Low Volatility Options and Numerical Diffusion of Finite Difference Schemes

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 65M06, 65M12.

In this paper we explore the numerical diffusion introduced by two nonstandard finite difference schemes applied to the Black-Scholes partial differential equation for pricing discontinuous payoff and low volatility options. Discontinuities in the initial conditions require applying nonstandard non-oscillating finite difference schemes such as the exponentially fitted finite difference schemes suggested by D. Duffy and the Crank-Nicolson variant scheme of Milev-Tagliani. We present a short survey of these two schemes, investigate the origin of the respective artificial numerical diffusion and demonstrate how it could be diminished.