The LocalVolatility command computes local volatilities of the underlying asset implied by the specified prices of European call options. It is assumed that the underlying asset evolves according to the stochastic differential equation

 is the risk-free rate,

 is the dividend yield,

 is the local volatility,

 is the standard Wiener process.

Note that the local volatility is a function of both time and the value of the underlying asset.

Let  denote the undiscounted price of the European call option with strike price K and maturity time t drawn on the underlying asset. If P(t, K) is known for all  and , then the local volatility sigma(S, t) of the underlying asset can be determined using the following equation:

The parameter C is the discounted price of the European call option given as a function of the maturity time t and the strike price K.

The parameter S specifies values of the underlying asset for which local volatilities are to be computed. The parameter T specifies times for which local volatilities are to be computed. The LocalVolatility command returns a matrix V such that  is the local volatility of the underlying asset at time  when the value of the underlying asset is .

The r and d parameters are the risk-free rate and the dividend yield. These parameters can be given in either the algebraic form or the operator form. If any of the parameters C, r, or d are given in the algebraic form, the parameters t and K must be specified to determine which variable represents time and which variable represents the strike price.

The Finance[LocalVolatility] command was introduced in Maple 15.

For more information on Maple 15 changes, see Updates in Maple 15.

Gatheral, J., The Volatility Surface: A Practioner's Guide, (with foreword by Nassim Taleb), Wiley, 2006.

Hull, J., Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, 5th. edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.