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Deep Penalty Methods: A Class of Deep Learning Algorithms for Solving High Dimensional Optimal Stopping Problems

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  • Yunfei Peng
  • Pengyu Wei
  • Wei Wei

Abstract

We propose a deep learning algorithm for high dimensional optimal stopping problems. Our method is inspired by the penalty method for solving free boundary PDEs. Within our approach, the penalized PDE is approximated using the Deep BSDE framework proposed by \cite{weinan2017deep}, which leads us to coin the term "Deep Penalty Method (DPM)" to refer to our algorithm. We show that the error of the DPM can be bounded by the loss function and $O(\frac{1}{\lambda})+O(\lambda h) +O(\sqrt{h})$, where $h$ is the step size in time and $\lambda$ is the penalty parameter. This finding emphasizes the need for careful consideration when selecting the penalization parameter and suggests that the discretization error converges at a rate of order $\frac{1}{2}$. We validate the efficacy of the DPM through numerical tests conducted on a high-dimensional optimal stopping model in the area of American option pricing. The numerical tests confirm both the accuracy and the computational efficiency of our proposed algorithm.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunfei Peng & Pengyu Wei & Wei Wei, 2024. "Deep Penalty Methods: A Class of Deep Learning Algorithms for Solving High Dimensional Optimal Stopping Problems," Papers 2405.11392, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2405.11392
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Masaaki Fujii & Akihiko Takahashi & Masayuki Takahashi, 2017. "Asymptotic Expansion as Prior Knowledge in Deep Learning Method for high dimensional BSDEs," Papers 1710.07030, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2019.
    2. Longstaff, Francis A & Schwartz, Eduardo S, 2001. "Valuing American Options by Simulation: A Simple Least-Squares Approach," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 14(1), pages 113-147.
    3. Masaaki Fujii & Akihiko Takahashi & Masayuki Takahashi, 2019. "Asymptotic Expansion as Prior Knowledge in Deep Learning Method for High dimensional BSDEs," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 26(3), pages 391-408, September.
    4. Yangang Chen & Justin W. L. Wan, 2021. "Deep neural network framework based on backward stochastic differential equations for pricing and hedging American options in high dimensions," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 45-67, January.
    5. Longstaff, Francis A & Schwartz, Eduardo S, 2001. "Valuing American Options by Simulation: A Simple Least-Squares Approach," University of California at Los Angeles, Anderson Graduate School of Management qt43n1k4jb, Anderson Graduate School of Management, UCLA.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jasper Rou, 2025. "Time Deep Gradient Flow Method for pricing American options," Papers 2507.17606, arXiv.org.

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