Nonparametric Option Pricing with No-Arbitrage Constraints

Abstract

We propose a completely kernel based method of estimating the call price function or the state price density of options. The new estimator of the call price function fulfills the constraints like monotonicity and convexity given in Breeden and Litzenberger (1978) without necessarily estimating the state price density for an underlying asset price from its option prices. It can be shown that the call price estimator is pointwise consistent and asymptotically normal. The estimator of the state price density is also consistent. In a simulation study we compare the new estimators to the estimators given in Aït-Sahalia and Duarte (2003).

Keywords: C14, G12, call pricing function, constrained nonparametric estimation, monotone rearrangements, state price density