This is a very basic and accessible introduction to option pricing, invoking a minimum of stochastic analysis and requiring only basic mathematical skills. It covers the theory essential to the statistical modeling of stocks, pricing of derivatives with martingale theory, and computational finance including both finite-difference and Monte Carlo methods.

Since the appearance of seminal works by R. Merton, and F. Black and M. Scholes, stochastic processes have assumed an increasingly important role in the development of the mathematical theory of finance. This work examines, in some detail, that part of stochastic finance pertaining to option pricing theory. Thus the exposition is confined to areas of stochastic finance that are relevant to the theory, omitting such topics as futures and term-structure. This self-contained work begins with five introductory chapters on stochastic analysis, making it accessible to readers with little or no prior knowledge of stochastic processes or stochastic analysis. These chapters cover the essentials of Ito's theory of stochastic integration, integration with respect to semimartingales, Girsanov's Theorem, and a brief introduction to stochastic differential equations. Subsequent chapters treat more specialized topics, including option pricing in discrete time, continuous time trading, arbitrage, complete markets, European options (Black and Scholes Theory), American options, Russian options, discrete approximations, and asset pricing with stochastic volatility. In several chapters, new results are presented. A unique feature of the book is its emphasis on arbitrage, in particular, the relationship between arbitrage and equivalent martingale measures (EMM), and the derivation of necessary and sufficient conditions for no arbitrage (NA). {\it Introduction to Option Pricing Theory} is intended for students and researchers in statistics, applied mathematics, business, or economics, who have a background in measure theory and have completed probability theory at the intermediate level. The work lends itself to self-study, as well as to a one-semester course at the graduate level.

This is a very basic and accessible introduction to option pricing, invoking a minimum of stochastic analysis and requiring only basic mathematical skills. It covers the theory essential to the statistical modeling of stocks, pricing of derivatives with martingale theory, and computational finance including both finite-difference and Monte Carlo methods.

This book offers an introduction to the mathematical, probabilistic and numerical methods used in the modern theory of option pricing. The text is designed for readers with a basic mathematical background. The first part contains a presentation of the arbitrage theory in discrete time. In the second part, the theories of stochastic calculus and parabolic PDEs are developed in detail and the classical arbitrage theory is analyzed in a Markovian setting by means of of PDEs techniques. After the martingale representation theorems and the Girsanov theory have been presented, arbitrage pricing is revisited in the martingale theory optics. General tools from PDE and martingale theories are also used in the analysis of volatility modeling. The book also contains an Introduction to Lévy processes and Malliavin calculus. The last part is devoted to the description of the numerical methods used in option pricing: Monte Carlo, binomial trees, finite differences and Fourier transform.

A comprehensive overview of the theory of stochastic processes and its connections to asset pricing, accompanied by some concrete applications. This book presents a self-contained, comprehensive, and yet concise and condensed overview of the theory and methods of probability, integration, stochastic processes, optimal control, and their connections to the principles of asset pricing. The book is broader in scope than other introductory-level graduate texts on the subject, requires fewer prerequisites, and covers the relevant material at greater depth, mainly without rigorous technical proofs. The book brings to an introductory level certain concepts and topics that are usually found in advanced research monographs on stochastic processes and asset pricing, and it attempts to establish greater clarity on the connections between these two fields. The book begins with measure-theoretic probability and integration, and then develops the classical tools of stochastic calculus, including stochastic calculus with jumps and Lévy processes. For asset pricing, the book begins with a brief overview of risk preferences and general equilibrium in incomplete finite endowment economies, followed by the classical asset pricing setup in continuous time. The goal is to present a coherent single overview. For example, the text introduces discrete-time martingales as a consequence of market equilibrium considerations and connects them to the stochastic discount factors before offering a general definition. It covers concrete option pricing models (including stochastic volatility, exchange options, and the exercise of American options), Merton's investment–consumption problem, and several other applications. The book includes more than 450 exercises (with detailed hints). Appendixes cover analysis and topology and computer code related to the practical applications discussed in the text.

This book is an introduction to stochastic analysis and quantitative finance; it includes both theoretical and computational methods. Topics covered are stochastic calculus, option pricing, optimal portfolio investment, and interest rate models. Also included are simulations of stochastic phenomena, numerical solutions of the Black–Scholes–Merton equation, Monte Carlo methods, and time series. Basic measure theory is used as a tool to describe probabilistic phenomena. The level of familiarity with computer programming is kept to a minimum. To make the book accessible to a wider audience, some background mathematical facts are included in the first part of the book and also in the appendices. This work attempts to bridge the gap between mathematics and finance by using diagrams, graphs and simulations in addition to rigorous theoretical exposition. Simulations are not only used as the computational method in quantitative finance, but they can also facilitate an intuitive and deeper understanding of theoretical concepts. Stochastic Analysis for Finance with Simulations is designed for readers who want to have a deeper understanding of the delicate theory of quantitative finance by doing computer simulations in addition to theoretical study. It will particularly appeal to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics and business, but not excluding practitioners in finance industry.

A unified development of the subject, presenting the theory of options in each of the different forms and stressing the equivalence between each of the methodologies. * Demystifies some of the more complex topics. * Derives practical, tangible results using the theory, to help practitioners in problem solving. * Applies the results obtained to the analysis and pricing of options in the equity, currency, commodity and interest rate markets. * Gives the reader the analytical tools and technical jargon to understand the current technical literature available. * Provides a user-friendly reference on option theory for practicing investors and traders.