Stochastic differential equations with diffusion and jumps modeling currency markets

Abstract

An efficient currency market with zero transaction costs is considered. The dynamics of the exchange rate in this market is described by stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with diffusion and jumps; the latter are assumed to be described by a Levy process. Adjusting theoretical arbitrage-free option prices computed within these models to market option prices requires properly choosing the coefficients in the SDEs. For this purpose, an expression for local volatility in a diffusion model is found and a relation between local and implied volatilities is determined. For a market model with diffusion and jumps, expressions for the local volatility and the local rate function are given. Moreover, in Merton’s model, where the jump component is a compound Poisson process with normal jumps, a relation between the local and the implied volatilities is determined.