On the sensitivity analysis of spread options using Malliavin calculus


Shadrack Makwena Kgomo, Farai Julius Mhlanga




In this paper we derive tractable formulae for price sensitivities of two-dimensional spread options using Malliavin calculus. In particular, we consider spread options with asset dynamics driven by geometric Brownian motion and stochastic volatility models. Unlike the fast Fourier transform approach, the Malliavin calculus approach does not require the joint characteristic function of underlying assets to be known and is applicable to spread options with discontinuous payoff functions. The results obtained reveal that the Malliavin calculus approach gives the price sensitivities in terms of the expectation of spread option pay-off functional multiplied with some random variables (Malliavin weights) which are independent of the payoff functional. The results show the flexibility of Mallavin calculus approach when applied to spread options.