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Call struck on the squared stock price

Question

In the Black-Scholes model with rate rr and volatility σ\sigma, find the price of a European contract paying max⁡(ST2−K,0)\max(S_T^2-K,0) at time TT.

Short answer

A Black-Scholes call on S2S^2 with volatility 2σ2\sigma and forward F=S02e(2r+σ2)TF=S_0^2e^{(2r+\sigma^2)T}. Since ST2S_T^2 is lognormal, the price is e−rT[FN(d1)−KN(d2)]e^{-rT}[FN(d_1)-KN(d_2)] with d1=ln⁡(F/K)+2σ2T2σTd_1=\tfrac{\ln(F/K)+2\sigma^2T}{2\sigma\sqrt T} and d2=d1−2σTd_2=d_1-2\sigma\sqrt T.

Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q2.6, p.17; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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