The aim of the thesis is to present a robust conceptual framework for risk management of non-financial companies in order to improve decision making in the area of hedging with derivative instruments. Application of modern quantitative methods.

<p>The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility &ldquo / smile&rdquo / curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant.</p>

<p>The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility &ldquo / smile&rdquo / curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant. / South Africa

The master thesis is focused on how a local volatility surfaces can be extracted by optimization with respectto smoothness and price error. The pricing is based on utility based pricing, and developed to be set in arisk neutral pricing setting. The pricing is done in a discrete multinomial recombining tree, where the timeand price increments optionally can be equidistant. An interpolation algorithm is used if the option that shallbe priced is not matched in the tree discretization. Power utility functions are utilized, where the log-utilitypreference is especially studied, which coincides with the (Kelly) portfolio that systematically outperforms anyother portfolio. A fine resolution of the discretization is generally a property that is sought after, thus a seriesof derivations for the implementation are done to restrict the computational encumbrance and thus allow finer discretization. The thesis is mainly focused on the derivation of the method rather than finding optimal parameters thatgenerate the local volatility surfaces. The method has shown that smooth surfaces can be extracted, whichconsider market prices. However, due to lacking available interest and dividend data, the pricing error increasessymmetrically for longer option maturities. However, the method shows exponential convergence and robustnessto different initial (flat) volatilities for the optimization initiation. Given an optimal smooth local volatility surface, an arbitrary payoff function can then be used to price thecorresponding option, which could be path-dependent, such as barrier options. However, only vanilla optionswill be considered in this thesis. Finally, we find that the developed

本研究利用美國芝加哥商品交易所針對 18 個城市發行之冷氣指數／暖氣指數衍生性商品與相對應之日均溫進行分析與評價。研究成果與貢獻如下：一、延伸 Alaton, Djehince, and Stillberg (2002) 模型，引入跳躍風險、隨機波動度、波動跳躍等因子，提出新模型以捕捉更多溫度指數之特徵。二、針對不同模型，分別利用最大概似法、期望最大演算法、粒子濾波演算法等進行參數估計。實證結果顯示新模型具有較好之配適能力。三、利用 Esscher 轉換將真實機率測度轉換至風險中立機率測度，並進一步利用　Feynman-Kac 方程式與傅立葉轉換求出溫度模型之機率分配。四、推導冷氣指數／暖氣指數期貨之半封閉評價公式，而冷氣指數／暖氣指數期貨之選擇權不存在封閉評價公式，則利用蒙地卡羅模擬進行評價。五、無論樣本內與樣本外之定價誤差，考慮隨機波動度型態之模型對於溫度衍生性商品皆具有較好之評價績效。六、實證指出溫度市場之市場風險價格為負，顯示投資人承受較高之溫度風險時會要求較高之風險溢酬。本研究可給予受溫度風險影響之產業，針對衍生性商品之評價與模型參數估計上提供較為精準、客觀與較有效率之工具。 / This study uses the daily average temperature index (DAT) and market price of the CDD/HDD derivatives for 18 cities from the CME group. There are some contributions in this study: (i) we extend the Alaton, Djehince, and Stillberg (2002)'s framework by introducing the jump risk, the stochastic volatility, and the jump in volatility. (ii) The model parameters are estimated by the MLE, the EM algorithm, and the PF algorithm. And, the complex model exists the better goodness-of-fit for the path of the temperature index. (iii) We employ the Esscher transform to change the probability measure and derive the probability density function of each model by the Feynman-Kac formula and the Fourier transform. (iv) The semi-closed form of the CDD/HDD futures pricing formula is derived, and we use the Monte-Carlo simulation to value the CDD/HDD futures options due to no closed-form solution. (v) Whatever in-sample and out-of-sample pricing performance, the type of the stochastic volatility performs the better fitting for the temperature derivatives. (vi) The market price of risk differs to zero significantly (most are negative), so the investors require the positive weather risk premium for the derivatives. The results in this study can provide the guide of fitting model and pricing derivatives to the weather-linked institutions in the future.