Currency Swaps

Swaps

• Swaps are agreements between two counterparties to exchange cash flows in the future according to a

predetermined formula.

• There are two basic types of swaps: interest rate and currency.

• An interest rate swap occurs when two parties exchange interest payments periodically.

• Currency swaps are agreements to deliver one currency against another (our focus here).

• There are theories about why swaps exist.^a

Currency Swaps

• A currency swap involves two parties to exchange cash flows in different currencies.

• Consider the following fixed rates available to party A and party B in U.S. dollars and Japanese yen:

Dollars Yen A DA% YA% B DB% YB%

• Suppose A wants to take out a fixed-rate loan in yen, and B wants to take out a fixed-rate loan in dollars.

Currency Swaps (continued)

• A straightforward scenario is for A to borrow yen at Y_A% and B to borrow dollars at D_B%.

• But suppose A is relatively more competitive in the dollar market than the yen market, i.e.,

Y_B − Y_A < D_B − D_A.

• Consider this alternative arrangement:

– A borrows dollars.

– B borrows yen.

– They enter into a currency swap with a bank as the

Currency Swaps (concluded)

• The counterparties exchange principal at the beginning and the end of the life of the swap.

• This act transforms A’s loan into a yen loan and B’s yen loan into a dollar loan.

• The total gain is ((D_B − D_A) − (Y_B − Y_A))%:

– The total interest rate is originally (YA + DB)%.

– The new arrangement has a smaller total rate of (D_A + Y_B)%.

• Transactions will happen only if the gain is distributed so that the cost to each party is less than the original.

Example

• A and B face the following borrowing rates:

Dollars Yen

A 9% 10%

B 12% 11%

• A wants to borrow yen, and B wants to borrow dollars.

• A can borrow yen directly at 10%.

• B can borrow dollars directly at 12%.

Example (continued)

• The rate differential in dollars (3%) is different from that in yen (1%).

• So a currency swap with a total saving of 3 − 1 = 2% is possible.

• A is relatively more competitive in the dollar market.

• B is relatively more competitive in the yen market.

Example (concluded)

• Next page shows an arrangement which is beneficial to all parties involved.

– A effectively borrows yen at 9.5% (lower than 10%).

– B borrows dollars at 11.5% (lower than 12%).

– The gain is 0.5% for A, 0.5% for B, and, if we treat dollars and yen identically, 1% for the bank.

Party B Bank

Party A

Dollars 9% Yen 11%

Dollars 9%

Yen 11%

Yen 9.5%

Dollars 11.5%

As a Package of Cash Market Instruments

• Assume no default risk.

• Take B on p. 483 as an example.

• The swap is equivalent to a long position in a yen bond paying 11% annual interest and a short position in a dollar bond paying 11.5% annual interest.

• The pricing formula is SP_Y − P_D.

– PD is the dollar bond’s value in dollars.

– P_Y is the yen bond’s value in yen.

– S is the $/yen spot exchange rate.

As a Package of Cash Market Instruments (concluded)

• The value of a currency swap depends on:

– The term structures of interest rates in the currencies involved.

– The spot exchange rate.

• It has zero value when

SP_Y = P_D.

Example

• Take a 3-year swap on p. 483 with principal amounts of US$1 million and 100 million yen.

• The payments are made once a year.

• The spot exchange rate is 90 yen/$ and the term

structures are flat in both nations—8% in the U.S. and 9% in Japan.

• For B, the value of the swap is (in millions of USD)

1

90 × 

11 × e^−0.09 + 11× e^−0.09×2 + 111× e^−0.09×3

−

0.115 × e^−0.08 + 0.115 × e^−0.08×2 + 1.115 × e^−0.08×3

= 0.074.

As a Package of Forward Contracts

• From Eq. (52) on p. 450, the forward contract maturing i years from now has a dollar value of

f_i ≡ (SY_i) e^−qi − D_ie^−ri. (58) – Y_i is the yen inflow at year i.

– S is the $/yen spot exchange rate.

– q is the yen interest rate.

– D_i is the dollar outflow at year i.

– r is the dollar interest rate.

As a Package of Forward Contracts (concluded)

• For simplicity, flat term structures were assumed.

• Generalization is straightforward.

Example

• Take the swap in the example on p. 486.

• Every year, B receives 11 million yen and pays 0.115 million dollars.

• In addition, at the end of the third year, B receives 100 million yen and pays 1 million dollars.

• Each of these transactions represents a forward contract.

• Y1 = Y2 = 11, Y3 = 111, S = 1/90, D1 = D2 = 0.115, D3 = 1.115, q = 0.09, and r = 0.08.

• Plug in these numbers to get f₁ + f₂ + f₃ = 0.074 million dollars as before.

Stochastic Processes and Brownian Motion

Of all the intellectual hurdles which the human mind has confronted and has overcome in the last fifteen hundred years, the one which seems to me to have been the most amazing in character and the most stupendous in the scope of its consequences is the one relating to the problem of motion.

— Herbert Butterfield (1900–1979)

Stochastic Processes

• A stochastic process

X = { X(t) } is a time series of random variables.

• X(t) (or X_t) is a random variable for each time t and is usually called the state of the process at time t.

• A realization of X is called a sample path.

Stochastic Processes (concluded)

• If the times t form a countable set, X is called a discrete-time stochastic process or a time series.

• In this case, subscripts rather than parentheses are usually employed, as in

X = { X_n }.

• If the times form a continuum, X is called a continuous-time stochastic process.

Random Walks

• The binomial model is a random walk in disguise.

• Consider a particle on the integer line, 0, ±1, ±2, . . . .

• In each time step, it can make one move to the right with probability p or one move to the left with

probability 1 − p.

– This random walk is symmetric when p = 1/2.

• Connection with the BOPM: The particle’s position denotes the number of up moves minus that of down moves up to that time.

20 40 60 80 Time

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4

Position

Random Walk with Drift

X_n = μ + X_n−1 + ξ_n.

• ξ_n are independent and identically distributed with zero mean.

• Drift μ is the expected change per period.

• Note that this process is continuous in space.

Martingales

• { X(t), t ≥ 0 } is a martingale if E[ | X(t) | ] < ∞ for t ≥ 0 and

E[ X(t) | X(u), 0 ≤ u ≤ s ] = X(s), s ≤ t. (59)

• In the discrete-time setting, a martingale means

E[ X_n+1 | X₁, X₂, . . . , X_n ] = X_n. (60)

• X_n can be interpreted as a gambler’s fortune after the nth gamble.

• Identity (60) then says the expected fortune after the (n + 1)th gamble equals the fortune after the nth gamble regardless of what may have occurred before.

aThe origin of the name is somewhat obscure.

Martingales (concluded)

• A martingale is therefore a notion of fair games.

• Apply the law of iterated conditional expectations to both sides of Eq. (60) on p. 497 to yield

E[ X_n ] = E[ X₁ ] (61) for all n.

• Similarly,

E[ X(t) ] = E[ X(0) ] in the continuous-time case.

Still a Martingale?

• Suppose we replace Eq. (60) on p. 497 with E[ X_n+1 | X_n ] = X_n.

• It also says past history cannot affect the future.

• But is it equivalent to the original definition (60) on p. 497?^a

aContributed by Mr. Hsieh, Chicheng (M9007304) on April 13, 2005.

Still a Martingale? (continued)

• Well, no.^a

• Consider this random walk with drift:

X_i =

⎧⎨

⎩

X_i−1 + ξ_i, if i is even, X_i−2, otherwise.

• Above, ξ_n are random variables with zero mean.

aContributed by Mr. Zhang, Ann-Sheng (B89201033) on April 13, 2005.

Still a Martingale? (concluded)

• It is not hard to see that

E[ X_i | X_i−1 ] =

⎧⎨

⎩

X_i−1, if i is even, X_i−1, otherwise.

– It is a martingale by the “new” definition.

• But

E[ X_i | . . . , X_i−2, X_i−1 ] =

⎧⎨

⎩

X_i−1, if i is even, X_i−2, otherwise.

– It is not a martingale by the original definition.

Example

• Consider the stochastic process



Z_n ≡

n i=1

X_i, n ≥ 1

 ,

where X_i are independent random variables with zero mean.

• This process is a martingale because E[ Z_n+1 | Z1, Z2, . . . , Z_n ]

= E[ Z_n + X_n+1 | Z1, Z₂, . . . , Z_n ]

= E[ Z_n | Z1, Z₂, . . . , Z_n ] + E[ X_n+1 | Z1, Z₂, . . . , Z_n ]

Probability Measure

• A probability measure assigns probabilities to states of the world.

• A martingale is defined with respect to a probability measure, under which the expectation is taken.

• A martingale is also defined with respect to an information set.

– In the characterizations (59)–(60) on p. 497, the

information set contains the current and past values of X by default.

– But it need not be so.

Probability Measure (continued)

• A stochastic process { X(t), t ≥ 0 } is a martingale with respect to information sets { I_t } if, for all t ≥ 0,

E[ | X(t) | ] < ∞ and

E[ X(u) | I_t ] = X(t) for all u > t.

• The discrete-time version: For all n > 0, E[ X_n+1 | I_n ] = X_n, given the information sets { I_n }.

Probability Measure (concluded)

• The above implies

E[ X_n+m | I_n ] = X_n for any m > 0 by Eq. (23) on p. 153.

– A typical I_n is the price information up to time n.

– Then the above identity says the FVs of X will not deviate systematically from today’s value given the price history.

Example

• Consider the stochastic process { Z_n − nμ, n ≥ 1 }.

– Z_n ≡ _n

i=1 X_i.

– X1, X2, . . . are independent random variables with mean μ.

• Now,

E[ Z_n+1 − (n + 1) μ | X₁, X₂, . . . , X_n ]

= E[ Z_n+1 | X₁, X₂, . . . , X_n ] − (n + 1) μ

= E[ Z_n + X_n+1 | X1, X₂, . . . , X_n ] − (n + 1) μ

= Z_n + μ − (n + 1) μ

Example (concluded)

• Define

I_n ≡ { X1, X₂, . . . , X_n }.

• Then

{ Z_n − nμ, n ≥ 1 } is a martingale with respect to { I_n }.

Martingale Pricing

• The price of a European option is the expected discounted payoff at expiration in a risk-neutral economy.^a

• This principle can be generalized using the concept of martingale.

• Recall the recursive valuation of European option via C = [ pC_u + (1 − p) C_d ]/R.

– p is the risk-neutral probability.

– $1 grows to $R in a period.

Martingale Pricing (continued)

• Let C(i) denote the value of the option at time i.

• Consider the discount process C(i)

Rⁱ , i = 0, 1, . . . , n

.

• Then, E

 C(i + 1) Rⁱ⁺¹

 C(i)

= pC_u + (1 − p) C_d

Rⁱ⁺¹ = C(i) Rⁱ .

Martingale Pricing (continued)

• It is easy to show that E

 C(k) R^k

 C(i)

= C

Rⁱ, i ≤ k. (62)

• This formulation assumes:^a

1. The model is Markovian: The distribution of the

future is determined by the present (time i ) and not the past.

2. The payoff depends only on the terminal price of the underlying asset (Asian options do not qualify).

aContributed by Mr. Wang, Liang-Kai (Ph.D. student, ECE, Univer-

Martingale Pricing (continued)

• In general, the discount process is a martingale in that^a E_i^π

 C(k) R^k

= C(i)

Rⁱ , i ≤ k. (63) – E_i^π is taken under the risk-neutral probability

conditional on the price information up to time i.

• This risk-neutral probability is also called the EMM, or the equivalent martingale (probability) measure.

aIn this general formulation, Asian options do qualify.

Martingale Pricing (continued)

• Equation (63) holds for all assets, not just options.

• When interest rates are stochastic, the equation becomes C(i)

M (i) = E_i^π

 C(k) M (k)

, i ≤ k. (64)

– M(j) is the balance in the money market account at time j using the rollover strategy with an initial

investment of $1.

– It is called the bank account process.

• It says the discount process is a martingale under π.

Martingale Pricing (continued)

• If interest rates are stochastic, then M(j) is a random variable.

– M(0) = 1.

– M(j) is known at time j − 1.^a

• Identity (64) on p. 512 is the general formulation of risk-neutral valuation.

aBecause the interest rate for the next period has been revealed then.

Martingale Pricing (concluded)

Theorem 17 A discrete-time model is arbitrage-free if and only if there exists a probability measure such that the

discount process is a martingale.^a

aThis probability measure is called the risk-neutral probability mea- sure.

Futures Price under the BOPM

• Futures prices form a martingale under the risk-neutral probability.

– The expected futures price in the next period is^a pfF u + (1 − pf) F d = F

1 − d

u − d u + u − 1 u − d d



= F.

• Can be generalized to

F_i = E_i^π[ F_k ], i ≤ k, where F_i is the futures price at time i.

• This equation holds under stochastic interest rates, too.^b

aRecall p. 470.

bSee Exercise 13.2.11 of the textbook.

Martingale Pricing and Numeraire

• The martingale pricing formula (64) on p. 512 uses the money market account as numeraire.^b

– It expresses the price of any asset relative to the money market account.

• The money market account is not the only choice for numeraire.

• Suppose asset S’s value is positive at all times.

aJohn Law (1671–1729), “Money to be qualified for exchaning goods and for payments need not be certain in its value.”

bLeon Walras (1834–1910).

Martingale Pricing and Numeraire (concluded)

• Choose S as numeraire.

• Martingale pricing says there exists a risk-neutral

probability π under which the relative price of any asset C is a martingale:

C(i)

S(i) = E_i^π

 C(k) S(k)

, i ≤ k.

– S(j) denotes the price of S at time j.

• So the discount process remains a martingale.^a

aThis result is related to Girsanov’s theorem (1960).

Example

• Take the binomial model with two assets.

• In a period, asset one’s price can go from S to S1 or S₂.

• In a period, asset two’s price can go from P to P1 or P2.

• Both assets must move up or down at the same time.

• Assume

S1

P1 < S

P < S2

P2 (65)

Example (continued)

• For any derivative security, let C₁ be its price at time one if asset one’s price moves to S₁.

• Let C₂ be its price at time one if asset one’s price moves to S₂.

• Replicate the derivative by solving

αS₁ + βP₁ = C₁, αS2 + βP2 = C2,

using α units of asset one and β units of asset two.

Example (continued)

• By Eqs. (65) on p. 518, α and β have unique solutions.

• In fact,

α = P₂C₁ − P1C₂

P2S1 − P1S2 and β = S₂C₁ − S1C₂ S2P1 − S1P2 .

• The derivative costs C = αS + βP

= P2S − P S2

P2S1 − P1S2 C1 + P S1 − P1S

P2S1 − P1S2 C2.

Example (continued)

• It is easy to verify that C

P = p C₁

P₁ + (1 − p) C₂ P₂ . – Above,

p ≡ (S/P ) − (S₂/P₂) (S₁/P₁) − (S₂/P₂). – By Eqs. (65) on p. 518, 0 < p < 1.

• C’s price using asset two as numeraire (i.e., C/P ) is a martingale under the risk-neutral probability p.

• The expected returns of the two assets are irrelevant.

Example (concluded)

• In the BOPM, S is the stock and P is the bond.

• Furthermore, p assumes the bond is the numeraire.

• In the binomial option pricing formula (p. 255), the S 

b(j; n, pu/R) term uses the stock as the numeraire.

– It results in a different probability measure pu/R.

• In the limit, SN(x) for the call and SN(−x) for the put in the Black-Scholes formula (p. 284) use the stock as the numeraire.^a

aSee Exercise 13.2.12 of the textbook.

Brownian Motion

• Brownian motion is a stochastic process { X(t), t ≥ 0 } with the following properties.

1. X(0) = 0, unless stated otherwise.

2. for any 0 ≤ t₀ < t₁ < · · · < t_n, the random variables X(t_k) − X(t_k−1)

for 1 ≤ k ≤ n are independent.^b

3. for 0 ≤ s < t, X(t) − X(s) is normally distributed with mean μ(t − s) and variance σ²(t − s), where μ and σ = 0 are real numbers.

aRobert Brown (1773–1858).

bSo X(t) − X(s) is independent of X(r) for r ≤ s < t.

Brownian Motion (concluded)

• The existence and uniqueness of such a process is guaranteed by Wiener’s theorem.^a

• This process will be called a (μ, σ) Brownian motion with drift μ and variance σ².

• Although Brownian motion is a continuous function of t with probability one, it is almost nowhere differentiable.

• The (0, 1) Brownian motion is called the Wiener process.

• If condition 3 is replaced by “ X(t) − X(s) depends only on t − s,” we have the more general Levy process.^b

a

Example

• If { X(t), t ≥ 0 } is the Wiener process, then X(t) − X(s) ∼ N (0, t − s).

• A (μ, σ) Brownian motion Y = { Y (t), t ≥ 0 } can be expressed in terms of the Wiener process:

Y (t) = μt + σX(t). (66)

• Note that

Y (t + s) − Y (t) ∼ N (μs, σ²s).

Brownian Motion as Limit of Random Walk

Claim 1 A (μ, σ) Brownian motion is the limiting case of random walk.

• A particle moves Δx to the right with probability p after Δt time.

• It moves Δx to the left with probability 1 − p.

• Define

X_i ≡

⎧⎨

⎩

+1 if the ith move is to the right,

−1 if the ith move is to the left.

– X_i are independent with

Brownian Motion as Limit of Random Walk (continued)

• Assume n ≡ t/Δt is an integer.

• Its position at time t is

Y (t) ≡ Δx (X₁ + X₂ + · · · + X_n) .

• Recall

E[ X_i ] = 2p − 1,

Var[ X_i ] = 1 − (2p − 1)².

Brownian Motion as Limit of Random Walk (continued)

• Therefore,

E[ Y (t) ] = n(Δx)(2p − 1), Var[ Y (t) ] = n(Δx)² 

1 − (2p − 1)²  .

• With Δx ≡ σ√

Δt and p ≡ [ 1 + (μ/σ)√

Δt ]/2, E[ Y (t) ] = nσ√

Δt (μ/σ)√

Δt = μt, Var[ Y (t) ] = nσ²Δt 

1 − (μ/σ)²Δt

→ σ²t, as Δt → 0.

Brownian Motion as Limit of Random Walk (concluded)

• Thus, { Y (t), t ≥ 0 } converges to a (μ, σ) Brownian motion by the central limit theorem.

• Brownian motion with zero drift is the limiting case of symmetric random walk by choosing μ = 0.

• Similarity to the the BOPM: The p is identical to the probability in Eq. (36) on p. 278 and Δx = ln u.

• Note that

Var[ Y (t + Δt) − Y (t) ]

=Var[ Δx X_n+1 ] = (Δx)² × Var[ X_n+1 ] → σ²Δt.

Geometric Brownian Motion

• Let X ≡ { X(t), t ≥ 0 } be a Brownian motion process.

• The process

{ Y (t) ≡ e^X(t), t ≥ 0 }, is called geometric Brownian motion.

• Suppose further that X is a (μ, σ) Brownian motion.

• X(t) ∼ N(μt, σ²t) with moment generating function E



e^sX(t)



= E [ Y (t)^s ] = e^{μts+(σ2ts2/2)} from Eq. (24) on p 155.

Geometric Brownian Motion (concluded)

• In particular,

E[ Y (t) ] = e^μt+(σ2t/2), Var[ Y (t) ] = E 

Y (t)² 

− E[ Y (t) ]²

= e^2μt+σ2t



e^σ2t − 1 .

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Time (t) -1

1 2 3 4 5 6 Y(t)

A Case for Long-Term Investment

• Suppose the stock follows the geometric Brownian motion

S(t) = S(0) e^{N (μt,σ2t)} = S(0) e^{tN (μ,σ2/t )}, t ≥ 0, where μ > 0.

• The annual rate of return has a normal distribution:

N



μ, σ² t

 .

• The larger the t, the likelier the return is positive.

• The smaller the t, the likelier the return is negative.

aContributed by Prof. Gow-Hsing King on April 9, 2015. See http://www.cb.idv.tw/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1025

Continuous-Time Financial Mathematics

A proof is that which convinces a reasonable man;

a rigorous proof is that which convinces an unreasonable man.

— Mark Kac (1914–1984) The pursuit of mathematics is a divine madness of the human spirit.

— Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947), Science and the Modern World

Stochastic Integrals

• Use W ≡ { W (t), t ≥ 0 } to denote the Wiener process.

• The goal is to develop integrals of X from a class of stochastic processes,^a

I_t(X) ≡

 _t

0 X dW, t ≥ 0.

• I_t(X) is a random variable called the stochastic integral of X with respect to W .

• The stochastic process { I_t(X), t ≥ 0 } will be denoted by 

X dW .

Stochastic Integrals (concluded)

• Typical requirements for X in financial applications are:

– Prob[ _t

0 X²(s) ds < ∞ ] = 1 for all t ≥ 0 or the stronger  _t

0 E[ X²(s) ] ds < ∞.

– The information set at time t includes the history of X and W up to that point in time.

– But it contains nothing about the evolution of X or W after t (nonanticipating, so to speak).

– The future cannot influence the present.

Ito Integral

• A theory of stochastic integration.

• As with calculus, it starts with step functions.

• A stochastic process { X(t) } is simple if there exist 0 = t₀ < t₁ < · · ·

such that

X(t) = X(t_k−1) for t ∈ [ t_k−1, t_k), k = 1, 2, . . . for any realization (see figure on next page).

J₀ J₁ J₂ J₃ J₄ J₅ : J

= B

J

Ito Integral (continued)

• The Ito integral of a simple process is defined as

I_t(X) ≡

n−1

k=0

X(t_k)[ W (t_k+1) − W (t_k) ], (67) where t_n = t.

– The integrand X is evaluated at t_k, not t_k+1.

• Define the Ito integral of more general processes as a limiting random variable of the Ito integral of simple stochastic processes.

Ito Integral (continued)

• Let X = { X(t), t ≥ 0 } be a general stochastic process.

• Then there exists a random variable I_t(X), unique almost certainly, such that I_t(X_n) converges in probability to I_t(X) for each sequence of simple

stochastic processes X₁, X₂, . . . such that X_n converges in probability to X.

• If X is continuous with probability one, then I_t(X_n) converges in probability to I_t(X) as

δ_n ≡ max

1≤k≤n(t_k − t_k−1) goes to zero.

Ito Integral (concluded)

• It is a fundamental fact that 

X dW is continuous almost surely.

• The following theorem says the Ito integral is a martingale.

– A corollary is the mean value formula E

  _b

a

X dW



= 0.

Theorem 18 The Ito integral 

X dW is a martingale.

Discrete Approximation

• Recall Eq. (67) on p. 540.

• The following simple stochastic process { X(t) } can be used in place of X to approximate  _t

0 X dW ,

X(s) ≡ X(t _k−1) for s ∈ [ t_k−1, t_k), k = 1, 2, . . . , n.

• Note the nonanticipating feature of X.

– The information up to time s,

{ X(t), W (t), 0 ≤ t ≤ s },

cannot determine the future evolution of X or W .

Discrete Approximation (concluded)

• Suppose we defined the stochastic integral as

n−1

k=0

X(t_k+1)[ W (t_k+1) − W (t_k) ].

• Then we would be using the following different simple stochastic process in the approximation,

Y (s) ≡ X(t _k) for s ∈ [ t_k−1, t_k), k = 1, 2, . . . , n.

• This clearly anticipates the future evolution of X.^a

aSee Exercise 14.1.2 of the textbook for an example where it matters.

:

J

:

J

;

(a) (b)

:

Ito Process

• The stochastic process X = { X_t, t ≥ 0 } that solves X_t = X₀ +

 _t

0 a(X_s, s) ds +

 _t

0 b(X_s, s) dW_s, t ≥ 0 is called an Ito process.

– X0 is a scalar starting point.

– { a(X_t, t) : t ≥ 0 } and { b(X_t, t) : t ≥ 0 } are stochastic processes satisfying certain regularity conditions.

– a(X_t, t): the drift.

– b(X

Ito Process (continued)

• A shorthand^a is the following stochastic differential equation for the Ito differential dX_t,

dX_t = a(X_t, t) dt + b(X_t, t) dW_t. (68) – Or simply

dX_t = a_t dt + b_t dW_t.

– This is Brownian motion with an instantaneous drift a_t and an instantaneous variance b²_t.

• X is a martingale if a_t = 0 (Theorem 18 on p. 542).

aPaul Langevin (1872–1946) in 1904.

Ito Process (concluded)

• dW is normally distributed with mean zero and variance dt.

• An equivalent form of Eq. (68) is dX_t = a_t dt + b_t√

dt ξ, (69)

where ξ ∼ N (0, 1).

Euler Approximation

• The following approximation follows from Eq. (69), X(t _n+1)

= X(t_n) + a( X(t_n), t_n) Δt + b( X(t_n), t_n) ΔW (t_n),

(70) where t_n ≡ nΔt.

• It is called the Euler or Euler-Maruyama method.

• Recall that ΔW (t_n) should be interpreted as W (t_n+1) − W (t_n), not W (t_n) − W (t_n−1).

Euler Approximation (concluded)

• With the Euler method, one can obtain a sample path X(t 1), X(t2), X(t3), . . .

from a sample path

W (t₀), W (t₁), W (t₂), . . . .

• Under mild conditions, X(t_n) converges to X(t_n).

More Discrete Approximations

• Under fairly loose regularity conditions, Eq. (70) on p. 549 can be replaced by

X(t _n+1)

= X(t_n) + a( X(t_n), t_n) Δt + b( X(t_n), t_n)√

Δt Y (t_n).

– Y (t0), Y (t₁), . . . are independent and identically distributed with zero mean and unit variance.

More Discrete Approximations (concluded)

• An even simpler discrete approximation scheme:

X(t _n+1)

= X(t_n) + a( X(t_n), t_n) Δt + b( X(t_n), t_n)√

Δt ξ.

– Prob[ ξ = 1 ] = Prob[ ξ = −1 ] = 1/2.

– Note that E[ ξ ] = 0 and Var[ ξ ] = 1.

• This is a binomial model.

• As Δt goes to zero, X converges to X.