Replicating a square derivative with calls and puts

Question

I have a derivative that pays off $S_T^2$ at time $T > 0$ with $S_T$ denoting the price of a non dividend-paying stock at $T$. I came across a question about how one can statically replicate this derivative with vanilla calls and puts.

My guess is that it is impossible to do that on the entire support of $S_T$. Since the square function dominates a linear function eventually and the call option is linear in $S_T$ for $S_T$ large enough, there cannot be a sequence of linear combinations of calls and puts that converges to the payoff of this derivative pointwise. I was also given a hint that I should consider integration. I am aware that $S_T^2$ can be written as $S_T^2 = 2\int_0^{S_T}x\,dx$ but I am not sure if that is what the hint hints at. Any tips/solutions appreciated.

Answer 1

Note that \begin{align*} S_T^2 = 2\int_0^{S_T} k dk. \end{align*} Then \begin{align*} S_T^2 &= 2S_T^2-2\int_0^{S_T} k dk\\ &=2S_T\int_0^{S_T}dk-2\int_0^{S_T} k dk\\ &=2\int_0^{S_T} (S_T-k)dk\\ &=2\int_0^{\infty} (S_T-k)^+dk. \end{align*} For the partition $0=k_0 < k_1 < \cdots < k_n < \infty$, \begin{align*} S_T^2 &=2\int_0^{\infty} (S_T-k)^+dk\\ &\approx 2\sum_{i=1}^n (k_i-k_{i-1})(S_T-k_i)^+. \end{align*} That is, it can be replicated by a portfolio of call options. The replication by put options is similar.