This work introduces two new financial derivatives into the finance literature. The first is the Return Barrier Option, which has emerged recently as a popular contract in the OTC markets. This contract is similar to a barrier option, but the knock-out event depends on an asset's returns, rather...

We develop a zero beta industry model of growth options to explain the conflicting empirical findings on the relation between stock returns and idiosyncratic return volatility at the firm level. By allowing for the volatility of the underlying idiosyncratic choice variables to exhibit...

We present a new discrete-time GARCH jump framework that allows for rich dynamics in higher moments by combining heteroskedastic processes with fat-tailed innovations in returns and volatility. We provide a tractable risk neutralization framework allowing for option valuation with separate...

We consider a stochastic volatility model of the mean-reverting type to describe the evolution of a firm’s values instead of the classical approach by Merton with geometric Brownian motions. We develop an analytical expression for the default probability. Our simulation results indicate that...

Stocks with high idiosyncratic volatility perform poorly relative to low idiosyncratic volatility stocks. We offer a novel explanation of this anomaly based on real options, which is consistent with earlier findings on idiosyncratic volatility (the positive contemporaneous relation between...

This paper considers the valuation of equity-linked life insurance contracts that offer an annually guaranteed minimum return. The policy premiums are invested in a reference portfolio that is modeled by means of a regime switching Lévy process where the model parameters depend on a continuous,...

This paper presents a new transform-based approach for path-independent lattice construction for pricing American options under low-dimensional stochastic volatility models. We derive multidimensional transforms which allow us to construct efficient path-independent lattices for virtually all...

The stochastic alpha beta rho (SABR) model introduced by Hagan et al. (2002) is widely used in both fixed income and the foreign exchange (FX) markets. Continuously monitored barrier option contracts are among the most popular derivative contracts in the FX markets. In this paper, we develop...

In this paper we analyse how the policyholder surrender behaviour is influenced by changes in various sources of risk impacting a variable annuity (VA) contract embedded with a guaranteed minimum maturity benefit rider that can be surrendered anytime prior to maturity. We model the underlying...

SABR model is a reference in financial industry to price fixed income derivatives, thanks to its ability to capture the volatility smile. The goal of this thesis is to develop a technique based on SABR model which captures all non-linearities, be more robust, gives tradable parameters...