Author(s)

P. Mitic

Abstract

Techniques for option valuation, both analytic and numeric, are well-established. Many of them cannot be used if the nature of the option is such that knowl- edge of the future is a prerequisite for valuation. For example, the value when the option expires may depend on the price of the underlying asset during the lifetime of the option. This paper describes a method of over- coming this problem by manipulating a symbolic parameter in a numeric scheme. This parameter characterises the option price at any stage in its lifetime as a function of the price history of the underlying asset. Cer- tain options may then be valued by symbolic manipulations involving this parameter, such that it is not necessary to know a numerical value for a parameter in advance. This enables a limited amount of 'path-dependency' to be introduced into option valuation when us

Keywords