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Deriving Convexity Adjustments Under a Lognormal Rate Model

Article Quant Q&A · Author: Randor

Summary

This explanation fills in algebraic steps from Pat Hagan's convexity analysis under a lognormal model for a rate variable. It derives the expected squared deviation by expanding the expression and applying the normal exponential moment, yielding a variance-like term that grows with volatility and time. It then works through a cap-related expectation by separating it into a call-option expectation and a rate-weighted call expectation.

The second derivation uses exponential tilting of a normal density to recast the weighted payoff as a standard call expectation with a shifted effective spot, producing terms involving normal cumulative probabilities at adjusted arguments. The note says it explains part of the paper's formula and leaves the floor derivation to the reader. Its results depend on the lognormal assumption and the stated zero-mean normal factorization; the excerpt is an algebraic clarification, not a broader discussion of model fit or market calibration.

Key ideas

  • Under the assumed lognormal model, normal exponential moments simplify the expected squared rate deviation.
  • A rate multiplied by a call payoff can be evaluated by tilting the normal density and shifting the effective spot.
  • The cap expression separates into ordinary call-value terms with adjusted normal arguments.
  • The derivation relies on lognormality and does not cover the corresponding floor calculation.

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# Clarify a derivation in Pat Hagan's Convexity Conundrums


# Clarify a derivation in Pat Hagan's Convexity Conundrums












I am looking for help in understanding the algebraic derivation to go in between some of the lines in Pat Hagan's famous Convexity Conundrums paper e.g. how he goes from 3.4a to 3.5a.

## Answer by Olaf (score 6, accepted)

https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/21931

### Swap

Just to be clear, (3.4c) leads to (3.5a) when we assume lognormal $R(\tau)$. Lognormal $R(\tau)$ means we can write

$$R(\tau) = R_0 e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z}$$

with $Z$ normal, and I'm assuming a zero mean -- which I think is required. Then for (3.4c) we have for the expectation value:

$$ E\left[(R(\tau) - R_0)^2 \right] = (R_0)^2 E\left[(e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} - 1)^2 \right] = (R_0)^2 E\left[e^{-\sigma^2 \tau + 2 \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} - 2 e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} + 1\right] $$ Now, recall that: $$E[e^{a Z}] =\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{a Z} \frac{e^{-Z^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}} dZ = e^{\frac{a^2}{2} }\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{e^{-(Z-a)^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}} dZ = e^{\frac{a^2}{2} } $$ So $$ (R_0)^2 E\left[e^{-\sigma^2 \tau + 2 \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} - 2 e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} + 1\right] = (R_0)^2 (e^{-\sigma^2 \tau +2\sigma^2\tau }- 2 e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau +\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2\tau} +1)=(R_0)^2 (e^{\sigma^2 \tau}-1)$$

So this explains how (3.5a) follows from (3.4c) (you can fill in the remaining factors yourself).

### Cap

Next I'll look at (3.4a) which, after assuming lognormality of $R$, results in (3.5b). The expectation value of interest is

$$E[(R(\tau) − RR_0)[R(\tau) − K]^+] = E[R(\tau) [R(\tau) − K]^+] - R_0 E[[R(\tau) − K]^+]$$

The second term is the usual expression for a call option, so in the Black scholes framework this is simply given by

$$R_0 E[[R(\tau) − K]^+] =R_0(R_0 \mathcal{N}(d_{1/2}) - K\mathcal{N}(d_{-1/2}))$$

You can already spot these terms in expression (3.5b). The other expectation value is a bit trickier, as we have

$$E[R(\tau) [R(\tau) − K]^+] = R_0 E[e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} [R_0e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + \sigma \sqrt{\tau} Z} − K]^+] $$

This is of the form $$ E[ S e^{aZ} [S e^aZ - K]^+] = S\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{a Z} [S e^{aZ} - K]^+\frac{e^{-Z^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}} dZ $$ $$=Se^{\frac{a^2}{2}}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} [S e^{aZ} - K]^+\frac{e^{-(Z-a)^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}} dZ $$

Next we sub $Z\rightarrow W = Z-a$, giving

$$Se^{\frac{a^2}{2}}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} [S e^{a(W+a)} - K]^+\frac{e^{-W^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}} dW = Se^{\frac{a^2}{2}} E[S e^{a^2 + aW} - K]^+]$$

Now recall that $a=\sigma\sqrt{\tau}$ and $S=R_0 e^{-\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau}$. Then this expectation value becomes

$$ R_0 E[R_0 e^{\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau + aW} - K]^+] = R_0 E[e^{\sigma^2 \tau} R(\tau) - K]^+]$$

That was a lot of effort just to show that:

$$E[R(\tau) [R(\tau) − K]^+] = R_0 E[e^{\sigma^2 \tau} R(\tau) - K]^+]$$

provided $R(\tau)$ is lognormal with zero mean. The right hand side is just a call option, but with spot equal to $R_0 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}$. This gives

$$E[R(\tau) [R(\tau) − K]^+] = (R_0)^2 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}\mathcal{N}(e_{1/2}) - R_0 K\mathcal{N}(e_{-1/2})$$

where $$ e_{1/2} = \frac{\log(\frac{R_0 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}}{K}) + \frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau}{\sigma \sqrt{\tau}} =\frac{\log(\frac{R_0}{K}) +\frac{3}{2}\sigma^2 \tau}{\sigma \sqrt\tau} = d_{3/2}$$ $$ e_{-1/2}=\frac{\log(\frac{R_0 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}}{K}) -\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau}{\sigma \sqrt{\tau}} =\frac{\log(\frac{R_0}{K}) +\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 \tau}{\sigma \sqrt\tau} = d_{1/2}$$

So:

$$E[R(\tau) [R(\tau) − K]^+] = (R_0)^2 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}\mathcal{N}(d_{3/2}) - R_0 K\mathcal{N}(d_{1/2})$$

Finally,

$$\begin{equation} E[(R(\tau) − R_0)[R(\tau) − K]^+]= (R_0)^2 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}\mathcal{N}(d_{3/2}) - R_0 K\mathcal{N}(d_{1/2}) - R_0(R_0 \mathcal{N}(d_{1/2}) - K\mathcal{N}(d_{-1/2})) \\ = (R_0)^2 e^{\sigma^2 \tau}\mathcal{N}(d_{3/2}) - R_0(R_0+K)\mathcal{N}(d_{1/2}) + R_0 K\mathcal{N}(d_{-1/2}) \end{equation}$$

This is (part of) equation (3.5b). This should convince you that (3.5b) follows from (3.4a).

### Floor

I'll leave you this one.

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.