Mohamed Ben Alaya

Parameter Estimation for the Square-root Diffusions : Ergodic and Nonergodic Cases

This article deals with the problem of parameter estimation in the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) model (X t ) t≥0. This model is frequently used in finance for example as a model for computing the zero-coupon bound price or as a dynamic of the volatility in the Heston model. When the diffusion parameter is known, the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the drift parameters involves the quantities : and . At first, we study the asymptotic behavior of these processes. This allows us to obtain various and original limit theorems on our estimators, with different rates and different types of limit distributions. Our results are obtained for both cases : ergodic and nonergodic diffusion. Numerical simulations were processed using an exact simulation algorithm.

Central limit theorem for the multilevel Monte Carlo Euler method

This paper focuses on studying the multilevel Monte Carlo method recently introduced by Giles [Oper. Res. 56 (2008) 607-617] which is significantly more efficient than the classical Monte Carlo one. Our aim is to prove a central limit theorem of Lindeberg-Feller type for the multilevel Monte Carlo method associated with the Euler discretization scheme. To do so, we prove first a stable law convergence theorem, in the spirit of Jacod and Protter [Ann. Probab. 26 (1998) 267-307], for the Euler scheme error on two consecutive levels of the algorithm. This leads to an accurate description of the optimal choice of parameters and to an explicit characterization of the limiting variance in the central limit theorem of the algorithm. A complexity of the multilevel Monte Carlo algorithm is carried out.

Asymptotic Behavior of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator for Ergodic and Nonergodic Square-Root Diffusions

This article deals with the problem of global parameter estimation in the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) model (X t ) t≥0. This model is frequently used in finance for example, to model the evolution of short-term interest rates or as a dynamic of the volatility in the Heston model. In continuity with a recent work by Ben Alaya and Kebaier [1], we establish new asymptotic results on the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) associated to the global estimation of the drift parameters of (X t ) t≥0. To do so, we need to study the asymptotic behavior of the quadruplet . This allows us to obtain various and original limit theorems on our MLE, with different rates and different types of limit distributions. Our results are obtained for both cases: ergodic and nonergodic diffusion.

Importance Sampling and Statistical Romberg method

The efficiency of Monte Carlo simulations is significantly improved when implemented with variance reduction methods. Among these methods we focus on the popular importance sampling technique based on producing a parametric transformation through a shift parameter θ. The optimal choice of θ is approximated using Robbins-Monro procedures, provided that a non explosion condition is satisfied. Otherwise, one can use either a constrained Robbins-Monro algorithm (see e.g. Arouna [2] and Lelong [17]) or a more astute procedure based on an unconstrained approach recently introduced by Lemaire and Pages in [18]. In this article, we develop a new algorithm based on a combination of the statistical Romberg method and the importance sampling technique. The statistical Romberg method introduced by Kebaier in [13] is known for reducing efficiently the complexity compared to the classical Monte Carlo one. In the setting of discritized diffusions, we prove the almost sure convergence of the constrained and unconstrained versions of the Robbins-Monro routine, towards the optimal shift θ^∗ that minimizes the variance associated to the statistical Romberg method. Then, we prove a central limit theorem for the new algorithm that we called adaptative statistical Romberg method. Finally, we illustrate by numerical simulation the efficiency of our method through applications in option pricing for the Heston model.

Multilevel Monte Carlo for Asian options and limit theorems

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to study the problem of pricing Asian options using the multilevel Monte Carlo method recently introduced by Giles [Oper. Res. 56 (2008), no. 3, 607–617] and to prove a central limit theorem of Lindeberg–Feller type for the obtained algorithm. Indeed, the implementation of such a method requires first a discretization of the integral of the payoff process. For this, we use two well-known second order discretization schemes, namely, the Riemann scheme and the trapezoidal scheme. More precisely, for each of these schemes, we prove a stable law convergence result for the error on two consecutive levels of the algorithm. This allows us to go further and prove two central limit theorems on the multilevel algorithm providing us a precise description on the choice of the associated parameters with an explicit representation of the limiting variance. For this setting of second order schemes, we give new optimal parameters leading to the convergence of the central limit theorem. The complexity of the multilevel Monte Carlo algorithm will be determined.

Asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimator for the growth rate for a jump-type CIR process based on continuous time observations

We consider a jump-type Cox--Ingersoll--Ross (CIR) process driven by a standard Wiener process and a subordinator, and we study asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for its growth rate. We distinguish three cases: subcritical, critical and supercritical. In the subcritical case we prove weak consistency and asymptotic normality, and, under an additional moment assumption, strong consistency as well. In the supercritical case, we prove strong consistency and mixed normal (but non-normal) asymptotic behavior, while in the critical case, weak consistency and non-standard asymptotic behavior are described. We specialize our results to so-called basic affine jump-diffusions as well. Concerning the asymptotic behavior of the MLE in the supercritical case, we derive a stochastic representation of the limiting mixed normal distribution, where the almost sure limit of an appropriately scaled jump-type supercritical CIR process comes into play. This is a new phenomenon, compared to the critical case, where a diffusion-type critical CIR process plays a role.

On Max-Multiscaling Distributions as Extended Max-Semistable Ones

Abstract We introduce max-multiscaling distributions as solutions to a functional equation which, in a natural way, extends the one fulfilled by max-semistable distributions. We establish that strictly max-multiscaling distributions are products of at most two max-semistable distributions. Next, we show how to obtain these solutions as limit laws of normalized maximum of suitable independent sequences of random variables when sample size has geometric growth.

On a functional equation generalizing the class of semistable distributions

With ϕ(p),p≥0 the Laplace-Stieltjes transform of some infinitely divisible probability distribution, we consider the solutions to the functional equation ϕ(p-e−pβΠi=1mϕγi (cip) for somem≥1,ci>0, γi>0,i=1., …,m, β ε ®. We supply its complete solutions in terms of semistable distributions (the ones obtained whenm=1). We then show how to obtain these solutions as limit laws (r → ∞) of normalized Poisson sums of iid samples when the Poisson intensity λ(r) grows geometrically withr.

On Lévy–Fréchet processes and related self-similar and semi-self-similar ones

Abstract L e vy (semi-) stable processes are (semi-) self-similar and, as such, have recently drawn attention of many researchers. On the other hand, there are lots of interesting (semi-) self-similar processes that are not in the L e vy class. Here, we focus on classes of Markov processes related to the extremal processes of L e vy (semi-) stable ones that are all (semi-) self-similar. These are instructive for those working in applied fields.