Introductory Stochastic Analysis for Finance and Insurance

Introductory Stochastic Analysis for Finance and Insurance

by X. Sheldon Lin, Society of Actuaries
Released March 2006
Publisher(s): Wiley-Interscience
ISBN: 9780471716426

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Book description

Incorporates the many tools needed for modeling and pricing in finance and insurance

Introductory Stochastic Analysis for Finance and Insurance introduces readers to the topics needed to master and use basic stochastic analysis techniques for mathematical finance. The author presents the theories of stochastic processes and stochastic calculus and provides the necessary tools for modeling and pricing in finance and insurance. Practical in focus, the book's emphasis is on application, intuition, and computation, rather than theory.

Consequently, the text is of interest to graduate students, researchers, and practitioners interested in these areas. While the text is self-contained, an introductory course in probability theory is beneficial to prospective readers.

This book evolved from the author's experience as an instructor and has been thoroughly classroom-tested. Following an introduction, the author sets forth the fundamental information and tools needed by researchers and practitioners working in the financial and insurance industries:

  • Overview of Probability Theory

  • Discrete-Time stochastic processes

  • Continuous-time stochastic processes

  • Stochastic calculus: basic topics

The final two chapters, Stochastic Calculus: Advanced Topics and Applications in Insurance, are devoted to more advanced topics. Readers learn the Feynman-Kac formula, the Girsanov's theorem, and complex barrier hitting times distributions. Finally, readers discover how stochastic analysis and principles are applied in practice through two insurance examples: valuation of equity-linked annuities under a stochastic interest rate environment and calculation of reserves for universal life insurance.

Throughout the text, figures and tables are used to help simplify complex theory and pro-cesses. An extensive bibliography opens up additional avenues of research to specialized topics.

Ideal for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, this text is recommended for one-semester courses in stochastic finance and calculus. It is also recommended as a study guide for professionals taking Causality Actuarial Society (CAS) and Society of Actuaries (SOA) actuarial examinations.

Table of contents

  1. Coverpage
  2. Titlepage
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. List of Figures
  6. List of Tables
  7. Preface
  8. 1 Introduction
  9. 2 Overview of Probability Theory
    1. 2.1 Probability Spaces and Information Structures
    2. 2.2 Random Variables, Moments and Transforms
    3. 2.3 Multivariate Distributions
    4. 2.4 Conditional Probability and Conditional Distributions
    5. 2.5 Conditional Expectation
    6. 2.6 The Central Limit Theorem
  10. 3 Discrete-Time Stochastic Processes
    1. 3.1 Stochastic Processes and Information Structures
    2. 3.2 Random Walks
    3. 3.3 Discrete-Time Markov Chains
    4. 3.4 Martingales and Change of Probability Measure
    5. 3.5 Stopping Times
    6. 3.6 Option Pricing with Binomial Models
    7. 3.7 Binomial Interest Rate Models
  11. 4 Continuous-Time Stochastic Processes
    1. 4.1 General Description of Continuous-Time Stochastic Processes
    2. 4.2 Brownian Motion
    3. 4.3 The Reflection Principle and Barrier Hitting Probabilities
    4. 4.4 The Poisson Process and Compound Poisson Process
    5. 4.5 Martingales
    6. 4.6 Stopping Times and the Optional Sampling Theorem
  12. 5 Stochastic Calculus: Basic Topics
    1. 5.1 Stochastic (Ito) Integration
    2. 5.2 Stochastic Differential Equations
    3. 5.3 One-Dimensional Ito’s Lemma
    4. 5.4 Continuous-Time Interest Rate Models
    5. 5.5 The Black-Scholes Model and Option Pricing Formula
    6. 5.6 The Stochastic Version of Integration by Parts
    7. 5.7 Exponential Martingales
    8. 5.8 The Martingale Representation Theorem
  13. 6 Stochastic Calculus: Advanced Topics
    1. 6.1 The Feynman-Kac Formula
    2. 6.2 The Black-Scholes Partial Differential Equation
    3. 6.3 The Girsanov Theorem
    4. 6.4 The Forward Risk Adjusted Measure and Bond Option Pricing
    5. 6.5 Barrier Hitting Probabilities Revisited
    6. 6.6 Two-Dimensional Stochastic Differential Equations
  14. 7 Applications in Insurance
    1. 7.1 Deferred Variable Annuities and Equity-Indexed Annuities
    2. 7.2 Guaranteed Annuity Options
    3. 7.3 Universal Life
  15. References
  16. Index

Product information

  • Title: Introductory Stochastic Analysis for Finance and Insurance
  • Author(s): X. Sheldon Lin, Society of Actuaries
  • Release date: March 2006
  • Publisher(s): Wiley-Interscience
  • ISBN: 9780471716426