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Call on the product of two correlated stocks

Question

Two non-dividend stocks follow geometric Brownian motions with volatilities σ1,σ2\sigma_1, \sigma_2 and correlation ρ\rho; the risk-free rate is rr. Value a European option paying max⁡(S1(T)S2(T)−X,0)\max(S_1(T) S_2(T) - X, 0) at time TT.

Short answer

V=e−rT[MN(d1)−XN(d2)]V = e^{-rT}[M N(d_1) - X N(d_2)] where M=S1S2 e(2r+ρσ1σ2)TM = S_1 S_2\, e^{(2r + \rho\sigma_1\sigma_2)T}, σ2=σ12+σ22+2ρσ1σ2\sigma^2 = \sigma_1^2 + \sigma_2^2 + 2\rho\sigma_1\sigma_2, d1=ln⁡(M/X)+12σ2TσTd_1 = \frac{\ln(M/X) + \frac12\sigma^2 T}{\sigma\sqrt T}, d2=d1−σTd_2 = d_1 - \sigma\sqrt T. The product of two correlated lognormals is lognormal with variance σ2\sigma^2 per unit time, so the Black formula applies once you compute its risk-neutral mean MM.

Adapted from Crack, Heard on the Street, Q2.54, p.31; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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