Hyperfinite Lévy Processes

A hyperfinite Lévy process is an infinitesimal random walk (in the sense of nonstandard analysis) which with probability one is finite for all finite times. We develop the basic theory for hyperfinite Lévy processes and find a characterization in terms of transition probabilities. The standard part of a hyperfinite Lévy process is a (standard) Lévy process, and we show that given a generating triplet (γ, C, μ) for standard Lévy processes, we can construct hyperfinite Lévy processes whose standard parts correspond to this triplet. Hence all Lévy laws can be obtained from hyperfinite Lévy processes. The paper ends with a brief look at Malliavin calculus for hyperfinite Lévy processes including a version of the Clark-Haussmann-Ocone formula.     

Abrupt Lévy processes

Among Lévy processes with unbounded variation, we distinguish the abrupt ones, which are characterised by infinitely sharp extrema. Stable processes with parameter α>1 and creeping Lévy processes are abrupt. We give a characterisation of abrupt processes and study their Dini derivatives at all points of their trajectories.     

Small-Maturity Asymptotics for the At-The-Money Implied Volatility Slope in Lévy Models

We consider the at-the-money (ATM) strike derivative of implied volatility as the maturity tends to zero. Our main results quantify the behaviour of the slope for infinite activity exponential Lévy models including a Brownian component. As auxiliary results, we obtain asymptotic expansions of short maturity ATM digital call options, using Mellin transform asymptotics. Finally, we discuss when the ATM slope is consistent with the steepness of the smile wings, as given by Lee’s moment formula.     

Probabilistic and fractal aspects of Lévy trees

We investigate the random continuous trees called Lévy trees, which are obtained as scaling limits of discrete Galton-Watson trees. We give a mathematically precise definition of these random trees as random variables taking values in the set of equivalence classes of compact rooted -trees, which is equipped with the Gromov-Hausdorff distance. To construct Lévy trees, we make use of the coding by the height process which was studied in detail in previous work. We then investigate various probabilistic properties of Lévy trees. In particular we establish a branching property analogous to the well-known property for Galton-Watson trees: Conditionally given the tree below level a, the subtrees originating from that level are distributed as the atoms of a Poisson point measure whose intensity involves a local time measure supported on the vertices at distance a from the root. We study regularity properties of local times in the space variable, and prove that the support of local time is the full level set, except for certain exceptional values of a corresponding to local extinctions. We also compute several fractal dimensions of Lévy trees, including Hausdorff and packing dimensions, in terms of lower and upper indices for the branching mechanism function which characterizes the distribution of the tree. We finally discuss some applications to super-Brownian motion with a general branching mechanism.     

Minimal entropy preserves the Lévy property: how and why

Let L be a multidimensional Lévy process under P in its own filtration and consider all probability measures Q turning L into a local martingale. The minimal entropy martingale measure $Q^E$ is the unique Q which minimizes the relative entropy with respect to P. We prove that L is still a Lévy process under $Q^E$ and explain precisely how and why this preservation of the Lévy property occurs.     

Variational Solutions of the Pricing PIDEs for European Options in Lévy Models

Abstract

One of the fundamental problems in financial mathematics is to develop efficient algorithms for pricing options in advanced models such as those driven by Lévy processes. Essentially there are three approaches in use. These are Monte Carlo, Fourier transform and partial integro-differential equation (PIDE)-based methods. We focus our attention here on the latter. There is a large arsenal of numerical methods for efficiently solving parabolic equations that arise in this context. Especially Galerkin and Galerkin-inspired methods have an impressive potential. In order to apply these methods, what is required is a formulation of the equation in the weak sense.

The contribution of this paper is therefore to analyse weak solutions of the Kolmogorov backward equations which are related to prices of European options in (time-inhomogeneous) Lévy models and to establish a precise link between the prices and the weak solutions of these equations. The resulting relation is a Feynman–Kac representation of the solution as a conditional expectation. Our special concern is to provide a framework that is able to cover both, the common types of European options and a wide range of advanced models in which these derivatives are priced.

An application to financial models requires in particular to admit pure jump processes such as generalized hyperbolic processes as well as unbounded domains of the equation. In order to deal at the same time with the typical pay-offs that can arise, the weak formulation of the equation is based on exponentially weighted Sobolev–Slobodeckii spaces. We provide a number of examples of models that are covered by this general framework. Examples of options for which such an analysis is required are calls, puts, digital and power options as well as basket options.     

A Radial Basis Function Scheme for Option Pricing in Exponential Lévy Models

Abstract

We use Radial Basis Function (RBF) interpolation to price options in exponential Lévy models by numerically solving the fundamental pricing PIDE (Partial integro-differential equations). Our RBF scheme can handle arbitrary singularities of the Lévy measure in 0 without introducing further approximations, making it simpler to implement than competing methods. In numerical experiments using processes from the CGMY-KoBoL class, the scheme is found to be second order convergent in the number of interpolation points, including for processes of unbounded variation.     

Symmetric Lévy type operator

The study of symmetric property in the L^2-sense for the non-positive definite operator is motivated by the theory of probability and analysis. This paper presents some sufficient conditions for the existence of symmetric measure for Lévy type operator. Some new examples are illustrated. The present study is an important step for considering various ergodic properties and functional inequalities of Lévy type operator.     

Maximal Inequalities for Fractional Lévy and Related Processes

In this article we study processes that are constructed by a convolution of a deterministic kernel with a martingale. A special emphasis is put on the case where the driving martingale is a centred Lévy process, which covers the popular class of fractional Lévy processes. As a main result we show that, under appropriate assumptions on the kernel and the martingale, the maximum process of the corresponding “convoluted martingale” is p-integrable and we derive maximal inequalities in terms of the kernel and of the moments of the driving martingale.     

Local Malliavin calculus for Lévy processes and applications

The Malliavin derivative operator for the Poisson process introduced by Carlen and Pardoux [Differential calculus and integration by parts on a Poisson space, in Stochastics, Algebra and Analysis in Classical and Quantum Dynamics, S. Albeverio et al. (eds), Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1990, pp. 63–73] is extended to Lévy processes. It is a true derivative operator (in the sense that it satisfies the chain rule), and we deduce a sufficient condition for the absolute continuity of functionals of the Lévy process. As an application, we analyse the absolute continuity of the law of the solution of some stochastic differential equations with jumps.     

Multivariate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials via Lévy processes

By a symbolic method, we introduce multivariate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials as powers of polynomials whose coefficients involve multivariate Lévy processes. Many properties of these polynomials are stated straightforwardly thanks to this representation, which could be easily implemented in any symbolic manipulation system. A very simple relation between these two families of multivariate polynomials is provided.