Journal of Computational Finance

Risk.net

Pricing multivariate barrier reverse convertibles with factor-based subordinators

Marina Marena, Andrea Romeo and Patrizia Semeraro

  • We investigate the link between marginal distributions and correlation structure in a class of multivariate Lévy models, the ρα models, showing how the range of the correlation spanned by the model depends on the process marginal distributions.
  • We examine the pricing performance of ρα models with regard to barrier reverse convertibles, one of the most popular segments of the Swiss market. A sensitivity analysis quantifies the impact of model parameters on prices and allows us to assess the relative importance of correlation structure and marginal processes, given the characteristics in terms of barrier and maturity of the contract.
  • We empirically find a trade-off between marginal and correlation fit. In particular, a joint calibration of the marginal distributions and the correlation structure may be required to obtain an overall accurate model fit.
  • We show that the correlation can play a significant role in pricing long term MBRCs. This feature requires a good correlation fit.

In this paper, we study factor-based subordinated Lévy processes in their variance gamma (VG) and normal inverse Gaussian (NIG) specifications, and focus on their ability to price multivariate exotic derivatives. Both model specifications, calibrated to a data set of multivariate barrier reverse convertibles listed at the Swiss market, demonstrate good ability in capturing smile patterns and recovering empirical correlations. We show how the range of correlations spanned by each model is linked to the process marginal distributions. Our analysis finds that a trade-off exists between marginal and correlation fit. A sensitivity analysis is performed, showing how a product’s characteristics and a model’s features affect multibarrier reverse convertibles prices. Market and model prices are analyzed, and discrepancies are highlighted and explained.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Risk.net? View our subscription options

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here