Research
On-device research index

arXiv research

A locally-built, LLM-digested index of recent arXiv papers in quant finance, geometry/topology, and statistical ML — keyword search served straight from SQLite on this machine.

168,695 papers · 148 categories

Trend · papers per month

224447671894 · Jun 202019922001200920172026
48 results for Merton's Problem

Solves the Merton investment-consumption problem using a new approach.

problem Infinite-horizon Merton investment-consumption problem in a constant-parameter Black-Scholes-Merton market.
method Simple and elegant argument involving a stochastic perturbation of the utility function.
result Overcomes complications in existing primal verification proofs.

Solves Merton's investment-consumption problem with certainty equivalent approach.

problem Maximizing CRRA utility of consumption over time and investment mix.
method Identifies a certainty equivalent problem for the Merton problem, reformulates it as an SOCP, and applies it to model predictive control.
result The certainty equivalent problem can be solved as an SOCP, facilitating model predictive control.

Paper solves Merton's portfolio problem in a non-Markovian, non-semimartingale model.

problem Merton's portfolio optimization in a fake stationary Volterra-Heston model.
method Stochastic factor solution to a Riccati BSDE, combined with martingale optimality principle.
result Derives semi-closed form optimal strategies and value function.

Investigates how trading boundaries change with transaction costs in portfolio selection.

problem Investigates how trading boundaries vary with transaction costs in portfolio selection.
method Analyzes Merton's problem with proportional transaction costs, showing monotonicity of trading boundaries.
result Cost-adjusted trading boundaries are monotone in transaction costs, with implications for the Merton line.

Investigates optimal investment strategies in financial markets with jumps.

problem Optimal portfolio selection for investors in multi-asset financial markets with jumps.
method Uses martingale optimality principle and Riccati backward stochastic differential equations with jumps.
result Derives semi-closed form optimal strategies and value function for Merton's problem.

Unified approach to Merton's portfolio problem using Pontryagin's principles.

problem Optimizing consumption and investment strategies in financial portfolios.
method PG-DPO framework combining neural networks with Pontryagin's maximum principle.
result Locally optimal policies closely tied to classical stochastic control.

In this paper we consider a modification of the classical Merton portfolio optimization problem. Namely, an investor can trade in financial asset and consume his capital. He is additionally endowed with a one unit of an indivisible asset which he can sell at any time. We give a numerical example of calculating the opti…

2014-03-13abs ↗pdf ↗

The paper challenges the notion that asset return doesn't affect Black-Scholes-Merton model.

problem The role of asset return in the Black-Scholes-Merton model.
method Refutation of the claim through simplified stochastic calculus approach.
result The expected rate of return of the underlying asset does affect the Black-Scholes-Merton model.

This paper investigates Merton's portfolio problem in a rough stochastic environment described by Volterra Heston model. The model has a non-Markovian and non-semimartingale structure. By considering an auxiliary random process, we solve the portfolio optimization problem with the martingale optimality principle. Optim…

2019-05-14abs ↗pdf ↗

The paper extends Merton's problem by adding benchmark tracking, finding optimal strategies.

problem Maximizing consumption utility with a trade-off against benchmark performance.
method Developed a convex duality theorem and derived optimal strategies for specific cases.
result Found optimal portfolio and consumption strategies for CRRA utility and geometric Brownian motion benchmarks.

Bayesian approach to portfolio selection reduces pessimism in frequent trading.

problem Tackling the challenge of estimating drift in Merton's portfolio selection model.
method Bayesian distributionally robust control with nonlinear Wasserstein projections.
result Reduced pessimism and improved performance in frequent rebalancing compared to existing methods.

Researchers find a timing error in Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model.

problem Timing error in Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model.
method Discovered a timing mistake in Merton's 1971 model and showed misspecification in continuous and discrete time.
result Invalidates seminal contributions to the literature including Black-Scholes (1973) and Merton (1971).

Study shows Merton model limits to Poisson process with log-normal intensity, improving default portfolio prediction.

problem Improving prediction of default portfolios using complex models.
method Applying Merton model with log-normal intensity function to Poisson process, discussing temporal correlation effects.
result Power decay model provides better generalization for long-term default portfolio data.

The Noether theorem is extended to stochastic control problems using contact symmetries.

problem Stochastic optimal control problems.
method Exploiting jet bundles and contact geometry, the authors prove the existence of conserved quantities.
result Optimal control problems admit infinitely many conserved quantities in the form of local martingales.

Refining previously known estimates, we give large-strike asymptotics for the implied volatility of Merton's and Kou's jump diffusion models. They are deduced from call price approximations by transfer results of Gao and Lee. For the Merton model, we also analyse the density of the underlying and show that it features …

2014-01-09abs ↗pdf ↗

In this paper, we work in the framework of the Merton problem but we impose a drawdown constraint on the consumption process. This means that consumption can never fall below a fixed proportion of the running maximum of past consumption. In terms of economic motivation, this constraint represents a type of habit format…

2012-10-18abs ↗pdf ↗

Investors' strategic trading affects asset prices, modeled as a game.

problem Investors' trading rates influence asset prices in dynamic markets.
method Model as a non-zero sum singular stochastic differential game, establishing equivalence between best-response and auxiliary control problems.
result Unique Nash equilibrium is deterministic with a closed-form solution.

Gauge symmetries explain the emergence of Merton-Garman equation from Black-Scholes in finance.

problem Understanding the emergence of Merton-Garman equation from Black-Scholes in financial markets.
method Using Hamiltonian formulation and gauge symmetry to derive the Merton-Garman equation from Black-Scholes, analyzing the role of stochastic volatility.
result Gauge symmetry explains the appearance of stochastic volatility and its massivation via the Higgs mechanism.

We derive a closed form portfolio optimization rule for an investor who is diffident about mean return and volatility estimates, and has a CRRA utility. The novelty is that confidence is here represented using ellipsoidal uncertainty sets for the drift, given a volatility realization. This specification affords a simpl…

2015-02-10abs ↗pdf ↗

In this article we consider affine generalizations of the Merton jump diffusion model [Merton, J. Fin. Econ., 1976] and the respective pricing of European options. On the one hand, the Brownian motion part in the Merton model may be generalized to a log-Heston model, and on the other hand, the jump part may be generali…

2015-12-11abs ↗pdf ↗

Introduces RPU to explain randomization preference in dynamic settings.

problem Explains preference for randomization in dynamic investment problems.
method Introduces recursive perturbed utility (RPU) to incorporate randomization preference.
result Proves RPU-optimal portfolio policy is Gaussian and can be expressed in closed form.

The study uses the Merton model to estimate PD and finds a phase transition affecting convergence speed.

problem Estimating the probability of default (PD) using limited historical data.
method Adopted the Merton model and analyzed phase transitions in default correlation.
result PD estimation converges slowly when temporal correlation decays by power law less than one.

The study models credit risk using Merton's framework and binomial trees.

problem Credit risk pricing and implied volatility estimation.
method Calibrated using Merton's structural model, with asset volatility derived from Black-Scholes-Merton. Implied mean return and probability surfaces constructed using a recombining binomial tree.
result Established a practical method for constructing implied credit surfaces.

Unified model integrates Bachelier and Black-Scholes-Merton for asset pricing.

problem Study of asset pricing in a natural world with negative prices or riskless rates.
method Unified framework combining Bachelier and Black-Scholes-Merton models.
result Unified model shows different option pricing depending on riskless instruments used.

Optimizes dynamic investment portfolios with correlated jumps.

problem Maximizing expected terminal wealth in a multivariate Merton model with dependent jumps.
method Approximating CVaR with comonotonic bounds and maximizing expected terminal wealth.
result Improved optimization of dynamic investment portfolios.

In this letter, I consider the issue of pricing risky debt by following Merton's approach. I generalize Merton's results to the case where the interest rate is modeled by the CIR term structure. Exact closed forms are provided for the risky debt's price.

1998-08-16abs ↗pdf ↗

The generalized 5D Black-Scholes differential equation with stochastic volatility is derived. The projections of the stochastic evolutions associated with the random variables from an enlarged space or superspace onto an ordinary space can be achieved via higher-dimensional operators. The stochastic nature of the secur…

2010-01-24abs ↗pdf ↗

Study optimal portfolio strategy with sporadic bankruptcy for isoelastic utility.

problem Maximizing expected isoelastic utility in a stock with potential bankruptcy.
method Coupled Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations, stochastic integral approach.
result Non-myopic optimal weights for non-logarithmic utilities.

Study portfolio optimization with transaction costs and recursive preferences.

problem Optimizing portfolios under transaction costs and recursive preferences.
method Recursive preferences, transaction costs, and Merton investment-consumption problem.
result Characterized all parameter combinations for well-posedness of the problem.

This thesis investigates Merton's portfolio problem under two different rough Heston models, which have a non-Markovian structure. The motivation behind this choice of problem is due to the recent discovery and success of rough volatility processes. The optimisation problem is solved from two different approaches: firs…

2019-09-06abs ↗pdf ↗

While defaults are rare events, losses can be substantial even for credit portfolios with a large number of contracts. Therefore, not only a good evaluation of the probability of default is crucial, but also the severity of losses needs to be estimated. The recovery rate is often modeled independently with regard to th…

2012-03-14abs ↗pdf ↗

This research improves option pricing models using Heston, GARCH, and jump diffusion models.

problem Inaccurate option pricing due to Black-Scholes assumptions.
method Monte Carlo simulation, GARCH model, Heston model, Merton jump-diffusion model.
result Heston model produces estimates closer to market prices, Merton model performs well for volatile assets, GARCH model improves volatility forecasts.

We derive the Black-Scholes-Merton dual equation, which has exactly the same form as the Black-Scholes-Merton equation. The novel and general equation works for options with a payoff of homogeneous of degree one, including European, American, Bermudan, Asian, barrier, lookback, etc., and leads to new insights into pric…

2019-12-22abs ↗pdf ↗