Search Results (19)

This paper develops a unified framework for mathematical finance under general semimartingale models that allow for dividend payments, negative asset prices, and unbounded jumps. We present a rigorous approach to the mathematical modeling of financial markets with dividend-paying assets by defining appropriate concepts of numéraires, discounted processes, and self-financing trading strategies. While most of the mathematical results are not new, this unified framework has been missing in the literature. We carefully examine the transition between nominal and discounted price processes and define appropriate notions of admissible strategies that work naturally in both settings. By establishing the equivalence between these models and providing clear conditions for their applicability, we create a mathematical foundation that encompasses a wide range of realistic market scenarios and can serve as a basis for future work on mathematical finance and derivative pricing. We demonstrate the practical relevance of our framework through a comprehensive application to dividend-paying equity markets where the framework naturally handles discrete dividend payments. This application shows that our theoretical framework is not merely abstract but provides the rigorous foundation for pricing derivatives in real-world markets where classical assumptions need extension. Full article

We focus on solving stochastic differential equations driven by jump processes (SDEJs) with measurable drifts that may exhibit quadratic growth. Our approach leverages a space transformation and Itô-Krylov’s formula to effectively eliminate the singular component of the drift, allowing us to obtain a transformed SDEJ that satisfies classical solvability conditions. By applying the inverse transformation proven to be a one-to-one mapping, we retrieve the solution to the original equation. This methodology offers several key advantages. First, it extends the well-known result of Le Gall (1984) from Brownian-driven SDEs to the jump process setting, broadening the range of applicable stochastic models. Second, it provides a robust framework for handling singular drifts, enabling the resolution of equations that would otherwise be intractable. Third, the approach accommodates drifts with quadratic growth, making it particularly relevant for financial modeling, insurance risk assessment, and other applications where such growth behavior is common. Finally, the inclusion of multiple examples illustrates the practical effectiveness of our method, demonstrating its flexibility and applicability to real-world problems. Full article

This paper aims to develop optional semimartingale methods in risk theory to allow for a larger class of risk models. Optional semimartingales are left-continuous with right-limit stochastic processes defined on a probability space where the usual conditions—completeness and right-continuity of the filtration—are not assumed. Three risk models are formulated, accounting for inflation, interest rates, and claim occurrences. The first model extends the martingale approach to calculate ruin probabilities, the second employs the Gerber–Shiu function to evaluate the expected discounted penalty from financial oscillations or jumps, and the third introduces a Gaussian risk model using counting processes to capture premium and claim cash flow jumps in insurance companies. Full article

Deviation of an asset price from its fundamental value, commonly referred to as a price bubble, is a well-known phenomenon in financial markets. Mathematically, a bubble arises when the deflated price process transitions from a martingale to a strict local martingale. This paper explores price bubbles using the framework of optional semimartingale calculus within nonstandard probability spaces, where the underlying filtration is not necessarily right-continuous or complete. We present two formulations for financial markets with bubbles: one in which asset prices are modeled as càdlàg semimartingales and another where they are modeled as làdlàg semimartingales. In both models, we demonstrate that the formation and re-emergence of price bubbles are intrinsically tied to the lack of right continuity in the underlying filtration. These theoretical findings are illustrated with practical examples, offering novel insights into bubble dynamics that hold significance for both academics and practitioners in the field of mathematical finance. Full article

$\sigma$-martingales generalize local martingales through localizing sequences of predictable sets, which are essential in stochastic analysis and financial mathematics, particularly for arbitrage-free markets and portfolio theory. In this work, we present a new approach to $\sigma$-martingales that avoids using semimartingale characteristics. We develop all fundamental properties, provide illustrative examples, and establish the core structure of $\sigma$-martingales in a new, straightforward manner. This approach culminates in a new proof of the Ansel–Stricker lemma, which states that one-sided bounded $\sigma$-martingales are local martingales. This result, referenced in nearly every publication on mathematical finance, traditionally relies on the original French-language proof. We use this result to prove a generalization, which is essential for defining the general semimartingale model in mathematical finance. Full article

This paper aims to provide an effective method for pricing forward starting options under the double fractional stochastic volatilities mixed-exponential jump-diffusion model. The value of a forward starting option is expressed in terms of the expectation of the forward characteristic function of log return. To obtain the forward characteristic function, we approximate the pricing model with a semimartingale by introducing two small perturbed parameters. Then, we rewrite the forward characteristic function as a conditional expectation of the proportion characteristic function which is expressed in terms of the solution to a classic PDE. With the affine structure of the approximate model, we obtain the solution to the PDE. Based on the derived forward characteristic function and the Fourier transform technique, we develop a pricing algorithm for forward starting options. For comparison, we also develop a simulation scheme for evaluating forward starting options. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed pricing algorithm is effective. Exhaustive comparative experiments on eight models show that the effects of fractional Brownian motion, mixed-exponential jump, and the second volatility component on forward starting option prices are significant, and especially, the second fractional volatility is necessary to price accurately forward starting options under the framework of fractional Brownian motion. Full article

In option pricing, we often deal with options whose payoffs depend on multiple factors such as foreign exchange rates, stocks, etc. Usually, this leads to a knowledge of the joint distributions and complicated integration procedures. This paper develops an alternative approach that converts the option pricing problem into a dual one and presents a solution to the problem in the optional semimartingale setting. The paper contains several examples which illustrate its results in terms of the parameters of models and options. Full article

Empirical studies suggest that asset price fluctuations exhibit “long memory”, “volatility smile”, “volatility clustering” and asset prices present “jump”. To fit the above empirical characteristics of the market, this paper proposes a fractional stochastic volatility jump-diffusion model by combining two fractional stochastic volatilities with mixed-exponential jumps. The characteristic function of the log-return is expressed in terms of the solution of two-dimensional fractional Riccati equations of which closed-form solution does not exist. To obtain the explicit characteristic function, we approximate the pricing model by a semimartingale and convert fractional Riccati equations into a classic PDE. By the multi-dimensional Feynman-Kac theorem and the affine structure of the approximate model, we obtain the solution of the PDE with which the explicit characteristic function and its cumulants are derived. Based on the derived characteristic function and Fourier cosine series expansion, we obtain approximate European options prices. By differential evolution algorithm, we calibrate our approximate model and its two nested models to S&P 500 index options and obtain optimal parameter estimates of these models. Numerical results demonstrate the pricing method is fast and accurate. Empirical results demonstrate our approximate model fits the market best among the three models. Full article

This article is devoted to showing the existence and uniqueness (EU) of a solution with non-Lipschitz coefficients (NLC) of fractional Itô-Doob stochastic differential equations driven by countably many Brownian motions (FIDSDECBMs) of order $\varkappa \in (0,1)$ by using the Picard iteration technique (PIT) and the semimartingale local time (SLT). Full article

Tool wear will reduce workpieces’ quality and accuracy. In this paper, the vibration signals of the milling process were analyzed, and it was found that historical fluctuations still have an impact on the existing state. First of all, the linear fractional alpha-stable motion (LFSM) was investigated, along with a differential iterative model with it as the noise term is constructed according to the fractional-order Ito formula; the general solution of this model is derived by semimartingale approximation. After that, for the chaotic features of the vibration signal, the time-frequency domain characteristics were extracted using principal component analysis (PCA), and the relationship between the variation of the generalized Hurst exponent and tool wear was established using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MDFA). Then, the maximum prediction length was obtained by the maximum Lyapunov exponent (MLE), which allows for analysis of the vibration signal. Finally, tool condition diagnosis was carried out by the evolving connectionist system (ECoS). The results show that the LFSM iterative model with semimartingale approximation combined with PCA and MDFA are effective for the prediction of vibration trends and tool condition. Further, the monitoring of tool condition using ECoS is also effective. Full article

The stability analysis of the numerical solutions of stochastic models has gained great interest, but there is not much research about the stability of stochastic pantograph differential equations. This paper deals with the almost sure exponential stability of numerical solutions for stochastic pantograph differential equations interspersed with the Poisson jumps by using the discrete semimartingale convergence theorem. It is shown that the Euler–Maruyama method can reproduce the almost sure exponential stability under the linear growth condition. It is also shown that the backward Euler method can reproduce the almost sure exponential stability of the exact solution under the polynomial growth condition and the one-sided Lipschitz condition. Additionally, numerical examples are performed to validate our theoretical result. Full article

Problem: The leverage effect plays an important role in finance. However, the statistical test for the presence of the leverage effect is still lacking study. Approach: In this paper, by using high frequency data, we propose a novel procedure to test if the driving Brownian motion of an It$\widehat{\mathrm{o}}$ semi-martingale is correlated to its volatility (referred to as the leverage effect in financial econometrics) over a long time period. The asymptotic setting is based on observations within a long time interval with the mesh of the observation grid shrinking to zero. We construct a test statistic via forming a sequence of Studentized statistics whose distributions are asymptotically normal over blocks of a fixed time span, and then collect the sequence based on the whole data set of a long time span. Result: The asymptotic behaviour of the Studentized statistics was obtained from the cubic variation of the underlying semi-martingale and the asymptotic distribution of the proposed test statistic under the null hypothesis that the leverage effect is absent was established, and we also show that the test has an asymptotic power of one against the alternative hypothesis that the leverage effect is present. Implications: We conducted extensive simulation studies to assess the finite sample performance of the test statistics, and the results show a satisfactory performance for the test. Finally, we implemented the proposed test procedure to a dataset of the SP500 index. We see that the null hypothesis of the absence of the leverage effect is rejected for most of the time period. Therefore, this provides a strong evidence that the leverage effect is a necessary ingredient in modelling high-frequency data. Full article

The strong predictable representation property of semi-martingales and the notion of enlargement of filtration meet naturally in modeling financial markets, and theoretical problems arise. Here, first, we illustrate some of them through classical examples. Then, we review recent results obtained by studying predictable martingale representations for filtrations enlarged by means of a full process, possibly with accessible components in its jump times. The emphasis is on the non-uniqueness of the martingale enjoying the strong predictable representation property with respect to the same enlarged filtration. Full article

We formulate a measure of information efficiency in a general, no-arbitrage semimartingale model of the price process. The market quality measure is applied to a high-frequency dataset from the interdealer FX market to identify changes in market efficiency after a decimalization of tick size. Full article

Here, we review some results of fractional volatility models, where the volatility is driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm). In these models, the future average volatility is not a process adapted to the underlying filtration, and fBm is not a semimartingale in general. So, we cannot use the classical Itô’s calculus to explain how the memory properties of fBm allow us to describe some empirical findings of the implied volatility surface through Hull and White type formulas. Thus, Malliavin calculus provides a natural approach to deal with the implied volatility without assuming any particular structure of the volatility. The aim of this paper is to provides the basic tools of Malliavin calculus for the study of fractional volatility models. That is, we explain how the long and short memory of fBm improves the description of the implied volatility. In particular, we consider in detail a model that combines the long and short memory properties of fBm as an example of the approach introduced in this paper. The theoretical results are tested with numerical experiments. Full article