The Compound BSDE Method: A Fully Forward Method for Option Pricing and Optimal Stopping Problems in Finance
The Compound BSDE Method: A Fully Forward Method for Option Pricing and Optimal Stopping Problems in Finance
The paper introduces the Compound BSDE method, a deep-learning-based fully forward numerical approach for solving a broad class of option pricing and optimal stopping problems in finance. The method is built upon a novel compound BSDE formulation, which consists of a forward SDE coupled with multiple backward equations defined on successive time intervals. These backward equations interact only at prescribed compounding times through compounding conditions, making the framework particularly suitable for pricing Bermudan options and other early-exercise derivatives. The authors establish well-posedness of the compound BSDE under standard Lipschitz assumptions and derive an a posteriori error estimate that guarantees convergence of the numerical scheme. The method parameterizes the initial values and Z processes of each BSDE using neural networks and minimizes a joint loss function that enforces all compounding and terminal conditions simultaneously. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the approach achieves accurate prices and hedges for high-dimensional Bermudan options, confirming its effectiveness and computational efficiency. The fully forward nature of the algorithm distinguishes it from traditional backward methods, offering potential advantages in parallelization and handling of path-dependent features.
Highlights
- 1Introduces the compound BSDE formulation, a new system of BSDEs coupled at intermediate times, inspired by compound options.
- 2Develops a fully forward deep-learning method (Compound BSDE method) for solving compound BSDEs, applicable to optimal stopping and high-dimensional option pricing.
- 3Provides an a posteriori error estimate for the proposed method, establishing convergence under standard assumptions.
- 4Demonstrates accuracy and efficiency for Bermudan option pricing in high-dimensional settings through numerical experiments.
Methods
- MCompound BSDE formulation: reformulates option pricing and optimal stopping problems as a system of BSDEs coupled at compounding times.
- MDeep BSDE method: uses neural networks to parameterize initial values and Z processes, minimizing a joint loss function that enforces all compounding and terminal conditions.
- MA posteriori error analysis: derives L2-regularity estimates and convergence bounds based on Lipschitz and small driver assumptions.
Results
- RThe compound BSDE admits a unique adapted solution under Lipschitz and regularity conditions, with a Markovian representation via viscosity solutions of semilinear PDEs.
- RThe Compound BSDE method achieves an a posteriori error bound of order O(h + terminal loss), where h is the time step size.
- RNumerical experiments show accurate pricing and hedging for Bermudan options in high dimensions, validating the theoretical convergence.
- RThe method is fully forward, avoiding backward induction and enabling parallel simulation of all BSDEs.
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