COVARIANCE AND CORRELATION SWAPS FOR FINANCIAL MARKETS WITH MARKOV-MODULATED VOLATILITIES

Abstract

In this paper, we price covariance and correlation swaps for financial markets with Markov-modulated volatilities. As an example, we consider stochastic volatility driven by a two-state continuous Markov chain. In this case, numerical examples are presented for VIX and VXN volatility indices (S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100, from January 2004 to June 2012). We also use VIX (January 2004 to June 2012) to price variance and volatility swaps for the two-state Markov-modulated volatility, and we present a numerical result in this case.