A simple nonparametric approach to pricing credit default swaps

This study introduces a nonparametric approach to pricing credit default swaps (CDSs) and other single-name credit-risky securities. This method is notable for its simplicity, estimation speed, and flexibility. That is, it relies exclusively on closed-form solutions, which provide instantaneous resu...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor: Forte, Santiago
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Universitat Ramon Llull (URL)
Repositorio:DAU Arxiu Digital de la Universitat Ramon Llull
OAI Identifier:oai:dau.url.edu:20.500.14342/6011
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/6011
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jedc.2025.105198
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Credit risk pricing
No-arbitrage conditions
Bootstrapping
CDS contracts
Descrição
Resumo:This study introduces a nonparametric approach to pricing credit default swaps (CDSs) and other single-name credit-risky securities. This method is notable for its simplicity, estimation speed, and flexibility. That is, it relies exclusively on closed-form solutions, which provide instantaneous results, and allows the user to reproduce any term structure of CDS spreads. I empirically assess its pricing performance by comparing it with an otherwise equivalent semiparametric (piecewise constant default probability) model that requires a series of root-search algorithms and represents the current market convention for marking-to-market CDS contracts. This analysis demonstrates that the new method also implies a reduction in mean percentage absolute pricing errors.