We introduce a nonparametric estimator of the volatility function in univariate processes with Lévy type jumps and stochastic volatility when we observe the state variable at discrete times. Our results rely on the fact that it is possible to recognize the discontinuous part of the state...

We propose a simple univariate model for the dynamics of spot electricity prices. The model is nonparametric in the sense that it is free from parametric model assumptions and flexible in capturing the dynamics of the data. The estimation is performed in two steps. Preliminarily, spikes are...

In recent years, diffusion models for interest rates became very popular. In this paper, we perform a selection of a suitable diffusion model for the Italian short rate. Our data set is given by the yields on 3-month BOT (Buoni Ordinari del Tesoro), from 1981 to 2001, for a total of 470...

In a recent paper, Collin-Dufresne and Goldstein (2002) show that the movements of the yield curve and of interest rate derivatives are mostly uncorrelated, advocating the presence of unspanned volatility. This letter shows that their results can be explained in the framework of a Gaussian HJM...

We use the extended CIR model to value interest rate caps and floors. The extension allows arbitrary initial term structure, in the spirit of Hull and White, a crucial feature since we show that the pricing of the considered contingent claims improves dramatically after taking into account the...

In this paper, new fully nonparametric estimators of the diffusion coefficient of continuous time models are introduced. The estimators are based on Fourier analysis of the state variable trajectory observed and on the estimation of quadratic variation between observations by means of realized...

This study reconsiders the role of jumps for volatility forecasting by showing that jumps have a positive and mostly significant impact on future volatility. This result becomes apparent once volatility is separated into its continuous and discontinuous component using estimators which are not...

This study reconsiders the role of jumps for volatility forecasting by showing that jumps have a positive and mostly significant impact on future volatility. This result becomes apparent once volatility is separated into its continuous and discontinuous components using estimators which are not...

We reconstruct the level-dependent diffusion coefficient of a univariate semimartingale with jumps which is observed discretely. The consistency and asymptotic normality of our estimator are provided in the presence of both finite and infinite activity (finite variation) jumps. Our results rely...