On a Markov chain approximation method for option pricing with regime switching

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a Markov chain approximation method to price European options, American options and barrier options in a Markovian regime-switching environment. The model parameters are modulated by a continuous-time, finite-state, observable Markov chain, whose states represent the states of an economy. After selecting an equivalent martingale measure by the regime-switching Esscher transform, we construct a discrete-time, inhomogeneous Markov chain to approximate the dynamics of the logarithmic stock price process. Numerical examples and empirical analysis are used to illustrate the practical implementation of the method.