In this paper we investigate alternative Levy base correlation models that arise from the Gamma, Inverse Gaussian and CMY distribution classes. We compare these models with the basic (exponential) Levy base correlation model and the classical Gaussian base correlation model. For all investigated...

This paper develops a two-dimensional structural framework for valuing credit default swaps and corporate bonds in the presence of default contagion. Modelling the values of related firms as correlated geometric Brownian motions with exponential default barriers, analytical formulae are obtained...

Innovative transition matrix techniques are used to compare extreme credit risk for Australian and US companies both prior to and during the global financial crisis (GFC). Transition matrix methodology is traditionally used to measure Value at Risk (VaR), a measure of risk below a specified...

The credit risk capital requirements within the current Basel II Accord are based on the asymptotic single risk factor (ASRF) approach. The asset correlation parameter, defined as an obligor's sensitivity to the ASRF, is a key driver within this approach, and its average values for different...

Vanilla (standard European) options are actively traded on many underlying asset classes, such as equities, commodities and foreign exchange (FX). The market quotes for these options are typically used by exotic options traders to calibrate the parameters of the (risk-neutral) stochastic process...

This paper forms part of a presentation on the same subject given by the author to the Basel II conference organised by the Securities Institute in London during March 2004. It is a case study based on the author’s experience in Barclays Bank on the preparations required for successful...

In this paper, we cover some principles and guidelines that are useful for modelling and interpreting data associated with highly complex physical phenomena such as occur in multidisciplinary fields. We compare and contrast the theoretical and statistical-empirical modelling paradigms and...

The pricing of exotic portfolio products, e.g. path-dependent CDO tranches, relies on the joint probability distribution of portfolio losses at different time horizons. We discuss a range of methods to construct the joint distribution in a way that is consistent with market prices of vanilla CDO...