Convexity correction arises when one computes the expected value of an interest rate index under a probability measure other than its own natural martingale measure. As a typical example, the natural martingale measure of the swap rate is the swap measure with annuity as the numeraire. However,...

We consider the saddlepoint approximation methods for pricing derivatives whose payoffs depend on the discrete realized variance of the underlying price process of a risky asset. Most of the earlier pricing models of variance products and volatility derivatives use the quadratic variation...

Reset clauses on the strike price and maturity date are commonly found in derivative contracts, like insurance segregated funds, bonds and executive warrants. We analyze the optimal reset policy adopted by the holder of an option that possesses the reset rights on the strike price and date of...

The reload provision in an employee stock option entitles its holder to receive one new (reload) option from the employer for each share tendered as payment of strike upon the exercise of the stock option. The number of reloads allowed can be finite or infinite. The shout feature in a call...

A knock-in American option under a trigger clause is an option contract in which the option holder receives an American option conditional on the underlying asset price breaching certain trigger level (or called barrier level). We present closed form valuation formulas for knock-in American...

We develop a singular stochastic control model for pricing variable annuities with the guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit. This benefit promises to return the entire initial investment, with withdrawals spread over the term of the contract, irrespective of the market performance of the...

Most of the empirical studies on stochastic volatility dynamics favor the 3/2 specification over the square-root (CIR) process in the Heston model. In the context of option pricing, the 3/2 stochastic volatility model is reported to be able to capture the volatility skew evolution better than...

We consider the finite-time horizon dividend-ruin model where the firm pays out dividends to its shareholders according to a dividend-barrier strategy and becomes ruined when the firm's asset value falls below the default threshold. The asset value process is modeled as a restricted Geometric...