The term structure of interest rates gives the relationship between the yield on an investment and the term to maturity of the investment. Since the term structure is typically measured using default-free, continuously-compounded, annualized zero-coupon yields, it is not directly observable from...

In a recent paper, NBZ [2010] present a multidimensional transform for generating path-independent trees for pricing American options under low dimensional stochastic volatility models. For this class of models, this approach has higher accuracy than the GARCH tree method of Ritchken and Trevor...

This paper shows how to price American interest rate options under the exponential jumps-extended Vasicek model, or the Vasicek-EJ model. We modify the Gaussian jump-diffusion tree of Amin [1993] and apply to the exponential jumps-based short rate process under the Vasicek-EJ model. The tree is...

This paper derives analytical solutions for valuing credit default swaps (CDS) using preference-free multifactor affine and quadratic models, under the recovery of face value (RFV) assumption. We use a preference-free framework, which is independent of the market prices of risk, and yet allows...

In this paper, I use a stochastic approach to model the effect that correlations between pension scheme assets and firm values should have on the premiums chargeable by the Pension Protection Fund. In particular, I look at the effect on the aggregate premium that should be charged considering a...

This paper proposes a robust approach to hedging and pricing in the presence of market imperfections such as market incompleteness and frictions. The generality of this framework allows us to conduct an in-depth theoretical analysis of hedging strategies for a wide family of risk measures and...

Risk diversification is the basis of insurance and investment. It is thus crucial to study the effects that could limit it. One of them is the existence of systemic risk that affects all the policies at the same time. We introduce here a probabilistic approach to examine the consequences of its...

Contracts paying a guaranteed minimum rate of return and a fraction of a positive excess rate, which is specified relative to a benchmark portfolio, are closely related to unit-linked life-insurance products and can be considered as alternatives to direct investment in the underlying benchmark....

In this paper, we use the key concept of arbitrage free valuation to close the gap between option pricing and ALM. We derive a continuous-time equivalent of the discrete ALM model and show how, e.g., equity options and swaptions ought to be valued. We demonstrate that normally distributed equity...

A unit-linked insurance contract can be formulated in terms of a guaranteed amount together with a fraction of a positive excess return of a benchmark portfolio. Normally, the excess return is determined annually and accumulated until the maturity of the contract. The accumulation factor which...