Time change method in quantitative finance

Abstract

In this thesis I discuss the method of time-change and its applications in quantitative finance.

I mainly consider the time change by writing a continuous diffusion process as a Brownian motion subordinated by a subordinator process. I divide the time change method into two cases: deterministic time change and stochastic time change. The difference lies in whether the subordinator process is a deterministic function of time or a stochastic process of time.

Time-changed Brownian motion with deterministic time change provides a new viewpoint to deal with option pricing under stochastic interest rates and I utilize this idea in pricing various exotic options under stochastic interest rates.

Time-changed Brownian motion with stochastic time change is more complicated and I give the equivalence in law relation governing the ``original time" and the ``new stochastic time" under different clocks. This is readily applicable in pricing a new product called ``timer option". It can also be used in pricing barrier options under the Heston stochastic volatility model.

Conclusion and further research directions in exploring the ideas of time change method in other areas of quantitative finance are in the last chapter.