Contingent claim pricing using probability distortion operators: methods from insurance risk pricing and their relationship to financial theory

This paper considers the pricing of contingent claims using an approach developed and used in insurance pricing. The approach is of interest and significance because of the increased integration of insurance and financial markets and also because insurance-related risks are trading in financial markets as a result of securitization and new contracts on futures exchanges. This approach uses probability distortion functions as the dual of the utility functions used in financial theory. The pricing formula is the same as the Black-Scholes formula for contingent claims when the underlying asset price is log-normal. The paper compares the probability distortion function approach with that based on financial theory. The theory underlying the approaches is set out and limitations on the use of the insurance-based approach are illustrated. The probability distortion approach is extended to the pricing of contingent claims for more general assumptions than those used for Black-Scholes option pricing.     

Bivariate option pricing with copulas

The adoption of copula functions is suggested in order to price bivariate contingent claims. Copulas enable the marginal distributions extracted from vertical spreads in the options markets to be imbedded in a multivariate pricing kernel. It is proved that such a kernel is a copula function, and that its super-replication strategy is represented by the Fréchet bounds. Applications provided include prices for binary digital options, options on the minimum and options to exchange one asset for another. For each of these products, no-arbitrage pricing bounds, as well as values consistent with the independence of the underlying assets are provided. As a final reference value, a copula function calibrated on historical data is used.     

随机利率情形下跳-扩散模型的未定权益定价

讨论Vasicek短期利率模型下,风险资产的价格过程服从跳-扩散过程的欧式未定权益定价问题,利用鞅方法得到了欧式看涨期权和看跌期权定价公式及平价关系,最后给出了基于风险资产支付连续红利收益的欧式期权定价公式.     

A Model with Interacting Assets Driven by Poisson Processes

Abstract

An extension with noise given by Poisson processes of a model of financial market with several assets that are interacting, i.e., influencing each other (even in the absence of noise) is given. We present explicit formulae for the stock price process as well as for the prices of European multi-asset contingent claims based on a residual risk minimization approach. We also provide an explicit hedging formula.     

Option Pricing on Multiple Assets

Since 1973, the Black–Scholes formula has been used in financial markets to price financial derivatives such as options. In the classical Black–Scholes model for the market, the following type of mix is assumed or postulated: in the simplest case, it consists of an essentially riskless bond and a single risky asset. Hence, certainty mixed with uncertainty: safe vs risky! Here we consider more complex products where each component in a portfolio entails several variables with constraints. This leads to elegant models based on multivariable stochastic integration, and describing several securities simultaneously [Etheridge, A Course in Financial Calculus, Cambridge University Press, UK (2002), Jiang, Mathematical Modeling and Methods of Option Pricing, Higher Education, Beijing, China (2003)] and [Broadie, Detemple, Math. Financ. 7:241–286 (1997)]. We derive a general asymptotic solution in a short time interval using the heat kernel expansion on a Riemannian metric. We then use our formula to predict the better price of options on multiple underlying assets. We then apply our method to the case known as the two-color rainbow option, i.e., the special case of the model with two underlying assets. This asymptotic solution is important, as it explains hidden effects in a class of financial models.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the first named author, Professor Thomas P. Branson (1953–2006).     

Bounding Contingent Claim Prices via Hedging Strategy with Coherent Risk Measures

We generalize the notion of arbitrage based on the coherent risk measure, and investigate a mathematical optimization approach for tightening the lower and upper bounds of the price of contingent claims in incomplete markets. Due to the dual representation of coherent risk measures, the lower and upper bounds of price are located by solving a pair of semi-infinite linear optimization problems, which further reduce to linear optimization when conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) is used as risk measure. We also show that the hedging portfolio problem is viewed as a robust optimization problem. Tuning the parameter of the risk measure, we demonstrate by numerical examples that the two bounds approach to each other and converge to a price that is fair in the sense that seller and buyer face the same amount of risk.     

不完备证券市场中博弈未定权益的保值

考虑不完备证券市场中博弈未定权益(GCC)的保值问题,通过Kramkov关于上鞅的可选分解定理给出未定权益的上保值价格和下保值价格。指出关于买卖双方都存在着一个最优保值策略。给出价格的一个无套利区间,并针对前面的结论,给出几个性质以及在限制投资组合方面的一个应用。     

An analytic valuation method for multivariate contingent claims with regime-switching volatilities

In this paper, we provide an analytic valuation method for European-type contingent claims written on multiple assets in a stochastic market environment. We employ a two-state Markov regime-switching volatility in order to reflect stochastically changing market conditions. The method is developed by exploiting the probability density of the occupation time for which the underlying asset processes are in a certain regime during a time period. In order to show its usefulness, we derive analytic valuation formulas for quanto options and exchange options with two underlying assets, as examples.     

Asymptotic pricing in large financial markets

The problem of hedging and pricing sequences of contingent claims in large financial markets is studied. Connection between asymptotic arbitrage and behavior of the α-quantile price is shown. The large Black–Scholes model is carefully examined.      

Local risk minimization for vulnerable European contingent claims on nontradable assets under regime switching models

This article focuses on an optimal hedging problem of the vulnerable European contingent claims. The underlying asset of the vulnerable European contingent claims is assumed to be nontradable. The interest rate, the appreciation rate and the volatility of risky assets are modulated by a finite-state continuous-time Markov chain. By using the local risk minimization method, we obtain an explicit closed-form solution for the optimal hedging strategies of the vulnerable European contingent claims. Further, we consider a problem of hedging for a vulnerable European call option. Optimal hedging strategies are obtained. Finally, a numerical example for the optimal hedging strategies of the vulnerable European call option in a two-regime case is provided to illustrate the sensitivities of the hedging strategies.     

Uncertain volatility and the risk-free synthesis of derivatives

To price contingent claims in a multidimensional frictionless security market it is sufficient that the volatility of the security process is a known function of price and time. In this note we introduce optimal and risk-free strategies for intermediaries in such markets to meet their obligations when the volatility is unknown, and is only assumed to lie in some convex region depending on the prices of the underlying securities and time. Our approach is underpinned by the theory of totally non-linear parabolic partial differential equations (Krylov and Safanov, 1979; Wang, 1992) and the non-stochastic approach to Itô's formation first introduced by Föllmer (1981a,b).

In these more general conditions of unknown volatility, the optimal risk-free trading strategy will, necessarily, produce an unpredictable surplus over the minimum assets required at any time to meet the liabilities. This surplus, which could be released to the intermediary or to the client, is not required to meet the contingent claim. One sees that the effect of unknown volatility is the creation of a ‘with profits’ policy, where a premium is paid at the beginning, the contingent claim is collected at the terminal time, but that in addition an unpredictable surplus available as well.

The risk-free initial premium required to meet the contingent claim is given by the solution to the Dirichlet problem for a totally non-linear parabolic equation of the Pucci-Bellman type. The existence of a risk-free strategy starting with this minimum sum is dependent upon theorems ensuring the regularity of the solution and upon a non-probabilistic understanding of Itô's change of variable formulae.

To illustrate the ideas we give a very simple example of a one-dimensional barrier option where the maximum Black-Scholes price of the option over different fixed values for the volatility lying in an interval always underestimates the risk-free ‘price’ under the assumption that the volatility can vary within the same interval.

This paper puts together rather standard mathematical ideas. However, the author hopes that the overall result is more than the sum of its parts. The ability to hedge under conditions of uncertain volatility seems to be of considerable practical importance.

In addition it would be interesting if these ideas explained some features in the design of existing contracts.     

Liquidity and credit risk

The paper uses fuzzy measure theory to represent liquidity risk, i.e. the case in which the probability measure used to price contingent claims is not known precisely. This theory enables one to account for different values of long and short positions. Liquidity risk is introduced by representing the upper and lower bound of the price of the contingent claim computed as the upper and lower Choquet integral with respect to a subadditive function. The use of a specific class of fuzzy measures, known as g λ measures enables one to easily extend the available asset pricing models to the case of illiquid markets. As the technique is particularly useful in corporate claims evaluation, a fuzzified version of Merton's model of credit risk is presented. Sensitivity analysis shows that both the level and the range (the difference between upper and lower bounds) of credit spreads are positively related to the ‘quasi debt to firm value ratio’ and to the volatility of the firm value. This finding may be read as correlation between credit risk and liquidity risk, a result which is particularly useful in concrete risk-management applications. The model is calibrated on investment grade credit spreads, and it is shown that this approach is able to reconcile the observed credit spreads with risk premia consistent with observed default rate. Default probability ranges, rather than point estimates, seem to play a major role in the determination of credit spreads.     

Duality and martingales: a stochastic programming perspective on contingent claims

The hedging of contingent claims in the discrete time, discrete state case is analyzed from the perspective of modeling the hedging problem as a stochastic program. Application of conjugate duality leads to the arbitrage pricing theorems of financial mathematics, namely the equivalence of absence of arbitrage and the existence of a probability measure that makes the price process into a martingale. The model easily extends to the analysis of options pricing when modeling risk management concerns and the impact of spreads and margin requirements for writers of contingent claims. However, we find that arbitrage pricing in incomplete markets fails to model incentives to buy or sell options. An extension of the model to incorporate pre-existing liabilities and endowments reveals the reasons why buyers and sellers trade in options. The model also indicates the importance of financial equilibrium analysis for the understanding of options prices in incomplete markets. Received: June 5, 2000 / Accepted: July 12, 2001?Published online December 6, 2001     

Dual representation of superhedging costs in illiquid markets

This paper studies superhedging of contingent claims in illiquid markets where trading costs may depend nonlinearly on the traded amounts and portfolios may be subject to constraints. We give dual expressions for superhedging costs of financial contracts where claims and premiums are paid possibly at multiple points in time. Besides classical pricing problems, this setup covers various swap and insurance contracts where premiums are paid in sequences. Validity of the dual expressions is proved under new relaxed conditions related to the classical no-arbitrage condition. A new version of the fundamental theorem of asset pricing is given for unconstrained models with nonlinear trading costs.     

标的资产价格服从跳-扩散过程的具有随机寿命的未定权益定价

本文在假设被终止或取消的风险与重大信息导致的标的资产价格跳跃的风险为非系统风险的情况下,应用无套利资本资产定价,推导出了标的的资产的价格服从跳-扩散过程具有随机寿命的未定权益满足的偏微分方程,然后应用Feynman-kac公式获得了未定权益的定价公式.     

A note on arbitrage‐free pricing of forward contracts in energy markets

Arbitrage theory is used to price forward (futures) contracts in energy markets, where the underlying assets are non‐tradeable. The method is based on the so‐called ‘fitting of the yield curve’ technique from interest rate theory. The spot price dynamics of Schwartz is generalized to multidimensional correlated stochastic processes with Wiener and Lévy noise. Findings are illustrated with examples from oil and electricity markets.     

离散时间单位连结人寿保险合同的局部风险最小对冲策略

单位连结人寿保险合同是保险利益依赖于某特定股票的价格的保险合同。当保险公司发行这样的保险合同后，保险公司将面临金融和被保险人死亡率两类风险。因此这样的保险合同相当对不完全金融市场上的或有索取权，不能利用自我融资交易策略复制出。本提出利用不完全市场的局部风险最小对冲方法对冲保险的风险，我们在离散时间的框架下给出了局部风险最小对冲策略。     

离散时间单位连结人寿保险合同的局部风险最小对冲策略

单位连结人寿保险合同是保险利益依赖于某特定股票的价格的保险合同 .当保险公司发行这样的保险合同后 ,保险公司将面临金融和被保险人死亡率两类风险 .因此这样的保险合同相当于不完全金融市场上的或有索取权 ,不能利用自我融资交易策略复制出 .本文提出利用不完全市场的局部风险最小对冲方法对冲保险者的风险 .我们在离散时间的框架下给出了局部风险最小对冲策略 .     

Stochastic equity volatility related to the leverage effect II: valuation of European equity options and warrants

We propose a general framework to assess the value of the financial claims issued by the firm, European equity options and warrantsin terms of the stock price. In our framework, the firm's asset is assumed to follow a standard stationary lognormal process with constant volatility. However, it is not the case for equity volatility. The stochastic nature of equity volatility is endogenous, and comes from the impact of a change in the value of the firm's assets on the financial leverage. In a previous paper we studied the stochastic process for equity volatility, and proposed analytic approximations for different capital structures. In this companion paper we derive analytic approximations for the value of European equity options and warrants for a firm financed by equity, debt and warrants. We first present the basic model, which is an extension of the Black-Scholes model, to value corporate securities either as a function of the stock price, or as a function of the firm's total assets. Since stock prices are observable, then for practical purposes, traders prefer to use the stock as the underlying instrument, we concentrate on valuation models in terms of the stock price. Second, we derive an exact solution for the valuation in terms of the stock price of (i) a European call option on the stock of a levered firm, i.e. a European compound call option on the total assets of the firm, (ii) an equity warrant for an all-equity firm, and (iii) an equity warrant for a firm financed by equity and debt. Unfortunately, to compute these solutions we need to specify the function of the stock price in terms of the firm's assets value. In general we are unable to specify this expression, but we propose tight bounds for the value of these options which can be easily computed as a function of the stock price. Our results provide useful extensions of the Black-Scholes model.