This article presents a Markov chain framework to characterize the behavior of the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX index). Two possible regimes are considered: high volatility and low volatility. The specification accounts for deviations from normality and the existence of persistence in the...

This article postulates a flexible specification for the implied volatility surface, which accounts for the existence of volatility skew and term structure. I show that it is possible to express the local volatility function in terms of the implied volatility. I then obtain an analytic formula...

European quanto derivatives are usually priced using the well known quanto adjustment corresponding to the forward of the quantoed asset under the assumptions of the Black-Scholes model. In this article, I present the quanto adjustment corresponding to the local volatility model that allows...

Empirical evidence shows that, in equity options markets, the slope of the skew is largely independent of the volatility level. Single-factor stochastic volatility models are not flexible enough to account for the stochastic behavior of the skew. On the other hand, multifactor stochastic...

I perform a regression analysis to test two of the most famous heuristic rules existing in the literature about the behavior of the implied volatility surface. These rules are the sticky delta rule and the sticky strike rule. I present a new specification to test the sticky strike rule, which...