We apply the concepts of utility based pricing and hedging of derivatives in stochastic volatility markets and introduce a new class of "reciprocal affine" models for which the indifference price and optimal hedge portfolio for pure volatility claims are efficiently computable. We obtain a general formula for the market price of volatility risk in these models and calculate it explicitly for the case of an exponential utility.
We prove results on bounded solutions to backward stochastic equations driven by random measures. Those bounded BSDE solutions are then applied to solve different stochastic optimization problems with exponential utility in models where the underlying filtration is noncontinuous. This includes results on portfolio optimization under an additional liability and on dynamic utility indifference valuation and partial hedging in incomplete financial markets which are exposed to risk from unpredictable events. In particular, we characterize the limiting behavior of the utility indifference hedging s…
In a market with a rough or Markovian mean-reverting stochastic volatility there is no perfect hedge. Here it is shown how various delta-type hedging strategies perform and can be evaluated in such markets in the case of European options. A precise characterization of the hedging cost, the replication cost caused by the volatility fluctuations, is presented in an asymptotic regime of rapid mean reversion for the volatility fluctuations. The optimal dynamic asset based hedging strategy in the considered regime is identified as the so-called `practitioners' delta hedging scheme. It is moreover s…
Game contingent claims (GCCs) generalize American contingent claims by allowing the writer to recall the option as long as it is not exercised, at the price of paying some penalty. In incomplete markets, an appealing approach is to analyze GCCs like their European and American counterparts by solving option holder's and writer's optimal investment problems in the underlying securities. By this, partial hedging opportunities are taken into account. We extend results in the literature by solving the stochastic game corresponding to GCCs with both continuous time stopping and trading. Namely, we …
We study the pricing and the hedging of claim ψ which depends on the default times of two firms A and B. In fact, we assume that, in the market, we can not buy or sell any defaultable bond of the firm B but we can only trade defaultable bond of the firm A. Our aim is then to find the best price and hedging of ψ using only bond of the firm A. Hence, we solve this problem in two cases: firstly in a Markov framework using indifference price and solving a system of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations, secondly, in a more general framework, using the mean variance hedging approach and solving backwar…
In this work, we introduce a Monte Carlo method for the dynamic hedging of general European-type contingent claims in a multidimensional Brownian arbitrage-free market. Based on bounded variation martingale approximations for Galtchouk-Kunita-Watanabe decompositions, we propose a feasible and constructive methodology which allows us to compute pure hedging strategies w.r.t arbitrary square-integrable claims in incomplete markets. In particular, the methodology can be applied to quadratic hedging-type strategies for fully path-dependent options with stochastic volatility and discontinuous payof…
An investor with constant absolute risk aversion trades a risky asset with general Itô-dynamics, in the presence of small proportional transaction costs. In this setting, we formally derive a leading-order optimal trading policy and the associated welfare, expressed in terms of the local dynamics of the frictionless optimizer. By applying these results in the presence of a random endowment, we obtain asymptotic formulas for utility indifference prices and hedging strategies in the presence of small transaction costs.
In a financial market model, we consider the variance-optimal semi-static hedging of a given contingent claim, a generalization of the classic variance-optimal hedging. To obtain a tractable formula for the expected squared hedging error and the optimal hedging strategy, we use a Fourier approach in a general multidimensional semimartingale factor model. As a special case, we recover existing results for variance-optimal hedging in affine stochastic volatility models. We apply the theory to set up a variance-optimal semi-static hedging strategy for a variance swap in both the Heston and the 3/…
This paper formulates a model of utility for a continuous time framework that captures the decision-maker's concern with ambiguity about both volatility and drift. Corresponding extensions of some basic results in asset pricing theory are presented. First, we derive arbitrage-free pricing rules based on hedging arguments. Ambiguous volatility implies market incompleteness that rules out perfect hedging. Consequently, hedging arguments determine prices only up to intervals. However, sharper predictions can be obtained by assuming preference maximization and equilibrium. Thus we apply the model …
In this paper, we construct the utility-based optimal hedging strategy for a European-type option in the Almgren-Chriss model with temporary price impact. The main mathematical challenge of this work stems from the degeneracy of the second order terms and the quadratic growth of the first order terms in the associated HJB equation, which makes it difficult to establish sufficient regularity of the value function needed to construct the optimal strategy in a feedback form. By combining the analytic and probabilistic tools for describing the value function and the optimal strategy, we establish …
We derive the price of a spread option based on two assets which follow a bivariate volatility modulated Volterra process dynamics. Such a price dynamics is particularly relevant in energy markets, modelling for example the spot price of power and gas. Volatility modulated Volterra processes are in general not semimartingales, but contain several special cases of interest in energy markets like for example continuous-time autoregressive moving average processes. Based on a change of measure, we obtain a pricing expression based on a univariate Fourier transform of the payoff function and the c…
We consider the discretized Bachelier model where hedging is done on an equidistant set of times. Exponential utility indifference prices are studied for path-dependent European options and we compute their non-trivial scaling limit for a large number of trading times $n$ and when risk aversion is scaled like $n\ell$ for some constant $\ell>0$. Our analysis is purely probabilistic. We first use a duality argument to transform the problem into an optimal drift control problem with a penalty term. We further use martingale techniques and strong invariance principles and get that the limiting pro…
We study robust notions of good-deal hedging and valuation under combined uncertainty about the drifts and volatilities of asset prices. Good-deal bounds are determined by a subset of risk-neutral pricing measures such that not only opportunities for arbitrage are excluded but also deals that are too good, by restricting instantaneous Sharpe ratios. A non-dominated multiple priors approach to model uncertainty (ambiguity) leads to worst-case good-deal bounds. Corresponding hedging strategies arise as minimizers of a suitable coherent risk measure. Good-deal bounds and hedges for measurable cla…
Explicit robust hedging strategies for convex or concave payoffs under a continuous semimartingale model with uncertainty and small transaction costs are constructed. In an asymptotic sense, the upper and lower bounds of the cumulative volatility enable us to super-hedge convex and concave payoffs respectively. The idea is a combination of Mykland's conservative delta hedging and Leland's enlarging volatility. We use a specific sequence of stopping times as rebalancing dates, which can be superior to equidistant one even when there is no model uncertainty. A central limit theorem for the super…
We construct an utility-based dynamic asset pricing model for a limit order market. The price is nonlinear in volume and subject to market impact. We solve an optimal hedging problem under the market impact and derive the dynamics of the efficient price, that is, the asset price when a representative liquidity demander follows an optimal strategy. We show that a Pareto efficient allocation is achieved under a completeness condi- tion. We give an explicit representation of the efficient price for several examples. In particular, we observe that the volatility of the asset depends on the convexi…
We study the pricing and hedging of derivative securities with uncertainty about the volatility of the underlying asset. Rather than taking all models from a prespecified class equally seriously, we penalise less plausible ones based on their "distance" to a reference local volatility model. In the limit for small uncertainty aversion, this leads to explicit formulas for prices and hedging strategies in terms of the security's cash gamma.
Dynamic hedging of an European option under a general local volatility model with small linear transaction costs is studied. A continuous control version of Leland's strategy that asymptotically replicates the payoff is constructed. An associated central limit theorem of hedging error is proved. The asymptotic error variance is minimized by an explicit trading strategy.
We consider the problem of option hedging in a market with proportional transaction costs. Since super-replication is very costly in such markets, we replace perfect hedging with an expected loss constraint. Asymptotic analysis for small transactions is used to obtain a tractable model. A general expansion theory is developed using the dynamic programming approach. Explicit formulae are also obtained in the special cases of an exponential or power loss function. As a corollary, we retrieve the asymptotics for the exponential utility indifference price.
We model a nonlinear price curve quoted in a market as the utility indifference curve of a representative liquidity supplier. As the utility function we adopt a g-expectation. In contrast to the standard framework of financial engineering, a trader is no more price taker as any trade has a permanent market impact via an effect to the supplier's inventory. The P&L of a trading strategy is written as a nonlinear stochastic integral. Under this market impact model, we introduce a completeness condition under which any derivative can be perfectly replicated by a dynamic trading strategy. In the sp…
This paper is concerned with the study of insurance related derivatives on financial markets that are based on non-tradable underlyings, but are correlated with tradable assets. We calculate exponential utility-based indifference prices, and corresponding derivative hedges. We use the fact that they can be represented in terms of solutions of forward-backward stochastic differential equations (FBSDE) with quadratic growth generators. We derive the Markov property of such FBSDE and generalize results on the differentiability relative to the initial value of their forward components. In this cas…
In previous works Avellaneda et al. pioneered the pricing and hedging of index options - products highly sensitive to implied volatility and correlation assumptions - with large deviations methods, assuming local volatility dynamics for all components of the index. We here present an extension applicable to non-Markovian dynamics and in particular the case of rough volatility dynamics.
We consider a strictly pathwise setting for Delta hedging exotic options, based on Föllmer's pathwise Itō calculus. Price trajectories are $d$-dimensional continuous functions whose pathwise quadratic variations and covariations are determined by a given local volatility matrix. The existence of Delta hedging strategies in this pathwise setting is established via existence results for recursive schemes of parabolic Cauchy problems and via the existence of functional Cauchy problems on path space. Our main results establish the nonexistence of pathwise arbitrage opportunities in classes of stra…
Optimal B-robust estimate is constructed for multidimensional parameter in drift coefficient of diffusion type process with small noise. Optimal mean-variance robust (optimal V -robust) trading strategy is find to hedge in mean-variance sense the contingent claim in incomplete financial market with arbitrary information structure and misspecified volatility of asset price, which is modelled by multidimensional continuous semimartingale. Obtained results are applied to stochastic volatility model, where the model of latent volatility process contains unknown multidimensional parameter in drift …
We consider the Bachelier model with information delay where investment decisions can be based only on observations from $H>0$ time units before. Utility indifference prices are studied for vanilla options and we compute their non-trivial scaling limit for vanishing delay when risk aversion is scaled liked $A/H$ for some constant $A$. Using techniques from [7], we develop discrete-time duality for this setting and show how the relaxed form of martingale property introduced by [9] results in the scaling limit taking the form of a volatility control problem with quadratic penalty.
We study the dynamics of the exponential utility indifference value process C(B;α) for a contingent claim B in a semimartingale model with a general continuous filtration. We prove that C(B;α) is (the first component of) the unique solution of a backward stochastic differential equation with a quadratic generator and obtain BMO estimates for the components of this solution. This allows us to prove several new results about C_t(B;α). We obtain continuity in B and local Lipschitz-continuity in the risk aversion α, uniformly in t, and we extend earlier results on the asymptotic behavior as α\sear…
We discuss the pricing and hedging of volatility options in some rough volatility models. First, we develop efficient Monte Carlo methods and asymptotic approximations for computing option prices and hedge ratios in models where log-volatility follows a Gaussian Volterra process. While providing a good fit for European options, these models are unable to reproduce the VIX option smile observed in the market, and are thus not suitable for VIX products. To accommodate these, we introduce the class of modulated Volterra processes, and show that they successfully capture the VIX smile.
We study utility indifference prices and optimal purchasing quantities for a non-traded contingent claim in an incomplete semi-martingale market with vanishing hedging errors. We make connections with the theory of large deviations. We concentrate on sequences of semi-complete markets where in the $n^{th}$ market, the claim $B_n$ admits the decomposition $B_n = D_n+Y_n$. Here, $D_n$ is replicable by trading in the underlying assets $S_n$, but $Y_n$ is independent of $S_n$. Under broad conditions, we may assume that $Y_n$ vanishes in accordance with a large deviations principle as $n$ grows. In…
Approximations to utility indifference prices are provided for a contingent claim in the large position size limit. Results are valid for general utility functions on the real line and semi-martingale models. It is shown that as the position size approaches infinity, the utility function's decay rate for large negative wealths is the primary driver of prices. For utilities with exponential decay, one may price like an exponential investor. For utilities with a power decay, one may price like a power investor after a suitable adjustment to the rate at which the position size becomes large. In a…
Over the past few years quadratic Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDEs) have been a popular field of research. However there are only very few examples where explicit solutions for these equations are known. In this paper we consider a class of quadratic BSDEs involving affine processes and show that their solution can be reduced to solving a system of generalized Riccati ordinary differential equations. In other words we introduce a rich and flexible class of quadratic BSDEs which are analytically tractable, i.e. explicit up to the solution of an ODE. Our results also provide ana…
Kramkov and Sirbu (2006, 2007) have shown that first-order approximations of power utility-based prices and hedging strategies can be computed by solving a mean-variance hedging problem under a specific equivalent martingale measure and relative to a suitable numeraire. In order to avoid the introduction of an additional state variable necessitated by the change of numeraire, we propose an alternative representation in terms of the original numeraire. More specifically, we characterize the relevant quantities using semimartingale characteristics similarly as in Cerny and Kallsen (2007) for mea…
The left tail of the implied volatility skew, coming from quotes on out-of-the-money put options, can be thought to reflect the market's assessment of the risk of a huge drop in stock prices. We analyze how this market information can be integrated into the theoretical framework of convex monetary measures of risk. In particular, we make use of indifference pricing by dynamic convex risk measures, which are given as solutions of backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs), to establish a link between these two approaches to risk measurement. We derive a characterization of the implied v…
We deal with the calculation of price sensitivities for stochastic volatility models. General forms for the dynamics of the underlying asset price and its volatility are considered. We make use of the chaotic (or Malliavin) calculus to compute the price sensitivities. The obtained results are applied to several recent stochastic volatility models as well as the existing ones that are commonly used by practitioners. Each price sensitivity is a source of financial risk. The suggested formulas are expected to improve on the hedging of the underlying risk.
We study the point of transition between complete and incomplete financial models thanks to Dirichlet Forms methods. We apply recent techniques, developped by Bouleau, to hedging procedures in order to perturbate parameters and stochastic processes, in the case of a volatility parameter fixed but uncertain for traders; we call this model Perturbed Black Scholes (PBS) Model. We show that this model can reproduce at the same time a smile effect and a bid-ask spread; we exhibit the volatility function associated to the local-volatility model equivalent to PBS model when vanilla options are concer…
We consider a semimartingale market model when the underlying diffusion has a singular volatility matrix and compute the hedging portfolio for a given payoff function. Recently, the representation problem for such degenerate diffusions with respect to a minimal martingale has been completely settled. This martingale representation and Malliavin calculus established further for the functionals of a degenerate diffusion process constitute the basis of the present work. Using the Clark-Hausmann-Bismut-Ocone type representation formula derived for these functionals, we prove a version of this form…
We present a parallel algorithm for solving backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs in short) which are very useful theoretic tools to deal with many financial problems ranging from option pricing option to risk management. Our algorithm based on Gobet and Labart (2010) exploits the link between BSDEs and non linear partial differential equations (PDEs in short) and hence enables to solve high dimensional non linear PDEs. In this work, we apply it to the pricing and hedging of American options in high dimensional local volatility models, which remains very computationally demanding. …
We study utility indifference prices and optimal purchasing quantities for a contingent claim, in an incomplete semi-martingale market, in the presence of vanishing hedging errors and/or risk aversion. Assuming that the average indifference price converges to a well defined limit, we prove that optimally taken positions become large in absolute value at a specific rate. We draw motivation from and make connections to Large Deviations theory, and in particular, the celebrated Gärtner-Ellis theorem. We analyze a series of well studied examples where this limiting behavior occurs, such as fixed m…
