In this paper we study algorithms for pricing of interest rate instruments using recombining tree (scenario lattice) interest models. The price is defined as expected discounted cash flow. If the cash-flow generated by the instrument depends on the full or partial history of interest rates...

National governments are key actors in managing the impacts of extreme weather events, yet many highly exposed developing countries -- faced with exhausted tax bases, high levels of indebtedness, and limited donor assistance -- have been unable to raise sufficient and timely capital to replace...

The term structure of credit spreads is studied with an aim to predict its future movements. A completely new approach to tackle this problem is presented, which utilizes nonlinear parametric models. The Brain-Cousens regression model with five parameters is chosen to describe the term structure...

We consider the optimization of active extension portfolios. For this purpose, the optimization problem is rewritten as a stochastic programming model and solved using a clever multi-start local search heuristic, which turns out to provide stable solutions. The heuristic solutions are compared...

In this note, we extend an evolutionary stochastic portfolio optimization framework to include probabilistic constraints. Both the stochastic programming-based modeling environment as well as the evolutionary optimization environment are ideally suited for an integration of various types of...

We propose a Markov chain model for credit rating changes. We do not use any distributional assumptions on the asset values of the rated companies but directly model the rating transitions process. The parameters of the model are estimated by a maximum likelihood approach using historical rating...

Multi-stage financial decision optimization under uncertainty depends on a careful numerical approximation of the underlying stochastic process, which describes the future returns of the selected assets or asset categories. Various approaches towards an optimal generation of discrete-time,...