Binomial Option Pricing Under Stochastic Volatility and Correlated State Variables

This article develops a method for valuing contingent payoffs for a non-constant volatility process via a simple recombining binomial tree. The direct application of the technology provides a way to price, for example, American calls or puts governed by a stock price process with stochastic volatility. The stock price and volatility diffusions may have non-zero correlations. This feature allows model prices consistent with the volatility smile. Numerical estimates of the hedge statistics (delta, gamma, and vega) are obtained directly from the tree