Option Pricing and Hedging for Discrete Time Regime-Switching Models

We propose optimal mean-variance dynamic hedging strategies in discrete time under a multivariate Gaussian regime-switching model. The methodology, which also performs pricing, is robust to time-varying and clustering risk observed in financial time series. As such, it overcomes the main theoretical drawbacks of the Black-Scholes model. To support our approach, we provide univariate pricing results for monthly S&P 500 vanilla options. Then, we present the associated out-of-sample hedging results in the context of harvesting the implied versus realized volatility premium. Using the proposed methodology, the Sharpe ratio derived from the strategy doubles over the classical Black-Scholes delta-hedging methodology