arXiv subjects

Huyen Pham

Publications and source records attributed to Huyen Pham.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Long time asymptotics for optimal investment

This survey reviews portfolio selection problem for long-term horizon. We consider two objectives: (i) maximize the probability for outperforming a target growth rate of wealth process (ii) minimize the probability of falling below a target growth rate. We study the asymptotic behavior of these criteria formulated as large deviations control pro\-blems, that we solve by duality method leading to ergodic risk-sensitive portfolio optimization problems. Special emphasis is placed on linear factor models where explicit solutions are obtained.

q-fin.PM↗

arXiv2013

Reflected BSDEs with nonpositive jumps, and controller-and-stopper games

We study a class of reflected backward stochastic differential equations with nonpositive jumps and upper barrier. Existence and uniqueness of a minimal solution is proved by a double penalization approach under regularity assumptions on the obstacle. In a suitable regime switching diffusion framework, we show the connection between our class of BSDEs and fully nonlinear variational inequalities. Our BSDE representation provides in particular a Feynman-Kac type formula for PDEs associated to general zero-sum stochastic differential controller-and-stopper games, where control affect both drift and diffusion term, and the diffusion coefficient can be degenerate. Moreover, we state a dual game formula of this BSDE minimal solution involving equivalent change of probability measures, and discount processes. This gives in particular a new representation for zero-sum stochastic differential controller-and-stopper games.

math.PR↗

arXiv2013

Characterization of the optimal boundaries in reversible investment problems

This paper studies a {\it reversible} investment problem where a social planner aims to control its capacity production in order to fit optimally the random demand of a good. Our model allows for general diffusion dynamics on the demand as well as general cost functional. The resulting optimization problem leads to a degenerate two-dimensional bounded variation singular stochastic control problem, for which explicit solution is not available in general and the standard verification approach can not be applied a priori. We use a direct viscosity solutions approach for deriving some features of the optimal free boundary function, and for displaying the structure of the solution. In the quadratic cost case, we are able to prove a smooth-fit $C^2$ property, which gives rise to a full characterization of the optimal boundaries and value function.

math.PR↗

arXiv2011

Optimal High Frequency Trading with limit and market orders

We propose a framework for studying optimal market making policies in a limit order book (LOB). The bid-ask spread of the LOB is modelled by a Markov chain with finite values, multiple of the tick size, and subordinated by the Poisson process of the tick-time clock. We consider a small agent who continuously submits limit buy/sell orders and submits market orders at discrete dates. The objective of the market maker is to maximize her expected utility from revenue over a short term horizon by a tradeoff between limit and market orders, while controlling her inventory position. This is formulated as a mixed regime switching regular/ impulse control problem that we characterize in terms of quasi-variational system by dynamic programming methods. In the case of a mean-variance criterion with martingale reference price or when the asset price follows a Levy process and with exponential utility criterion, the dynamic programming system can be reduced to a system of simple equations involving only the inventory and spread variables. Calibration procedures are derived for estimating the transition matrix and intensity parameters for the spread and for Cox processes modelling the execution of limit orders. Several computational tests are performed both on simulated and real data, and illustrate the impact and profit when considering execution priority in limit orders and market orders

q-fin.TR↗

arXiv2010

Stochastic control under progressive enlargement of filtrations and applications to multiple defaults risk management

We formulate and investigate a general stochastic control problem under a progressive enlargement of filtration. The global information is enlarged from a reference filtration and the knowledge of multiple random times together with associated marks when they occur. By working under a density hypothesis on the conditional joint distribution of the random times and marks, we prove a decomposition of the original stochastic control problem under the global filtration into classical stochastic control problems under the reference filtration, which are determined in a finite backward induction. Our method revisits and extends in particular stochastic control of diffusion processes with finite number of jumps. This study is motivated by optimization problems arising in default risk management, and we provide applications of our decomposition result for the indifference pricing of defaultable claims, and the optimal investment under bilateral counterparty risk. The solutions are expressed in terms of BSDEs involving only Brownian filtration, and remarkably without jump terms coming from the default times and marks in the global filtration.

math.PR↗

arXiv2009

Optimal investment on finite horizon with random discrete order flow in illiquid markets

We study the problem of optimal portfolio selection in an illiquid market with discrete order flow. In this market, bids and offers are not available at any time but trading occurs more frequently near a terminal horizon. The investor can observe and trade the risky asset only at exogenous random times corresponding to the order flow given by an inhomogenous Poisson process. By using a direct dynamic programming approach, we first derive and solve the fixed point dynamic programming equation satisfied by the value function, and then perform a verification argument which provides the existence and characterization of optimal trading strategies. We prove the convergence of the optimal performance, when the deterministic intensity of the order flow approaches infinity at any time, to the optimal expected utility for an investor trading continuously in a perfectly liquid market model with no-short sale constraints.

q-fin.PM↗

arXiv2009

Optimal portfolio liquidation with execution cost and risk

We study the optimal portfolio liquidation problem over a finite horizon in a limit order book with bid-ask spread and temporary market price impact penalizing speedy execution trades. We use a continuous-time modeling framework, but in contrast with previous related papers (see e.g. [24] and [25]), we do not assume continuous-time trading strategies. We consider instead real trading that occur in discrete-time, and this is formulated as an impulse control problem under a solvency constraint, including the lag variable tracking the time interval between trades. A first important result of our paper is to show that nearly optimal execution strategies in this context lead actually to a finite number of trading times, and this holds true without assuming ad hoc any fixed transaction fee. Next, we derive the dynamic programming quasi-variational inequality satisfied by the value function in the sense of constrained viscosity solutions. We also introduce a family of value functions converging to our value function, and which is characterized as the unique constrained viscosity solutions of an approximation of our dynamic programming equation. This convergence result is useful for numerical purpose, postponed in a further study.

math.PR↗

arXiv2009

Optimal investment with counterparty risk: a default-density modeling approach

We consider a financial market with a stock exposed to a counterparty risk inducing a drop in the price, and which can still be traded after this default time. We use a default-density modeling approach, and address in this incomplete market context the expected utility maximization from terminal wealth. We show how this problem can be suitably decomposed in two optimization problems in complete market framework: an after-default utility maximization and a global before-default optimization problem involving the former one. These two optimization problems are solved explicitly, respectively by duality and dynamic programming approaches, and provide a fine understanding of the optimal strategy. We give some numerical results illustrating the impact of counterparty risk and the loss given default on optimal trading strategies, in particular with respect to the Merton portfolio selection problem.

math.PR↗

arXiv2007

Impulse control problem on finite horizon with execution delay

We consider impulse control problems in finite horizon for diffusions with decision lag and execution delay. The new feature is that our general framework deals with the important case when several consecutive orders may be decided before the effective execution of the first one. This is motivated by financial applications in the trading of illiquid assets such as hedge funds. We show that the value functions for such control problems satisfy a suitable version of dynamic programming principle in finite dimension, which takes into account the past dependence of state process through the pending orders. The corresponding Bellman partial differential equations (PDE) system is derived, and exhibit some peculiarities on the coupled equations, domains and boundary conditions. We prove a unique characterization of the value functions to this nonstandard PDE system by means of viscosity solutions. We then provide an algorithm to find the value functions and the optimal control. This easily implementable algorithm involves backward and forward iterations on the domains and the value functions, which appear in turn as original arguments in the proofs for the boundary conditions and uniqueness results.

math.PR↗

arXiv2007

Some applications and methods of large deviations in finance and insurance

In these notes, we present some methods and applications of large deviations to finance and insurance. We begin with the classical ruin problem related to the Cramer's theorem and give en extension to an insurance model with investment in stock market. We then describe how large deviation approximation and importance sampling are used in rare event simulation for option pricing. We finally focus on large deviations methods in risk management for the estimation of large portfolio losses in credit risk and portfolio performance in market investment.

math.PR↗

arXiv2006

On some recent aspects of stochastic control and their applications

This paper is a survey on some recent aspects and developments in stochastic control. We discuss the two main historical approaches, Bellman's optimality principle and Pontryagin's maximum principle, and their modern exposition with viscosity solutions and backward stochastic differential equations. Some original proofs are presented in a unifying context including degenerate singular control problems. We emphasize key results on characterization of optimal control for diffusion processes, with a view towards applications. Some examples in finance are detailed with their explicit solutions. We also discuss numerical issues and open questions.

math.PR↗

arXiv2004

On the smooth-fit property for one-dimensional optimal switching problem

This paper studies the problem of optimal switching for one-dimensional diffusion, which may be regarded as sequential optimal stopping problem with changes of regimes. The resulting dynamic programming principle leads to a system of variational inequa-lities, and the state space is divided into continuation regions and switching regions. By means of viscosity solutions approach, we prove the smoot-fit $C^1$ property of the value functions.

math.PR↗