Closed-form Pricing Formula Research Articles

Pricing exchange options under hybrid stochastic volatility and interest rate models

This paper investigates the pricing of exchange options under hybrid models integrating stochastic volatility and stochastic interest rates. It aims to achieve two primary objectives. First, we derive a closed-form pricing formula for exchange options under a two-factor Heston–Hull–White hybrid model, which accounts for long-term volatility and exhibits relatively broad correlations among the dynamics of asset prices, volatilities, and interest rates. Second, we explore the Heston model’s integration with a generalized single-factor stochastic interest rate model, illustrating that the price is not dependent on the specific form of the interest rate process. A closed-form pricing formula for exchange options under this framework is also derived. Our numerical experiments support the proposed formulas and elucidate the effects of various parameters on option prices.

On the pricing of vulnerable Parisian options

Parisian options, serving as substitutes for barrier options, are frequently embedded in complex financial derivatives. Despite the considerable mathematical challenges in pricing, their significant applications in finance and insurance have generated extensive studies in the literature. However, the impact of counterparty risk has not been taken into account so far. To address this gap, we develop a closed-form pricing framework for vulnerable Parisian options. Utilizing the Laplace transform and measure-change technique, we derive closed-form pricing formulas of Parisian options incorporating counterparty credit risk. Finally, we conduct numerical analyses to verify our pricing formulas’ accuracy and efficiency.

Valuing American options using multi-step rebate options

The determination of optimal exercise boundaries is a critical aspect of pricing American options, which often requires costly numerical methods. This paper proposes a new approach that employs multi-step rebate options to approximate American option prices. Since the rebate options offer payoffs when the multi-step boundaries are touched, the prices of American options are estimated by maximizing the multi-step rebate option prices, and the optimal multi-step barriers replace the true optimal exercise boundaries. To this end, the closed-form pricing formulas for multi-step rebate options are derived and utilized to approximate several American option prices. Through extensive numerical experiments, we demonstrate the validity and performance of our approach.

Pricing airbag option via first passage time approach

Airbag option is a new structured product that has been highly favored by investors in the over-the-counter derivatives market. It provides protections against the downside loss to investors like the ‘airbag’ in a car crash. In contrast with its popularity, there is little literature on the pricing of airbag options, especially from the mathematical finance point of view. In this paper, we study the pricing of airbag options using the first passage time approach. We propose two innovative new types of airbag options, namely airbag-TB and airbag-ER, which enhance the downside loss protections by integrating a time-varying barrier and early redemption features respectively in the payoffs. Explicit and closed-form pricing formulas for the original and the two new types of airbag options are derived under the mixed-exponential jump diffusion (MEJD) model, double exponential jump diffusion (DEJD) model and Black-Scholes (BS) model. In doing so, we significantly improve the Hybrid model proposed by Jaimungal and Sigloch (Incorporating risk and ambiguity aversion into a hybrid model of default. Math. Finance, 2012, 22, 57–81) by incorporating a stochastic redemption intensity model and more general underlying asset dynamics. We further demonstrate the performance of our pricing formulas and the two new types of airbag options with numerical examples based on Monte Carlo simulation, which verifies the accuracy and efficiency of our pricing formulas.

Foreign equity lookback options with partial monitoring

A lookback option on foreign equity reduces the uncertainty of foreign investment by delivering the benefit of hindsight. Despite its high marketability, purchasing the option is stalled due to the failure to meet customized demands. This paper proposes foreign equity lookback options with partial monitoring and floating strike price to control the option premiums. We establish the expected value of the extreme of an underlying process when the specific condition, covering various payoffs of the lookback options, is satisfied. It is exploited to derive the unified closed-form pricing formula. We demonstrate the properties of the option prices through numerical examples.

Pricing Writer-Extendable Call Options with Monte Carlo Simulation

Writer-extendable option is an exotic option that can either be exercised at its initial maturity time, or be extended to a future maturity time. Within the Black-Scholes environment, this study aims to price writer-extendable call options using the Monte Carlo simulation technique, and compare the obtained prices with the closed-form pricing formula. Numerical examples are provided using the closed-form solutions and the Monte Carlo simulation via Euler scheme, which shows that the prices obtained via the latter are accurate.

Mathematical Derivations of Actuarial Present Value for the Fully Continuous Whole Life Assurances from the Theoretical Market Price

Many current mortality tables are computationally Makehamised but technically devoid of continuous key life table functions such as and because of the underlying sophisticated mortality functions and the complex methods of computation which usually do not incorporate the market price. The computationally advanced Moore’s model, which does not endorse the market pricing mechanisms offers one of the most complex analytical results that seems not user friendly in actuarial literature. As a result of the Moore’s complexity, we offer the Gradshteyn and Ryzhik’s analytic integral as an alternative solution to examine the contingency issues involving the estimation of actuarial present values of the continuous whole life annuities. In this study, the objective are to (i) estimate the parameters of GM (1,2) through the method of equidistant points according to the natural order of human age (ii) Apply the mean value theorem to construct the survival probability function under the framework of policy modifications (iii) Develop a closed form pricing formula for the continuous whole life annuity and continuous whole life insurance. The Gradshteyn and Ryzhik’s analytic integral has eliminated the Moore’s complexities associated with symbolic computations such that the continuity assumption applied allows us to compute the continuous life annuity with expedience. Computational evidence further shows that the continuous life annuity reduces with age confirming that life annuities is a decreasing function.

A closed-form pricing formula for European options under a multi-factor nonlinear stochastic volatility model with regime-switching

A closed-form pricing formula for European options under a multi-factor nonlinear stochastic volatility model with regime-switching

A Simplified Approach to the Pricing of Vulnerable Options with Two Underlying Assets in an Intensity-Based Model

In this paper, we study a simplified approach to determine the pricing formula for vulnerable options involving two correlated underlying assets. We utilize an intensity-based model to describe the credit risk associated with these vulnerable options. Without the change of measure technique, we derive pricing formulas for vulnerable options involving two underlying assets based on the probabilistic approach. We provide closed-form pricing formulas for two specific types of options: the vulnerable exchange option and the vulnerable foreign equity option. Finally, we present numerical results to demonstrate the accuracy of our formulas using the Monte-Carlo method and the effect of various parameters on the price of options.

Valuing European Option Under Double 3/2-Volatility Jump-Diffusion Model With Stochastic Interest Rate and Stochastic Intensity Under Approximative Fractional Brownian Motion

In this study, we propose a more comprehensive and realistic option pricing model based on approximative fractional Brownian motion, building upon recent advancements in this area. Specifically, we utilize the double 3/2-volatility Jump-Diffusion model, which incorporates approximative fractional Brownian motion with 3/2-volatility, stochastic interest rate, and stochastic intensity. To account for the stochastic interest rate, we employ a two-factor Vasicek model. Notably, our model accommodates negative interest rates. Consequently, we develop a multi-factor model with a stochastic interest rate structure for pricing European options and derive a closed-form pricing formula with an analytical solution by applying some algebraic calculations and Lie symmetries. In order to demonstrate the superiority of our proposed model over other classical approaches, we present numerical results that showcase the value of a European call option. This comparative analysis underscores the advantages of our model in comparison to traditional models.

Funding startups using contingent option of value appreciation: theory and formula

PurposeThis paper provides a structural model to value startup companies and determine the optimal level of research and development (R&D) spending by these companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes a new variant of float-the-money options, which can act as a financial instrument for financing R&D expenses for a specific time horizon or development stage, allowing the investor to share in the startup's value appreciation over that duration. Another innovation of this paper is that it develops a structural model for evaluating optimal level of R&D spending over a given time horizon. The paper deploys the Gompertz-Cox model for the R&D project outcomes, which facilitates investigation of how increased level of R&D input can enhance the company's value growth.FindingsThe author first introduces a time-varying drift term into standard Black-Scholes model to account for the varying growth rates of the startup at different stages, and the author interprets venture capital's investment in the startup as a “float-the-money” option. The author then incorporates the probabilities of startup failures at multiple stages into their financial valuation. The author gets a closed-form pricing formula for the contingent option of value appreciation. Finally, the author utilizes Cox proportional hazards model to analyze the optimal level of R&D input that maximizes the return on investment.Research limitations/implicationsThe integrated contingent claims model links the change in the financial valuation of startups with the incremental R&D spending. The Gompertz-Cox contingency model for R&D success rate is used to quantify the optimal level of R&D input. This model assumption may be simplistic, but nevertheless illustrative.Practical implicationsOnce supplemented with actual transaction data, the model can serve as a reference benchmark valuation of new project deals and previously invested projects seeking exit.Social implicationsThe integrated structural model can potentially have much wider applications beyond valuation of startup companies. For instance, in valuing a company's risk management, the level of R&D spending in the model can be replaced by the company's budget for risk management. As another promising application, in evaluating a country's economic growth rate in the face of rising climate risks, the level of R&D spending in this paper can be replaced by a country's investment in addressing climate risks.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to develop an integrated valuation model for startups by combining the real-world R&D project contingencies with risk-neutral valuation of the potential payoffs.

Hedging Dynamic Fund Protection: A Static Versus Dynamic Comparison

The static nature of the downside protection offered by a standard Put option can motivate investors to use exotic option contracts like dynamic fund protection (DFP), which protects the underlying asset value throughout its life. DFP has a path-dependent payoff structure with its terminal payoff depending on the terminal asset price, the strike price and the minimum price level attained by the asset over the contract tenor. This makes DFP a contract strikingly similar to a Lookback Call option. In this article, we try to borrow the respective strengths from a dynamic and a static hedging strategy, formulate a semi-static hedging procedure for DFP and compare the hedging effectiveness of this procedure with a standard delta hedging strategy. Given the payoff resemblance between a DFP and a Lookback Call, we also seek to verify Tompkins (2002, Journal of Risk Finance, 3(4), 6–34) conclusion, which objectively shows that a dynamic procedure performs better in hedging a Lookback Call option both with and without transaction cost. Using simulated underlying price paths, we perform the delta hedging on DFP based on the closed-form pricing formula given by Gerber and Pafumi (2000, North American Actuarial Journal, 4(2), 28–37) and compare the hedge performance results with its static hedge counterpart.

Valuing rebate options and equity-linked products

In this article, we propose rebate options with multi-step barriers, which are an extension of rebate options with a constant barrier. Despite the applicability and marketability of rebate options, there have been only a few research on obtaining analytical formulas. Accordingly, in this paper, we derive closed-form pricing formulas for these options under the Black–Scholes framework. The rebate options with multi-step barriers allow a flexible barrier structure, and thus we propose complex equity-linked products embedded with rebate options with barriers and derive pricing formulas for them. We conduct numerical studies on the pricing of rebate options with multi-step barriers, equity-linked securities, and equity-indexed annuities. The numerical studies validate the prices obtained from the pricing formulas.

Valuation of Mortgages by Using Lévy Models

In a mortgage valuation model, the early termination (i.e., prepayment and default) hazard rates and the recovery rate can be specified as multivariate affine functions that include the correlated stochastic state variables. For good capturing of the distributions for state variables, we specify that the state variables follow Lévy models. Accordingly, the early termination hazard rates and the recovery rate also follow Lévy models. Three popular Lévy models, the normal, Variance Gamma (VG), and Negative Inverse Normal (NIG), were used to obtain the closed-form pricing formula for a mortgage. We also conduct numerical applications. Our results reveal the following findings: first, VG model is better than the normal and NIG models in fitting the actual distributions of the interest rate and the housing return rate. Thus, mortgage valuation using a VG model should be better than that using the other two models. Second, the mortgage value estimated by the normal model is the lowest among the three Lévy models. Third, a prepayment hazard rate with a deterministic value (e.g., using the PSA prepayment model) could result in an unreasonable mortgage duration. Fourth, the mortgage convexity calculated by the normal model is higher than that in the other two Lévy models. Our general pricing formula for a mortgage as described in this study can help market participants accurately value mortgages and effectively manage their risks.

Partial quanto lookback options

Financial instruments for hedging and speculating on the foreign exchange rate and equity risks draw the attention of market participants as financial transactions increase across multiple jurisdictions. Notably, a quanto lookback option has been actively traded because it successfully meets market demands. Although the quanto lookback option provides numerous benefits, a high premium due to the lookback feature is the primary culprit that hinders investors from purchasing it. This paper proposes partial quanto lookback options and provides the closed-form pricing formulas when the lookback feature is applied to the exchange rate or equity value, and the extremes are determined by observing them for a shorter period than the life of the option. Because pricing the options is challenging due to their partial path-dependence, we develop the quanto extreme expectation that facilitates deriving the option prices. Extensive numerical examples demonstrate the efficacy of the partial quanto lookback options in lowering the premiums.

Good Volatility, Bad Volatility, and VIX Futures Pricing: Evidence from the Decomposition of VIX

Realized semivariance, computed from intraday positive/negative squared returns, provides an accurate measure of the upside/downside variations of stock returns. This article investigates the role of realized semivariance in pricing the CBOE VIX and VIX futures, using a realized semivariance-based model. We obtain the closed-form pricing formula for the VIX index and VIX futures prices, and show that the new model provides superior pricing performance, both in-sample and out-of-sample. We further analytically derive the pricing formulas for the upside/downside components of the VIX (risk-neutral semivariance). Such a decomposition shows that the information gains from the conventional unsigned realized variance are concentrated on pricing the downside part of the VIX; the new realized semivariance-based model provides a larger and more balanced improvement for both the upside and downside components of the VIX. Our results provide strong evidence that the spread between upside/downside variance is the main driver of the asymmetry in return distributions.

Valuation and optimal surrender of variable annuities with guaranteed minimum benefits and periodic fees

This work studies the valuation and optimal surrender of variable (equity-linked) annuities under a Lévy-driven equity market with mortality risk. We consider a practical periodic fee structure which can vary over time and is assessed as a proportion of the fund value. At maturity, the fund value is returned to the policyholder according to a guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB). Mortality risk is also modeled discretely, and the contract offers a guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMBD) prior to maturity. The benefits accommodate caps on the growth of funds (in addition to the rising floor) to reduce the fee level and as a disincentive to early surrender. Interest rates are modeled via a deterministic discounting term structure, which can be calibrated (bootstrapped) to the rates market, according to market convention. An efficient and accurate valuation framework is developed, along with closed form pricing formulas in the case where policy surrender is not permitted. Numerous experiments are conducted to illustrate the interplay between contract parameters and the decision to surrender, and we provide an extensive analysis that investigates how to structure contracts to disincentivize early surrender.

A closed-form pricing formula for European options under a new three-factor stochastic volatility model with regime switching

A closed-form pricing formula for European options under a new three-factor stochastic volatility model with regime switching

Closed-form pricing formulas for variance swaps in the Heston model with stochastic long-run mean of variance

The Heston model is a popular stochastic volatility model in mathematical finance and it has been extended or modified in several ways by researchers to overcome the shortcomings of the model in the context of pricing derivatives. However, the extended models usually do not lead to a closed-form formula for the derivative prices. This paper is focused on a stochastic extension of the constant long-run mean of variance in the Heston model for the pricing of variance swaps. The extension is given by a positive function perturbed by an amplitude-modulated Brownian motion or Ito integral. We obtain two closed-form formulas for the fair strike prices of a variance swap under two corresponding underlying models. The formulas are explicitly given by elementary functions without any integral terms involved. Further, the two models show better performance than the Heston model when the market implied volatility has a concave-down pattern as shown in an unstable market circumstance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robust and Nearly Exact Option Pricing with Bilateral Gamma Processes

Bilateral gamma processes generalize the variance gamma process and allow one to capture, more precisely, the differences between upward and downward moves of financial returns, notably in terms of jump speed, frequency, and size. Like in most other pure jump models, option pricing under bilateral gamma processes relies heavily on numerical evaluation of Fourier integrals. In this article, we combine the Mellin transform and residue calculus to establish closed-form pricing formulas for several vanilla and exotic European options. These formulas take the form of series whose terms are straightforward to evaluate in practice and achieve an arbitrary degree of precision, without requiring sophisticated numerical tools; moreover, the convergence of the series is particularly accelerated for short maturity options, which are the most challenging to price for competing Fourier methods. Accuracy of the formulas is assessed thanks to several comparisons with state-of-the-art Fourier methods, with reference prices provided for future research.