1.II.28J

Stochastic Financial Models
Part II, 2008

(a) In the context of the Black-Scholes formula, let S0S_{0} be the time- 0 spot price, KK be the strike price, TT be the time to maturity, and let σ\sigma be the volatility. Assume that the interest rate rr is constant and assume absence of dividends. Write EC(S0,K,σ,r,T)\mathrm{EC}\left(S_{0}, K, \sigma, r, T\right) for the time- 0 price of a standard European call. The Black-Scholes formula can be written in the following form

EC(S0,K,σ,r,T)=S0Φ(d1)erTKΦ(d2)\operatorname{EC}\left(S_{0}, K, \sigma, r, T\right)=S_{0} \Phi\left(d_{1}\right)-e^{-r T} K \Phi\left(d_{2}\right)

State how the quantities d1d_{1} and d2d_{2} depend on S0,K,σ,rS_{0}, K, \sigma, r and TT.

Assume that you sell this option at time 0 . What is your replicating portfolio at time 0 ?

[No proofs are required.]

(b) Compute the limit of EC(S0,K,σ,r,T)\operatorname{EC}\left(S_{0}, K, \sigma, r, T\right) as σ\sigma \rightarrow \infty. Construct an explicit arbitrage under the assumption that European calls are traded above this limiting price.

(c) Compute the limit of EC(S0,K,σ,r,T)\operatorname{EC}\left(S_{0}, K, \sigma, r, T\right) as σ0\sigma \rightarrow 0. Construct an explicit arbitrage under the assumption that European calls are traded below this limiting price.

(d) Express in terms of S0,d1S_{0}, d_{1} and TT the derivative

σEC(S0,K,σ,r,T)\frac{\partial}{\partial \sigma} \operatorname{EC}\left(S_{0}, K, \sigma, r, T\right)

[Hint: you may find it useful to express σd1\frac{\partial}{\partial \sigma} d_{1} in terms of σd2\frac{\partial}{\partial \sigma} d_{2}.]

[You may use without proof the formula S0Φ(d1)erTKΦ(d2)=0S_{0} \Phi^{\prime}\left(d_{1}\right)-e^{-r T} K \Phi^{\prime}\left(d_{2}\right)=0.]

(e) Say what is meant by implied volatility and explain why the previous results make it well-defined.