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Pricing European options with a log Student’s t-distribution: A Gosset formula

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  • Cassidy, Daniel T.
  • Hamp, Michael J.
  • Ouyed, Rachid

Abstract

The distributions of returns for stocks are not well described by a normal probability density function (pdf). Student’s t-distributions, which have fat tails, are known to fit the distributions of the returns. We present pricing of European call or put options using a log Student’s t-distribution, which we call a Gosset approach in honour of W.S. Gosset, the author behind the nom de plume Student. The approach that we present can be used to price European options using other distributions and yields the Black–Scholes formula for returns described by a normal pdf.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassidy, Daniel T. & Hamp, Michael J. & Ouyed, Rachid, 2010. "Pricing European options with a log Student’s t-distribution: A Gosset formula," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 389(24), pages 5736-5748.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:389:y:2010:i:24:p:5736-5748
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.08.037
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    5. Till Massing, 2019. "What is the best Lévy model for stock indices? A comparative study with a view to time consistency," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 33(3), pages 277-344, September.
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    9. Cassidy, Daniel T., 2011. "Describing n-day returns with Student’s t-distributions," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 390(15), pages 2794-2802.
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