Asymmetric Jump Processes: Option Pricing Implications

This article proposes and tests a convenient, easy to use closed-form solution for the pricing of a European Call option where the underlying asset is subject to upward and downward jumps displaying separate distributions and probabilities of occurrence. The setup presented in this article lays in contrast to the assumption of lognormality in the jump magnitude generally made in the option pricing literature and can be used by academics and practitioners alike as it allows for a more precise modeling of the implied volatility smile. Through the use of both simulations and actual options data on the S&P 500 index it is shown that the asymmetric jump model captures deviations from the standard geometric Brownian motion with more precision than the lognormal jump setup is able to achieve