arXiv subjects

Antoine Jacquier

Publications and source records attributed to Antoine Jacquier.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

No-arbitrage bounds for the forward smile given marginals

We explore the robust replication of forward-start straddles given quoted (Call and Put options) market data. One approach to this problem classically follows semi-infinite linear programming arguments, and we propose a discretisation scheme to reduce its dimensionality and hence its complexity. Alternatively, one can consider the dual problem, consisting in finding optimal martingale measures under which the upper and the lower bounds are attained. Semi-analytical solutions to this dual problem were proposed by Hobson and Klimmek (2013) and by Hobson and Neuberger (2008). We recast this dual approach as a finite dimensional linear programme, and reconcile numerically, in the Black-Scholes and in the Heston model, the two approaches.

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arXiv2016

Generalised arbitrage-free SVI volatility surfaces

In this article we propose a generalisation of the recent work of Gatheral and Jacquier on explicit arbitrage-free parameterisations of implied volatility surfaces. We also discuss extensively the notion of arbitrage freeness and Roger Lee's moment formula using the recent analysis by Roper. We further exhibit an arbitrage-free volatility surface different from Gatheral's SVI parameterisation.

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arXiv2016

Two examples of non strictly convex large deviations

We present two examples of a large deviations principle where the rate function is not strictly convex. This is motivated by a model used in mathematical finance (the Heston model), and adds a new item to the zoology of non strictly convex large deviations. For one of these examples, we show that the rate function of the Cramer-type of large deviations coincides with that of the Freidlin-Wentzell when contraction principles are applied.

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arXiv2016

An explicit Euler scheme with strong rate of convergence for financial SDEs with non-Lipschitz coefficients

We consider the approximation of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with non-Lipschitz drift or diffusion coefficients. We present a modified explicit Euler-Maruyama discretisation scheme that allows us to prove strong convergence, with a rate. Under some regularity and integrability conditions, we obtain the optimal strong error rate. We apply this scheme to SDEs widely used in the mathematical finance literature, including the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross~(CIR), the 3/2 and the Ait-Sahalia models, as well as a family of mean-reverting processes with locally smooth coefficients. We numerically illustrate the strong convergence of the scheme and demonstrate its efficiency in a multilevel Monte Carlo setting.

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arXiv2015

Large-Maturity Regimes of the Heston Forward Smile

We provide a full characterisation of the large-maturity forward implied volatility smile in the Heston model. Although the leading decay is provided by a fairly classical large deviations behaviour, the algebraic expansion providing the higher-order terms highly depends on the parameters, and different powers of the maturity come into play. As a by-product of the analysis we provide new implied volatility asymptotics, both in the forward case and in the spot case, as well as extended SVI-type formulae. The proofs are based on extensions and refinements of sharp large deviations theory, in particular in cases where standard convexity arguments fail.

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arXiv2015

Implied volatility in strict local martingale models

We consider implied volatilities in asset pricing models, where the discounted underlying is a strict local martingale under the pricing measure. Our main result gives an asymptotic expansion of the right wing of the implied volatility smile and shows that the strict local martingale property can be determined from this expansion. This result complements the well-known asymptotic results of Lee and Benaim-Friz, which apply only to true martingales. This also shows that `price bubbles' in the sense of strict local martingale behaviour can in principle be detected by an analysis of implied volatility. Finally we relate our results to left-wing expansions of implied volatilities in models with mass at zero by a duality method based on an absolutely continuous measure change.

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arXiv2015

Asymptotics of forward implied volatility

We prove here a general closed-form expansion formula for forward-start options and the forward implied volatility smile in a large class of models, including the Heston stochastic volatility and time-changed exponential Lévy models. This expansion applies to both small and large maturities and is based solely on the properties of the forward characteristic function of the underlying process. The method is based on sharp large deviations techniques, and allows us to recover (in particular) many results for the spot implied volatility smile. In passing we (i) show that the forward-start date has to be rescaled in order to obtain non-trivial small-maturity asymptotics, (ii) prove that the forward-start date may influence the large-maturity behaviour of the forward smile, and (iii) provide some examples of models with finite quadratic variation where the small-maturity forward smile does not explode.

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arXiv2014

From characteristic functions to implied volatility expansions

For any strictly positive martingale $S = \exp(X)$ for which $X$ has a characteristic function, we provide an expansion for the implied volatility. This expansion is explicit in the sense that it involves no integrals, but only polynomials in the log strike. We illustrate the versatility of our expansion by computing the approximate implied volatility smile in three well-known martingale models: one finite activity exponential Lévy model (Merton), one infinite activity exponential Lévy model (Variance Gamma), and one stochastic volatility model (Heston). Finally, we illustrate how our expansion can be used to perform a model-free calibration of the empirically observed implied volatility surface.

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arXiv2014

Asymptotic arbitrage in the Heston model

In the context of the Heston model, we establish a precise link between the set of equivalent martingale measures, the ergodicity of the underlying variance process and the concept of asymptotic arbitrage proposed in Kabanov-Kramkov and in Follmer-Schachermayer.

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arXiv2013

The Small-Maturity Heston Forward Smile

In this paper we investigate the asymptotics of forward-start options and the forward implied volatility smile in the Heston model as the maturity approaches zero. We prove that the forward smile for out-of-the-money options explodes and compute a closed-form high-order expansion detailing the rate of the explosion. Furthermore the result shows that the square-root behaviour of the variance process induces a singularity such that for certain parameter configurations one cannot obtain high-order out-of-the-money forward smile asymptotics. In the at-the-money case a separate model-independent analysis shows that the small-maturity limit is well defined for any Ito diffusion. The proofs rely on the theory of sharp large deviations (and refinements) and incidentally we provide an example of degenerate large deviations behaviour.

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arXiv2013

The Smile of certain Lévy-type Models

We consider a class of assets whose risk-neutral pricing dynamics are described by an exponential Lévy-type process subject to default. The class of processes we consider features locally-dependent drift, diffusion and default-intensity as well as a locally-dependent Lévy measure. Using techniques from regular perturbation theory and Fourier analysis, we derive a series expansion for the price of a European-style option. We also provide precise conditions under which this series expansion converges to the exact price. Additionally, for a certain subclass of assets in our modeling framework, we derive an expansion for the implied volatility induced by our option pricing formula. The implied volatility expansion is exact within its radius of convergence. As an example of our framework, we propose a class of CEV-like Lévy-type models. Within this class, approximate option prices can be computed by a single Fourier integral and approximate implied volatilities are explicit (i.e., no integration is required). Furthermore, the class of CEV-like Lévy-type models is shown to provide a tight fit to the implied volatility surface of S{&}P500 index options.

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arXiv2013

Arbitrage-free SVI volatility surfaces

In this article, we show how to calibrate the widely-used SVI parameterization of the implied volatility surface in such a way as to guarantee the absence of static arbitrage. In particular, we exhibit a large class of arbitrage-free SVI volatility surfaces with a simple closed-form representation. We demonstrate the high quality of typical SVI fits with a numerical example using recent SPX options data.

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arXiv2012

Large deviations for the extended Heston model: the large-time case

We study here the large-time behaviour of all continuous affine stochastic volatility models (in the sense of Keller-Ressel) and deduce a closed-form formula for the large-maturity implied volatility smile. Based on refinements of the Gartner-Ellis theorem on the real line, our proof reveals pathological behaviours of the asymptotic smile. In particular, we show that the condition assumed in Gatheral and Jacquier under which the Heston implied volatility converges to the SVI parameterisation is necessary and sufficient.

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arXiv2011

Large deviations and stochastic volatility with jumps: asymptotic implied volatility for affine models

Let $σ_t(x)$ denote the implied volatility at maturity $t$ for a strike $K=S_0 e^{xt}$, where $x\in\bbR$ and $S_0$ is the current value of the underlying. We show that $σ_t(x)$ has a uniform (in $x$) limit as maturity $t$ tends to infinity, given by the formula $σ_\infty(x)=\sqrt{2}(h^*(x)^{1/2}+(h^*(x)-x)^{1/2})$, for $x$ in some compact neighbourhood of zero in the class of affine stochastic volatility models. The function $h^*$ is the convex dual of the limiting cumulant generating function $h$ of the scaled log-spot process. We express $h$ in terms of the functional characteristics of the underlying model. The proof of the limiting formula rests on the large deviation behaviour of the scaled log-spot process as time tends to infinity. We apply our results to obtain the limiting smile for several classes of stochastic volatility models with jumps used in applications (e.g. Heston with state-independent jumps, Bates with state-dependent jumps and Barndorff-Nielsen-Shephard model).

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arXiv2011

A note on essential smoothness in the Heston model

This note studies an issue relating to essential smoothness that can arise when the theory of large deviations is applied to a certain option pricing formula in the Heston model. The note identifies a gap, based on this issue, in the proof of Corollary 2.4 in \cite{FordeJacquier10} and describes how to circumvent it. This completes the proof of Corollary 2.4 in \cite{FordeJacquier10} and hence of the main result in \cite{FordeJacquier10}, which describes the limiting behaviour of the implied volatility smile in the Heston model far from maturity.

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arXiv2010

Asymptotic formulae for implied volatility in the Heston model

In this paper we prove an approximate formula expressed in terms of elementary functions for the implied volatility in the Heston model. The formula consists of the constant and first order terms in the large maturity expansion of the implied volatility function. The proof is based on saddlepoint methods and classical properties of holomorphic functions.

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arXiv2010

Variance dispersion and correlation swaps

In the recent years, banks have sold structured products such as worst-of options, Everest and Himalayas, resulting in a short correlation exposure. They have hence become interested in offsetting part of this exposure, namely buying back correlation. Two ways have been proposed for such a strategy : either pure correlation swaps or dispersion trades, taking position in an index option and the opposite position in the components options. These dispersion trades have been set up using calls, puts, straddles, variance swaps as well as third generation volatility products. When considering a dispersion trade using variance swaps, one immediately sees that it gives a correlation exposure. Empirical analysis have showed that this implied correlation was not equal to the strike of a correlation swap with the same maturity. The purpose of this paper is to theoretically explain such a spread. In fact, we prove that the P&L of a dispersion trade is equal to the sum of the spread between implied and realised correlation - multiplied by an average variance of the components - and a volatility part. Furthermore, this volatility part is of second order, and, more precisely, is of volga order. Thus the observed correlation spread can be totally explained by the volga of the dispersion trade. This result is to be reviewed when considering different weighting schemes for the dispersion trade.

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arXiv2010

Convergence of Heston to SVI

In this short note, we prove by an appropriate change of variables that the SVI implied volatility parameterization presented in Gatheral's book and the large-time asymptotic of the Heston implied volatility agree algebraically, thus confirming a conjecture from Gatheral as well as providing a simpler expression for the asymptotic implied volatility in the Heston model. We show how this result can help in interpreting SVI parameters.

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