Extreme ATM skew in a local volatility model with discontinuity: joint density approach

Abstract This paper concerns a local volatility model in which the volatility takes two possible values, and the specific value depends on whether the underlying price is above or below a given threshold. The model is known, and a number of results have been obtained for it. In particular, option pricing formulas and a power-law behaviour of the implied volatility skew have been established in the case when the threshold is taken at the money. In this paper, we derive an alternative representation of option pricing formulas. In addition, we obtain an approximation of option prices by the corresponding Black–Scholes prices. Using this approximation streamlines obtaining the aforementioned behaviour of the skew. Our approach is based on the natural relationship of the model with skew Brownian motion and consists of the systematic use of the joint distribution of this stochastic process and some of its functionals.