Efficient Computation of Exposure Profiles for Counterparty Credit Risk

Abstract

Three computational techniques for approximation of counterparty exposure for financial derivatives are presented. The exposure can be used to quantify so-called Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) and Potential Future Exposure (PFE), which are of utmost importance for modern risk management in the financial industry, especially since the recent credit crisis.

The three techniques all involve a Monte Carlo path discretization and simulation of the underlying entities. Along the generated paths, the corresponding values and distributions are computed during the entire lifetime of the option. Option values are computed by either the finite difference method for the corresponding partial differential equations, or the simulation based Stochastic Grid Bundling Method (SGBM), or by the COS method, based on Fourier-cosine expansions. In this research, numerical results are presented for early-exercise options. The underlying asset dynamics are given by either the Black-Scholes or the Heston stochastic volatility model.

Keywords: Expected Exposure, Potential Future Exposure, Bermudan options, Heston, numerical computation, finite differences, stochastic grid bundling method

JEL Classification: C63, G12