Krzys` Ostaszewski, http://www.math.ilstu.edu/krzysio/, Exercise 112

Krzys’ Ostaszewski, http://www.math.ilstu.edu/krzysio/, Exercise 112, 7/7/7
Author of a study manual for exam FM available at:
http://smartURL.it/krzysioFM (paper) or http://smartURL.it/krzysioFMe (electronic)
Instructor for online seminar for exam FM: http://smartURL.it/onlineactuary
If you find these exercises valuable, please consider buying the manual or attending the
seminar, and if you can’t, please consider making a donation to the Actuarial Program
at Illinois State University: https://www.math.ilstu.edu/actuary/giving/
Donations will be used for scholarships for actuarial students. Donations are taxdeductible to the extent allowed by law.
Questions about these exercises? E-mail: [email protected]
The current price of a stock is $50. The stock value either increases by 6% or decreases
by 5% in six months. The risk-free interest rate is 4% per annum with continuous
compounding. Determine the value of a six-month European call option with a strike
price of $52.
A. $0.63
B. $0.64
C. $0.65
D. $0.66
E. $0.67
Solution.
The risk-neutral probability of the up move is
1
!0.04
" 0.95
e2
p=
# 0.638194.
1.06 " 0.95
In the case of the up move the stock price will be $50 !1.06 = $53, and in the case of the
down move it will be $50 ! 0.95 = $47.50. The call will pay $1 in the case of the up
move, and $0 in the case of the down move. The value of the call is therefore
p ! $1! e
Answer A.
"0.04!
1
2
# $0.63.
© Copyright 2006-2007 by Krzysztof Ostaszewski.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission
from the author is strictly prohibited.