A stochastic dynamic programming approach for pricing options on stock-index futures

The aim of this thesis is to price options on equity index futures with an application to standard options on S&P 500 futures traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Our methodology is based on stochastic dynamic programming, which can accommodate European as well as American options. The model accommodates dividends from the underlying asset. It also captures the optimal exercise strategy and the fair value of the option. This approach is an alternative to available numerical pricing methods such as binomial trees, finite differences, and ad-hoc numerical approximation techniques. Our numerical and empirical investigations demonstrate convergence, robustness, and efficiency. We use this methodology to value exchange-listed options. The European option premiums thus obtained are compared to Black's closed-form formula. They are accurate to four digits. The American option premiums also have a similar level of accuracy compared to premiums obtained using finite differences and binomial trees with a large number of time steps. The proposed model accounts for deterministic, seasonally varying dividend yield. In pricing futures options, we discover that what matters is the sum of the dividend yields over the life of the futures contract and not their distribution.

The Impact of a Corporate Name Change on Stock Price and Trading Volume of Canadian Companies

This thesis examines the impact of a corporate name change on stock price and trading volume of Canadian companies around the announcement date, the approval date, and the adoption date over the time period from 1997 to 2011. Name changes are classified into six categories: major and minor, structural and pure, diversified and focused, accompanied with a change in ticker symbol and without a change in ticker symbol, “Gold” name addition and deletion, and different reasons for name changes (e.g., merger and acquisition, change of structure, change of strategy, and better image). The thesis uses the standard event study methodology to perform abnormal return and trading volume analyses. In addition, regression analysis is employed to examine which type of a name change has the largest impact on cumulative abnormal returns. Sample stocks exhibit a significant positive abnormal return one-day prior to the approval day and one day after the adoption date. Around the approval date we observe significant abnormal returns for stocks with a structural name change. On the day after the adoption date we document abnormal returns for stocks with major, minor, structural, pure, focused, and ticker symbol name changes. If a merger or acquisition is the reason for a name change, companies tend to experience a significant positive abnormal return one-day before the approval date and on the adoption date. If a change of structure is the reason for a name change, companies exhibit a significant positive abnormal return on the approval date and a significant negative abnormal return on the adoption date. In case of a change of strategy as the reason for a name change, companies show a significant negative abnormal return around the approval date and a significant positive abnormal return around the adoption date.

Certificate for One Share of Capital Stock in Nicola Valley Coal and Coke Company

Certificate for 1 share of capital stock in Nicola Valley Coal and Coke Company to Welland D. Woodruff, May 13, 1905.

Certificate for Twenty-One Shares of Capital Stock in Nicola Valley Coal and Coke Company

Certificate for 21 shares of capital stock in Nicola Valley Coal and Coke Company to Welland D. Woodruff, Oct. 16, 1905.

Certificate for One Thousand Shares of Capital Stock in Lincoln-Nipissing Development Co. Ltd.

Certificate for 1,000 shares of capital stock in Lincoln-Nipissing Development Co. Ltd. to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Feb. 21, 1907.

Certificate for One Share of Capital Stock in St. Catharines Golf Club Ltd.

Certificate for 1 share of capital stock in St. Catharines Golf Club Ltd. to Dr. Thos. Woodruff, April 15, 1911.

Certificate for One Share of Capital Stock in the Lincoln County Greater Production Company

Certificate for 1 share of capital stock in the Lincoln County Greater Production Company to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Jan. 20, 1919.

Certificate for Six Shares of Capital Stock in Gove Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigcan

Certificate for 6 shares of common capital stock in Gove Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan to Hamilton K. Woodruff, June 13, 1921.

Certificate for Two Shares of Preferred Capital Stock in Gove Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan

Certificate for 2 shares of preferred capital stock in Gove Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan to Hamilton K. Woodruff, June 13, 1921.

Certificate for Two Shares of Capital Stock in The Henley Aquatic Association Limited

Certificate for 2 shares of capital stock in Henley Aquatic Association Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Oct. 15, 1921.

Certificate for Sixty Shares of Capital Stock in High Pressure Oil and Gas Syndicate, Limited

Certificate for 60 shares of capital stock in High Pressure Oil and Gas Syndicate, Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, Nov. 1, 1922.

Certificate for Five Shares of Common Stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited

Certificate for 5 shares of common stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, April 10, 1923.

Certificate for Ten Shares of Accumulative Preference Capital Stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited

Certificate for 10 shares of accumulative preference capital stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, April 10, 1923.

Certificate for Twenty Shares of Accumulative Preference Capital Stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited

Certificate for 20 shares of accumulative preference capital stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, April 14, 1923.

Certificate for Twenty-Five Shares of Common Stock in Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Limited

Certificate for 25 shares of common in Lincoln Manufacturing Company Limited to Hamilton K. Woodruff, April 14, 1923.