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Mean-reverting stock model and its effect on calls

Question

A stock is modelled by dS=α(μ−S) dt+σS dWdS=\alpha(\mu-S)\,dt+\sigma S\,dW. How does it behave, what do α\alpha and μ\mu represent, and how do they change the price of a call option?

Short answer

They do not affect the call price. The drift pulls SS towards the level μ\mu, with α\alpha setting the speed of reversion, and the noise is proportional to SS. But a traded stock can be hedged, so under the risk-neutral measure its drift is replaced by rSrS and only σ\sigma (and rr) enter the price. The real-world drift parameters change forecasts and P&L, not the no-arbitrage value.

Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q3.43, p.84; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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