Lookback Option Pricing Problems of Uncertain Mean-Reverting Stock Model

A lookback option is a path-dependent option, offering a payoff that depends on the maximum or minimum value of the underlying asset price over the life of the option. This paper presents a new mean-reverting uncertain stock model with a floating interest rate to study the lookback option price, in which the processing of the interest rate is assumed to be the uncertain counterpart of the Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) model. The CIR model can reflect the fluctuations in the interest rate and ensure that such rate is positive. Subsequently, lookback option pricing formulas are derived through the α-path method and some mathematical properties of the uncertain option pricing formulas are discussed. In addition, several numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Lookback Option Pricing Problem of Uncertain Mean-reverting Currrency Model

A lookback option is a maturity option that pays off based on the maximum or minimum stock price over the life of the option. This paper investigates the problem of pricing a lookback currency option based on the uncertain mean-reverting currency model and designs the algorithms to calculate the formulations. Furthermore, disscussions about parameters and result are drawn in the paper.

THE VALUE OF BEING LUCKY: OPTION BACKDATING AND NONDIVERSIFIABLE RISK

The practice of executives influencing their option compensation by setting a grant date retrospectively is known as backdating. Since executive stock options are usually granted at-the-money, selecting an advantageous grant date to coincide with a low stock price will be valuable to an executive. Empirical evidence shows that backdating of executive stock option grants was prevalent, particularly at firms with highly volatile stock prices. Executives who have the opportunity to backdate should take this into account in their valuation. We quantify the value to a risk averse executive of a lucky option grant with strike chosen to coincide with the lowest stock price of the month. We show the ex ante gain to risk averse executives from the ability to backdate increases with both risk aversion and with volatility, and is significant in magnitude. Our model involves valuing the embedded partial American lookback option in a utility indifference setting with key features of risk aversion, inability to diversify and early exercise.