• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.226-231
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• 2016

Binomial trees are used to price barrier options. Since barrier options are path dependent, option values of each node are calculated from binomial trees using backward induction. We use generalized Catalan numbers to determine the number of cases not reaching a barrier. We will generalize Catalan numbers by imposing upper and lower bounds. Reaching a barrier in binomial trees is determined by the difference between the number of up states and down states. If we count the cases that the differences between the up states and down states remain in a specific range, the probability of not reaching a barrier is obtained at a final node of the tree. With probabilities and option values at the final nodes of the tree, option prices are computable by discounting the expected option value at expiry. Without calculating option values in the middle nodes of binomial trees, option prices are computable only with final option values. We can obtain a probability distribution of exercising an option at expiry. Generalized Catalan numbers are expected to be applicable in many other areas.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.249-264
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• 2009

Equity-indexed annuities(EIAs) provide their customers with the greater of either the return linked to the underlying index or the minimum guaranteed return. Insurance companies have developed EIAs to attract customers reluctant to buy traditional fixed annuities because of low returns and also reluctant to buy mutual funds for fear of the high volatility in the stock market. This paper proposes a new type of EIA embedded with an outside barrier option with flexible monitoring period in order to increase its participation rate. It also derives an explicit pricing formula for this proposed product, and discusses numerical examples to show relationships among participation rate, barrier level, index volatility and correlation.