1
$\begingroup$

Denote American Call/Put $C_{am}/P_{am},$ European Call/Put $C_v/P_v,$ with constant risk-free interest rate $r,$ dividend yield rate $D,$ strike $K,$ maturity $T.$

1.We have the well know inequalities: $$C_v\leq C_{am} \leq C_v + S_t(1 - e^{-D(T-t)})$$ $$P_v\leq P_{am} \leq P_v + K(1 - e^{-r(T-t)})$$ Surely, we can build the portfolios to proof the inequalities, but is there any intuitive ways to demonstrate above inequalities? Or when does the = hold, for none-zero $D$ and $r$ since the proof by portfolio method is not clear to see the conditions of =.

For example, $S_t(1 - e^{-D(T-t)})$ is actually the sum of discounted dividend, that means

American call will never be larger than the European call adding the dividend of its underlying asset.

And we also have

it's always optimal to exercise American call immediately before the ex-dividend etc.

Maybe the conditions of = can effectively solve the problem.

2.Moreover, for the low boundary(value of forward) of European call $$\max(e^{-D(T- t)}S_t - e^{-r(T- t)}K,0)\leq C_v(t),$$ some book said it can be regard as the American call, I can not understand this statement?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Dividend rule is valid for only regular/planned dividends. If the cash dividend is extraordinary, the contract adjusts itself. Though, it is mostly at CBOE's discretion. $\endgroup$
    – berkorbay
    Sep 20, 2017 at 9:07

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

The lower bounds are obvious since American options can be exercised at any time while European options can only be exercised at maturity.

The upper bounds are obtained from the property that an American option value is the Snell envelope of its discounted payoff, so that when the discounted payoff is a submartingale the American option should never be exercised early.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
11
  • $\begingroup$ Here Snell envelope of its discounted payoff means the expectation of discounted payoff namely the value European call? And you want to show (European call + discounted dividend) is submartingale and dominants the (European call), then it should dominant the American call? How about the put? Sorry could you show some detail? $\endgroup$
    – A.Oreo
    Sep 20, 2017 at 14:52
  • $\begingroup$ Why is American call < European call + 1/2 * discounted dividend not true? And the value of American put is not submartingale. $\endgroup$
    – A.Oreo
    Sep 20, 2017 at 15:08
  • $\begingroup$ Snell Envelope means the value under the optimal exercise policy, i.e. the best value that you can get by exercising intelligently. $\endgroup$
    – nbbo2
    Sep 20, 2017 at 19:39
  • $\begingroup$ @noob2 so here American call is the Snell Envelope of European call? But, how about the put? American put is not submartingale. $\endgroup$
    – A.Oreo
    Sep 21, 2017 at 4:28
  • $\begingroup$ discounted (stock + reinvested dividends) is a martingale => discounted (stock + reinvested dividends minus strike) is a submartingale => the positive part of discounted (stock + reinvested dividends minus strike) is a submartingale (Jensen inequality) => the discounted payoff of an American call on (stock + reinvested dividends) is a submartingale. Therefore the American call on (stock + reinvested dividends) is in fact European. Now the European call on (stock + reinvested dividends) is worth less than the reinvested dividends + European call on stock, hence the first RHS inequality. $\endgroup$
    – Antoine Conze
    Sep 21, 2017 at 8:12

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.