OPTIONS ON U.S. TREASURY COUPON ISSUES

Abstract

ABSTRACTPricing models for options on default‐free coupon bonds are developed and tested under the assumption that the bond prices, rather than interest rates, are the underlying stochastic factors. Under the assumption that coupon bond prices, excluding accrued interest, follow a generalized Brownian bridge process, preference‐free, continuous‐time pricing models are developed for European put and call options, and a discrete‐time model is developed for American puts and calls. The empirical validity of the models is assessed using a six‐moth sample of daily closing prices.