March 11th, 2005, 10:05 am
1. According to the Black & Scholes framework the expected return is a parameter of the dynamics of the asset. When you create the risk free portfolio this term disappears. On the contrary the mean reversion is not a parameter of the model. If you assumed it you would obtain a different formula. Therefore while the expected return is irrilevant in the determination of the final price, the mean reversion should be relevant if taken in consideration.2. The mean reversion is an important parameter in interest rate models because the assumption of a pure geometric motion is not realistic. The price of a stock can move from 0 to + infinite while an interest rate tends to be attracted toward a long term average value. Infact the most important short rate models (HW, CIR, BK,...) incorporate in their dynamics one (or more) parameter that can be interpreted as "mean reversion"P.