Replicating Arbitrary Payoffs with Calls and Puts
You are given the following three quantities for a random variable $X$:
- $E[X]$
- $E[\max(0, X)]$
- $E[\min(0, X)]$
Let $f$ be a twice continuously differentiable function.
1. Write a formula expressing $E[f(X)]$ in terms of $f$, its derivatives, and expectations of call/put-type payoffs on $X$.
2. Interpret each term financially. What roles do stocks, bonds, calls, and puts play in the representation?
3. How do the given quantities $E[X]$, $E[\max(0,X)]$, and $E[\min(0,X)]$ map onto standard financial instruments?
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