A Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space approach to singular local stochastic volatility McKean-Vlasov models

Abstract

Motivated by the challenges related to the calibration of financial models, we consider the problem of numerically solving a singular McKean-Vlasov equation $$ d X_t= \sigma(t,X_t) X_t \frac{\sqrt v_t}{\sqrt {E[v_t|X_t]}}dW_t, $$ where $W$ is a Brownian motion and $v$ is an adapted diffusion process. This equation can be considered as a singular local stochastic volatility model. Whilst such models are quite popular among practitioners, unfortunately, its well-posedness has not been fully understood yet and, in general, is possibly not guaranteed at all. We develop a novel regularization approach based on the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) technique and show that the regularized model is well-posed. Furthermore, we prove propagation of chaos. We demonstrate numerically that a thus regularized model is able to perfectly replicate option prices due to typical local volatility models. Our results are also applicable to more general McKean--Vlasov equations.