Levy processes are the natural continuous-time analogue of random walks and form a rich class of stochastic processes around which a robust mathematical theory exists. Their mathematical significance is justified by their application in many areas of classical and modern stochastic models.

This textbook forms the basis of a graduate course on the theory and applications of Levy processes, from the perspective of their path fluctuations. Central to the presentation are decompositions of the paths of Levy processes in terms of their local maxima and an understanding of their short- and long-term behaviour.

The book aims to be mathematically rigorous while still providing an intuitive feel for underlying principles. The results and applications often focus on the case of Levy processes with jumps in only one direction, for which recent theoretical advances have yielded a higher degree of mathematical transparency and explicitness. Each chapter has a comprehensive set of exercises with complete solutions.

Introductory Lectures on Fluctuations of Lévy Processes with Applications

Algebra and Famous Inpossibilities Differential Systems Dumortier.: Qualitative Theory of Planar Jost, J.: Dynamical Systems. Examples of Complex Behaviour Jost, J.: Postmodern Analysis Jost, J.: Riemannian Geometry and Geometric Analysis Kac, V.; Cheung, P.: Quantum Calculus Kannan, R.; Krueger, C.K.: Advanced Analysis on the Real Line Kelly, P.; Matthews, G.: The NonEuclidean Hyperbolic Plane Kempf, G.: Complex Abelian Varieties and Theta Functions Kitchens, B. P.: Symbolic Dynamics Kloeden, P.; Ombach, J.; Cyganowski, S.: From Elementary Probability to Stochastic Differential Equations with MAPLE Kloeden, P. E.; Platen; E.; Schurz, H.: Numerical Solution of SDE Through Computer Experiments Kostrikin, A. I.: Introduction to Algebra Krasnoselskii, M.A.; Pokrovskii, A.V.: Systems with Hysteresis Kurzweil, H.; Stellmacher, B.: The Theory of Finite Groups. An Introduction Lang, S.: Introduction to Differentiable Manifolds Luecking, D.H., Rubel, L.A.: Complex Analysis. A Functional Analysis Approach Ma, Zhi-Ming; Roeckner, M.: Introduction to the Theory of (non-symmetric) Dirichlet Forms Mac Lane, S.; Moerdijk, I.: Sheaves in Geometry and Logic Marcus, D.A.: Number Fields Martinez, A.: An Introduction to Semiclassical and Microlocal Analysis Matoušek, J.: Using the Borsuk-Ulam Theorem Matsuki, K.: Introduction to the Mori Program Mazzola, G.; Milmeister G.; Weissman J.: Comprehensive Mathematics for Computer Scientists 1 Mazzola, G.; Milmeister G.; Weissman J.: Comprehensive Mathematics for Computer Scientists 2 Mc Carthy, P. J.: Introduction to Arithmetical Functions McCrimmon, K.: A Taste of Jordan Algebras Meyer, R.M.: Essential Mathematics for Applied Field Meyer-Nieberg, P.: Banach Lattices Mikosch, T.: Non-Life Insurance Mathematics Mines, R.; Richman, F.; Ruitenburg, W.: A Course in Constructive Algebra Moise, E. E.: Introductory Problem Courses in Analysis and Topology Montesinos-Amilibia, J.M.: Classical Tessellations and Three Manifolds Morris, P.: Introduction to Game Theory Nikulin, V.V.; Shafarevich, I. R.: Geometries and Groups Oden, J. J.; Reddy, J. N.: Variational Methods in Theoretical Mechanics Øksendal, B.: Stochastic Differential Equations Øksendal, B.; Sulem, A.: Applied Stochastic Control of Jump Diffusions Poizat, B.: A Course in Model Theory Polster, B.: A Geometrical Picture Book Porter, J. R.; Woods, R.G.: Extensions and Absolutes of Hausdorff Spaces Radjavi, H.; Rosenthal, P.: Simultaneous Triangularization Ramsay, A.; Richtmeyer, R.D.: Introduction to Hyperbolic Geometry Rees, E.G.: Notes on Geometry Reisel, R. B.: Elementary Theory of Metric Spaces Rey, W. J. J.: Introduction to Robust and Quasi-Robust Statistical Methods Ribenboim, P.: Classical Theory of Algebraic Numbers Rickart, C. E.: Natural Function Algebras Roger G.: Analysis II Rotman, J. J.: Galois Theory Jost, J.: Compact Riemann Surfaces Applications ́ Introductory Lectures on Fluctuations of Levy Processes with Kyprianou, A. : Rautenberg, W.; A Concise Introduction to Mathematical Logic Samelson, H.: Notes on Lie Algebras Schiff, J. L.: Normal Families Sengupta, J.K.: Optimal Decisions under Uncertainty Séroul, R.: Programming for Mathematicians Seydel, R.: Tools for Computational Finance Shafarevich, I. R.: Discourses on Algebra Shapiro, J. H.: Composition Operators and Classical Function Theory Simonnet, M.: Measures and Probabilities Smith, K. E.; Kahanpää, L.; Kekäläinen, P.; Traves, W.: An Invitation to Algebraic Geometry Smith, K.T.: Power Series from a Computational Point of View Smoryński, C.: Logical Number Theory I. An Introduction Stichtenoth, H.: Algebraic Function Fields and Codes Stillwell, J.: Geometry of Surfaces Stroock, D.W.: An Introduction to the Theory of Large Deviations Sunder, V. S.: An Invitation to von Neumann Algebras Tamme, G.: Introduction to Étale Cohomology Tondeur, P.: Foliations on Riemannian Manifolds Toth, G.: Finite Möbius Groups, Minimal Immersions of Spheres, and Moduli Verhulst, F.: Nonlinear Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems Wong, M.W.: Weyl Transforms Xambó-Descamps, S.: Block Error-Correcting Codes Zaanen, A.C.: Continuity, Integration and Fourier Theory Zhang, F.: Matrix Theory Zong, C.: Sphere Packings Zong, C.: Strange Phenomena in Convex and Discrete Geometry Zorich, V.A.: Mathematical Analysis I Zorich, V.A.: Mathematical Analysis II Rybakowski, K. P.: The Homotopy Index and Partial Differential Equations Sagan, H.: Space-Filling Curves Ruiz-Tolosa, J. R.; Castillo E.: From Vectors to Tensors Runde, V.: A Taste of Topology Rubel, L.A.: Entire and Meromorphic Functions Weintraub, S.H.: Galois Theory

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Fluctuations of Lévy Processes with Applications

http://www.univ-pau.fr/~avram/papers/Martijn/PHSPA.pdf

Russian and American put options under exponential phase-type Lévy models

Consider a model of a financial market with a stock driven by a Levy process and constant interest rate. A closed formula for prices of perpetual American call options in terms of the overall supremum of the Levy process, and a corresponding closed formula for perpetual American put options involving the infimum of the after-mentioned process are obtained. As a direct application of the previous results, a Black-Scholes type formula is given. Also as a consequence, simple explicit formulas for prices of call options are obtained for a Levy process with positive mixed-exponential and arbitrary negative jumps. In the case of put options, similar simple formulas are obtained under the condition of negative mixed-exponential and arbitrary positive jumps. Risk-neutral valuation is discussed and a simple jump-diffusion model is chosen to illustrate the results.

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Optimal stopping and perpetual options for Lévy processes

The purpose of this article is to provide, with the help of a fluctuation identity, a generic link between a number of known identities for the first passage time and overshoot above/below a fixed level of a Levy process and the solution of Gerber and Shiu [Astin Bull. 24 (1994) 195–220], Boyarchenko and Levendorskii [Working paper series EERS 98/02 (1998), Unpublished manuscript (1999), SIAM J. Control Optim. 40 (2002) 1663–1696], Chan [Original unpublished manuscript (2000)], Avram, Chan and Usabel [Stochastic Process. Appl. 100 (2002) 75–107], Mordecki [Finance Stoch. 6 (2002) 473–493], Asmussen, Avram and Pistorius [Stochastic Process. Appl. 109 (2004) 79–111] and Chesney and Jeanblanc [Appl. Math. Fin. 11 (2004) 207–225] to the American perpetual put optimal stopping problem. Furthermore, we make folklore precise and give necessary and sufficient conditions for smooth pasting to occur in the considered problem.

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Some remarks on first passage of Lévy processes, the American put and pasting principles

We determine $\sup E\lbrack r(S_T)\rbrack$, where $S_n$ is a sequence of partial sums of independent identically distributed random variables, for two reward functions: $r(x) = x^+$ and $r(x) = (e^x - 1)^+$. The supremum is taken over all stop rules $T$. We give conditions under which the optimal expected return is finite. Under these conditions, optimal stopping times exist, and we determine them. The problem has an interpretation in an action timing problem in finance.

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D. A. Darling

Papers

Optimal Stopping for Partial Sums