Conditional Portfolio Valuation Given a Future Stock Price Event
Summary
The document formalizes the value of a two-stock portfolio conditional on one stock finishing below a specified level at a future time. It represents the condition as an event and uses its indicator to restrict portfolio outcomes. The conditional expected portfolio value is written as a conditional expectation given the information available at an earlier time, then separated into contributions from each holding.
The response notes that the second stock’s contribution resembles a put-style expectation and may be computed under a measure associated with that stock. The first stock’s contribution requires a joint calculation because the stock prices are correlated; the answer describes it as a double integral or a two-dimensional normal probability. This gives a framework for analysis, but does not provide the integral’s evaluation or a full derivation. The setup also assumes the event and portfolio are defined on compatible time horizons.
Key ideas
- A future price condition can be represented as an event such as a stock finishing below a threshold.
- Multiplying a portfolio payoff by the event indicator restricts it to outcomes satisfying that condition.
- Conditional expected portfolio value can be decomposed into expectations for each holding.
- Correlation means the other stock’s contribution depends on a joint distribution calculation.
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# How can this problem be defined formally?
# How can this problem be defined formally?
Let's consider a straightforward example in which I possess a portfolio consisting of two stocks:
$ R(t) = S_{1}(t) \cdot x_1 + S_{2}(t) \cdot x_2, $
Here, $t$ represents the time index, $R(t)$ symbolizes the portfolio's value in terms of dollars, $x_i$ indicates the weight of stock $i \in [1,2]$, and $[S_{1}(t),S_{2}(t)]$ denote two correlated stock prices, exhibiting the following dynamics:
$ \frac{dS_{1}(t)}{S_{1}(t)} = \mu_{1} dt + \sqrt{1-\rho^2} \sigma_{1} dW_{1}(t) + \rho \sigma_{1} dW_{2}(t), \\ \frac{dS_{2}(t)}{S_{2}(t)} = \mu_{2} dt + \sigma_{2} dW_{2}(t). $
Assuming a forecasting horizon $H > T$, I can employ numerical simulations to predict potential future portfolio values $R(h)$ for all $h \in [T,H]$.
Now, let's suppose that at time $T$, I'm privy to insider information suggesting an impending price drop for stock $S_2(h)$. Specifically, I have knowledge that the price $S_2(h)$ will undoubtedly be less than a constant $S_2(h) = K$ for a known time $h$ in the future. By excluding scenarios that don't meet this condition, I can calculate the expected portfolio value given this scenario. While I can perform numerical computations, defining this context formally remains a challenge.
Therefore, my inquiries are as follows:
- How can I analytically define this scenario?
- How can I formally define the stock price conditional to this scenario?
- Would applying Girsanov's theorem and altering probabilities be necessary?
- How can I define the portfolio value conditional to this scenario?
- Could you recommend literature that delves into similar problems?
I welcome your input in refining my understanding.
## Answer by NN2 (score 1, accepted)
https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/76523
The event that the second stock price is less than a constant $K$ at the time $h$ is mathematically described by $\{S_2(h)< K\}$.
The first stock price, at the time $t\in [T,H]$, given the event is $$S_{1}(t) \cdot \mathbf{1}_{\{S_2(h)< K\}}$$
where $\mathbf{1}_{\{ \}}$ is the indicator function.
The value of the portfolio, at the time $t\in [T,H]$, given the event is $$\left(S_{1}(t) \cdot x_1 + S_{2}(t) \cdot x_2\right)\cdot \mathbf{1}_{\{S_2(h)< K\}}$$
The expected value of the portfolio, at the time $s$ such that $T\le s \le h \le H$ and $T \le s \le t \le H$ , is then equal to $$\begin{align} V(s) &:=\mathbb{E}\left(\left(S_{1}(t) \cdot x_1 + S_{2}(t) \cdot x_2\right)\cdot \mathbf{1}_{\{S_2(h)< K\}}| \mathcal{F}_s\right) \\ &=x_1\mathbb{E}\left(S_{1}(t) \cdot \mathbf{1}_{\{S_2(h)< K\}}| \mathcal{F}_s\right) + x_2\mathbb{E}\left(S_{2}(t) \cdot \mathbf{1}_{\{S_2(h)< K\}}| \mathcal{F}_s\right) \tag{1} \end{align}$$
The second term of $(1)$ is relatively like a put on $S_2$, you can compute it easily for example by changing to the measure $S_2$-neutral.
The calculation of the first term of $(1)$ requires a double integral (it is possible to write the result as a 2-dimensional normal probability distribution). The calculation is a little cumbersome but not difficule, I let you to do it.Shown in full with attribution under the source's licence. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Stack Exchange)
This summary was written by Stratmill's research agent from the original; it is not a copy of the source.