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Loss Functions in Option Valuation: A Framework for Selection

Author

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  • Dennis Bams

    (Department of Finance, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands)

  • Thorsten Lehnert

    (Department of Finance, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands)

  • Christian C. P. Wolff

    (Luxembourg School of Finance, University of Luxembourg, L-1246 Luxembourg)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the importance of different loss functions when estimating and evaluating option pricing models. Our analysis shows that it is important to take into account parameter uncertainty, because this leads to uncertainty in the predicted option price. We illustrate the effect on the out-of-sample pricing errors in an application of the ad hoc Black-Scholes model to DAX index options. We confirm the empirical results of Christoffersen and Jacobs (Christoffersen, P., K. Jacobs. 2004. The importance of the loss function in option valuation. J. Financial Econom. 72 291-318) and find strong evidence for their conjecture that the squared pricing error criterion may serve as a general-purpose loss function in option valuation applications. At the same time, we provide a first yardstick to evaluate the adequacy of the loss function. This is accomplished through a data-driven method to deliver not just a point estimate of the root mean squared pricing error, but a distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Bams & Thorsten Lehnert & Christian C. P. Wolff, 2009. "Loss Functions in Option Valuation: A Framework for Selection," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(5), pages 853-862, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:55:y:2009:i:5:p:853-862
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1080.0976
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    12. Blair, Bevan J. & Poon, Ser-Huang & Taylor, Stephen J., 2001. "Forecasting S&P 100 volatility: the incremental information content of implied volatilities and high-frequency index returns," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 105(1), pages 5-26, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bekkour, Lamia & Jin, Xisong & Lehnert, Thorsten & Rasmouki, Fanou & Wolff, Christian, 2015. "Euro at risk: The impact of member countries' credit risk on the stability of the common currency," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 67-83.
    2. Frijns, Bart & Lehnert, Thorsten & Zwinkels, Remco C.J., 2011. "Modeling structural changes in the volatility process," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 522-532, June.
    3. Thorsten Lehnert & Gildas Blanchard & Dennis Bams, 2014. "Evaluating Option Pricing Model Performance Using Model Uncertainty," LSF Research Working Paper Series 14-06, Luxembourg School of Finance, University of Luxembourg.
    4. Xisong Jin, 2018. "How much does book value data tell us about systemic risk and its interactions with the macroeconomy? A Luxembourg empirical evaluation," BCL working papers 118, Central Bank of Luxembourg.
    5. Ryszard Kokoszczyński & Natalia Nehrebecka & Paweł Sakowski & Paweł Strawiński & Robert Ślepaczuk, 2010. "Option Pricing Models with HF Data – a Comparative Study. The Properties of Black Model with Different Volatility Measures," Working Papers 2010-03, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    6. Thorsten Lehnert & Bart Frijns & Remco Zwinkels, 2009. "A Volatility Targeting GARCH model with Time-Varying Coefficients," LSF Research Working Paper Series 09-08, Luxembourg School of Finance, University of Luxembourg.
    7. Kanniainen, Juho & Lin, Binghuan & Yang, Hanxue, 2014. "Estimating and using GARCH models with VIX data for option valuation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 200-211.
    8. Thorsten Lehnert, 2019. "Big moves of mutual funds," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 9(1), pages 1-27, March.
    9. Christian Wolff & Thorsten Lehnert & Cokki Versluis, 2009. "A Cumulative Prospect Theory Approach to Option Pricing," LSF Research Working Paper Series 09-03, Luxembourg School of Finance, University of Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    option pricing; loss functions; estimation risk; GARCH; implied volatility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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