Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T06:17:33.419Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the Computation of Continuous Time Option Prices Using Discrete Approximations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Abstract

We develop a class of discrete, path-independent models to compute prices of American options within the Black-Scholes (1973) framework, including models in which state variables have time-varying volatility functions and models with multiple state variables. Time-varying volatility functions are illustrated with applications to term structure models developed by Vasicek (1977) and Heath, Jarrow, and Morton (1988), (1990). Distinct from previous work in the literature, the multivariate models suggested in this paper are consistent with arbitrarily large, though constant, covariance functions. Finally, we compare and contrast the numerical accuracy of a large number of models with simulation results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Business Administration, University of Washington 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amin, K.A Simplified Discrete Time Approach to the Pricing of Derivative Securities with Stochastic Interest Rates.” Technical Report, The Univ. of Michigan, School of Business Administration (1989).Google Scholar
Black, F., and Scholes, M.. “The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities.” Journal of Political Economy, 81 (05/06 1973), 637659.Google Scholar
Boyle, P.A Lattice Framework for Option Pricing with Two State Variables.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 23 (03 1988), 112.Google Scholar
Boyle, P.; Evnine, J.; and Gibbs, S.. “Numerical Evaluation of Multivariate Contingent Claims.” Review of Financial Studies, 2 (2, 1989), 241251.Google Scholar
Brenner, R.The Vasichek Model and the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Process: A New Perspective.” Technical Report, Cornell Univ. (1989).Google Scholar
Cox, J.; Ross, S.; and Rubinstein, M.. “Option Pricing: A Simplified Approach.” Journal of Financial Economics, 7 (09 1979), 229263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffie, D.Security Markets: Stochastic Models.” New York: Academic Press (1988).Google Scholar
Grabbe, J.The Pricing of Call and Put Options on Foreign Exchange.” Journal of International Money and Finance, 2 (12 1983), 239253.Google Scholar
Harrison, J., and Pliska, S.. “Martingales and Stochastic Integrals in the Theory of Continuous Trading.” Stochastic Processes and their Applications, 11 (08 1981), 215260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
He, H.Convergence from Discrete to Continuous Time Contingent Claims Prices.” Review of Financial Studies, 3 (2, 1990), 523546.Google Scholar
Heath, D.; Jarrow, R.; and Morton, A.. “Bond Pricing and the Term Structure of Interest Rates: A Discrete Time Approximation.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 25 (12 1990), 416440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heath, D.; Jarrow, R.; and Morton, A.. “Bond Pricing and the Term Structure of Interest Rates: A New Methodology.” Technical Report, Cornell Univ. (1988).Google Scholar
Heath, D.; Jarrow, R.; and Morton, A.. “Contingent Claim Valuation with a Random Evolution of Interest Rates.” Technical Report, Cornell Univ. (1988).Google Scholar
Ho, T., and Lee, S.. “Term Structure Movements and Pricing of Interest Rate Contingent Claims.” Journal of Finance, 41 (12 1986), 10111029.Google Scholar
Merton, R.Option Pricing when Underlying Stock Returns Are Discontinuous.” Journal of Financial Economics, 3 (01/03 1976), 125144.Google Scholar
Merton, R.The Theory of Rational Option Pricing.” Bell Journal of Economics and Management Science, 4 (Spring 1973), 141183.Google Scholar
Mood, A.; Graybill, F.; and Boes, D.. “Introduction to the Theory of Statistics.” New York: McGraw-Hill (1974).Google Scholar
Nelson, D., and Ramaswamy, K.. “Simple Binomial Processes as Diffusion Approximations in Financial Models.” Review of Financial Studies, 3 (3, 1990), 393430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Omberg, E.Efficient Discrete Time Jump Process Models in Option Pricing.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 23 (06 1988), 161174.Google Scholar
Vasicek, O.An Equilibrium Characterization of the Term Structure.” Journal of Financial Economics, 5(11 1977), 177188.Google Scholar