Option Pricing

Neural and Time-Series Approaches for Pricing Weather Derivatives: Performance and Regime Adaptation Using Satellite Data ArXiv ID: 2411.12013 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This paper studies pricing of weather-derivative (WD) contracts on temperature and precipitation. For temperature-linked strangles in Toronto and Chicago, we benchmark a harmonic-regression/ARMA model against a feed-forward neural network (NN), finding that the NN reduces out-of-sample mean-squared error (MSE) and materially shifts December fair values relative to both the time-series model and the industry-standard Historic Burn Approach (HBA). For precipitation, we employ a compound Poisson–Gamma framework: shape and scale parameters are estimated via maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and via a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on 30-day rainfall sequences spanning multiple seasons. The CNN adaptively learns season-specific $(α,β)$ mappings, thereby capturing heterogeneity across regimes that static i.i.d.\ fits miss. At valuation, we assume days are i.i.d.\ $Γ(\hatα,\hatβ)$ within each regime and apply a mean-count approximation (replacing the Poisson count by its mean ($n\hatλ$) to derive closed-form strangle prices. Exploratory analysis of 1981–2023 NASA POWER data confirms pronounced seasonal heterogeneity in $(α,β)$ between summer and winter, demonstrating that static global fits are inadequate. Back-testing on Toronto and Chicago grids shows that our regime-adaptive CNN yields competitive valuations and underscores how model choice can shift strangle prices. Payoffs are evaluated analytically when possible and by simulation elsewhere, enabling a like-for-like comparison of forecasting and valuation methods. ...

Multi-asset and generalised Local Volatility. An efficient implementation ArXiv ID: 2411.05425 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This article presents a generic hybrid numerical method to price a wide range of options on one or several assets, as well as assets with stochastic drift or volatility. In particular for equity and interest rate hybrid with local volatility. Keywords: Hybrid Numerical Method, Option Pricing, Local Volatility, Stochastic Drift, Monte Carlo Simulation, Equity and Interest Rate Hybrids ...

Robust and Fast Bass local volatility ArXiv ID: 2411.04321 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract The Bass Local Volatility Model (Bass-LV), as studied in [“Conze and Henry-Labordere, 2021”], stands out for its ability to eliminate the need for interpolation between maturities. This offers a significant advantage over traditional LV models. However, its performance highly depends on accurate construction of state price densities and the corresponding marginal distributions and efficient numerical convolutions which are necessary when solving the associated fixed point problems. In this paper, we propose a new approach combining local quadratic estimation and lognormal mixture tails for the construction of state price densities. We investigate computational efficiency of trapezoidal rule based schemes for numerical convolutions and show that they outperform commonly used Gauss-Hermite quadrature. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, both in standard option pricing models, as well as through a detailed market case study. ...

Whack-a-mole Online Learning: Physics-Informed Neural Network for Intraday Implied Volatility Surface ArXiv ID: 2411.02375 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract Calibrating the time-dependent Implied Volatility Surface (IVS) using sparse market data is an essential challenge in computational finance, particularly for real-time applications. This task requires not only fitting market data but also satisfying a specified partial differential equation (PDE) and no-arbitrage conditions modelled by differential inequalities. This paper proposes a novel Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) approach called Whack-a-mole Online Learning (WamOL) to address this multi-objective optimisation problem. WamOL integrates self-adaptive and auto-balancing processes for each loss term, efficiently reweighting objective functions to ensure smooth surface fitting while adhering to PDE and no-arbitrage constraints and updating for intraday predictions. In our experiments, WamOL demonstrates superior performance in calibrating intraday IVS from uneven and sparse market data, effectively capturing the dynamic evolution of option prices and associated risk profiles. This approach offers an efficient solution for intraday IVS calibration, extending PINNs applications and providing a method for real-time financial modelling. ...

Inferring Option Movements Through Residual Transactions: A Quantitative Model ArXiv ID: 2410.16563 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This research presents a novel approach to predicting option movements by analyzing residual transactions, which are trades that deviate from standard hedging activities. Unlike traditional methods that primarily focus on open interest and trading volume, this study argues that residuals can reveal nuanced insights into institutional sentiment and strategic positioning. By examining these deviations, the model identifies early indicators of market trends, providing a refined framework for forecasting option prices. The proposed model integrates classical machine learning and regression techniques to analyze patterns in high frequency trading data, capturing complex, non linear relationships. This predictive framework allows traders to anticipate shifts in option values, enhancing strategies for better market timing, risk management, and portfolio optimization. The model’s adaptability, driven by real time data processing, makes it particularly effective in fast paced trading environments, where early detection of institutional behavior is crucial for gaining a competitive edge. Overall, this research contributes to the field of options trading by offering a strategic tool that detects early market signals, optimizing trading decisions based on predictive insights derived from residual trading patterns. This approach bridges the gap between conventional metrics and the subtle behaviors of institutional players, marking a significant advancement in options market analysis. ...

KANOP: A Data-Efficient Option Pricing Model using Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks ArXiv ID: 2410.00419 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract Inspired by the recently proposed Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs), we introduce the KAN-based Option Pricing (KANOP) model to value American-style options, building on the conventional Least Square Monte Carlo (LSMC) algorithm. KANs, which are based on Kolmogorov-Arnold representation theorem, offer a data-efficient alternative to traditional Multi-Layer Perceptrons, requiring fewer hidden layers to achieve a higher level of performance. By leveraging the flexibility of KANs, KANOP provides a learnable alternative to the conventional set of basis functions used in the LSMC model, allowing the model to adapt to the pricing task and effectively estimate the expected continuation value. Using examples of standard American and Asian-American options, we demonstrate that KANOP produces more reliable option value estimates, both for single-dimensional cases and in more complex scenarios involving multiple input variables. The delta estimated by the KANOP model is also more accurate than that obtained using conventional basis functions, which is crucial for effective option hedging. Graphical illustrations further validate KANOP’s ability to accurately model the expected continuation value for American-style options. ...

Theoretical and Empirical Validation of Heston Model ArXiv ID: 2409.12453 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This study focuses on the application of the Heston model to option pricing, employing both theoretical derivations and empirical validations. The Heston model, known for its ability to incorporate stochastic volatility, is derived and analyzed to evaluate its effectiveness in pricing options. For practical application, we utilize Monte Carlo simulations alongside market data from the Crude Oil WTI market to test the model’s accuracy. Machine learning based optimization methods are also applied for the estimation of the five Heston parameters. By calibrating the model with real-world data, we assess its robustness and relevance in current financial markets, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical finance models and their practical implementations. ...

Pricing and hedging of decentralised lending contracts ArXiv ID: 2409.04233 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract We study the loan contracts offered by decentralised loan protocols (DLPs) through the lens of financial derivatives. DLPs, which effectively are clearinghouses, facilitate transactions between option buyers (i.e. borrowers) and option sellers (i.e. lenders). The loan-to-value at which the contract is initiated determines the option premium borrowers pay for entering the contract, and this can be deduced from the non-arbitrage pricing theory. We show that when there are no market frictions, and there is no spread between lending and borrowing rates, it is optimal to never enter the lending contract. Next, by accounting for the spread between rates and transactional costs, we develop a deep neural network-based algorithm for learning trading strategies on the external markets that allow us to replicate the payoff of the lending contracts that are not necessarily optimally exercised. This allows hedge the risk lenders carry by issuing options sold to the borrowers, which can complement (or even replace) the liquidations mechanism used to protect lenders’ capital. Our approach can also be used to exploit (statistical) arbitrage opportunities that may arise when DLP allow users to enter lending contracts with loan-to-value, which is not appropriately calibrated to market conditions or/and when different markets price risk differently. We present thorough simulation experiments using historical data and simulations to validate our approach. ...

American option pricing using generalised stochastic hybrid systems ArXiv ID: 2409.07477 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This paper presents a novel approach to pricing American options using piecewise diffusion Markov processes (PDifMPs), a type of generalised stochastic hybrid system that integrates continuous dynamics with discrete jump processes. Standard models often rely on constant drift and volatility assumptions, which limits their ability to accurately capture the complex and erratic nature of financial markets. By incorporating PDifMPs, our method accounts for sudden market fluctuations, providing a more realistic model of asset price dynamics. We benchmark our approach with the Longstaff-Schwartz algorithm, both in its original form and modified to include PDifMP asset price trajectories. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our PDifMP-based method not only provides a more accurate reflection of market behaviour but also offers practical advantages in terms of computational efficiency. The results suggest that PDifMPs can significantly improve the predictive accuracy of American options pricing by more closely aligning with the stochastic volatility and jumps observed in real financial markets. ...

Option Pricing with Stochastic Volatility, Equity Premium, and Interest Rates ArXiv ID: 2408.15416 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This paper presents a new model for options pricing. The Black-Scholes-Merton (BSM) model plays an important role in financial options pricing. However, the BSM model assumes that the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and equity premium are constant, which is unrealistic in the real market. To address this, our paper considers the time-varying characteristics of those parameters. Our model integrates elements of the BSM model, the Heston (1993) model for stochastic variance, the Vasicek model (1977) for stochastic interest rates, and the Campbell and Viceira model (1999, 2001) for stochastic equity premium. We derive a linear second-order parabolic PDE and extend our model to encompass fixed-strike Asian options, yielding a new PDE. In the absence of closed-form solutions for any options from our new model, we utilize finite difference methods to approximate prices for European call and up-and-out barrier options, and outline the numerical implementation for fixed-strike Asian call options. ...