Fourier Transform Method with an Asymptotic Expansion Approach: an Application to Currency Options

This paper develops a Fourier transform method with an asymptotic expansion approach for option pricing. The method is applied to European currency options with a libor market model of interest rates and jump-diffusion stochastic volatility models of spot exchange rates. In particular, we derive closed-form approximation formulas of the characteristic functions of log-prices of the underlying assets and the prices of currency options based on a third order asymptotic expansion scheme; we use a jump-diffusion model with a mean-reverting stochastic variance process such as in Heston[1993]/Bates[1996] and log-normal market models for domestic and foreign interest rates. Finally, the validity of our method is confirmed through numerical examples.Revised Version of CIRJE-F-497; forthcoming in International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance;. Revised in February 2008