We prove some estimates for the variations of transition probabilities of the (1+1)-affine process. From these estimates we deduce the strong Feller and the ergodic properties of the total variation distance of the process. The key strategy is the pathwise construction and analysis of several Markov couplings using strong solutions of stochastic equations.

This article investigates the long-time behavior of conservative affine processes on the cone of symmetric positive semidefinite $d\times d$ matrices. In particular, for conservative and subcritical affine processes we show that a finite $\log$ -moment of the state-independent jump measure is sufficient for the existence of a unique limit distribution. Moreover, we study the convergence rate of the underlying transition kernel to the limit distribution: first, in a specific metric induced by the Laplace transform, and second, in the Wasserstein distance under a first moment assumption imposed on the state-independent jump measure and an additional condition on the diffusion parameter.

We study an affine two-factor model introduced by Barczy et al. (2014). One component of this two-dimensional model is the so-called α-root process, which generalizes the well-known Cox–Ingersoll–Ross process. In the α = 2 case, this two-factor model was used by Chen and Joslin (2012) to price defaultable bonds with stochastic recovery rates. In this paper we prove exponential ergodicity of this two-factor model when α ∈ (1, 2). As a possible application, our result can be used to study the parameter estimation problem of the model.

We derive the explicit formula for the joint Laplace transform of the Wishart process and its time integral, which extends the original approach of Bru (1991). We compare our methodology with the alternative results given by the variation-of-constants method, the linearization of the matrix Riccati ordinary differential equation, and the Runge-Kutta algorithm. The new formula turns out to be fast and accurate.

We study the existence of a unique stationary distribution and ergodicity for a two-dimensional affine process. Its first coordinate process is supposed to be a so-called α-root process with α ∈ (1, 2]. We prove the existence of a unique stationary distribution for the affine process in the α ∈ (1, 2] case; furthermore, we show ergodicity in the α = 2 case.

Conditional distributions for affine Markov processes are at the core of present (defaultable) bond pricing. There is, however, evidence that Markov processes may not be realistic models for short rates. Fractional Brownian motion (FBM) can be introduced by an integral representation with respect to standard Brownian motion. Using a simple prediction formula for the conditional expectation of an FBM and its Gaussianity, we derive the conditional distributions of FBM and related processes. We derive conditional distributions for fractional analogies of prominent affine processes, including important examples like fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck or fractional Cox–Ingersoll–Ross processes. As an application, we propose a fractional Vasicek bond market model and compare prices of zero-coupon bonds to those achieved in the classical Vasicek model.

We consider variance-optimal hedging in general continuous-time affine stochastic volatility models. The optimal hedge and the associated hedging error are determined semiexplicitly in the case that the stock price follows a martingale. The integral representation of the solution opens the door to efficient numerical computation. The setup includes models with jumps in the stock price and in the activity process. It also allows for correlation between volatility and stock price movements. Concrete parametric models will be illustrated in a forthcoming paper.