Parametric option pricing: A divide-and-conquer approach

Non-parametric option pricing models, such as artificial neural networks, are often found to outperform their parametric counterparts in empirical option pricing exercises. In this context, non-parametric models are viewed as more flexible and amenable to adaptive learning. However, the main drawback of non-parametric approaches is their lack of stability, which is detrimental to out-of-sample performance. This is the key reason why one may prefer a parsimonious parametric model. This paper proposes a parametric Takagi–Sugeno–Kang (TSK) fuzzy rule-based option pricing model that requires only a small number of rules to describe highly complex non-linear functions. The findings for this data-driven approach indicate that the TSK model presents a robust option pricing tool that is superior to an array of well-known parametric models from the literature. In addition, its predictive performance is consistently no worse than that of a non-parametric feedforward neural network model. ► We price European call options on the S&P 500 index using a parametric model. ► Our non-linear fuzzy rule-based model presents a robust option pricing tool. ► Its performance is comparable to or superior to that of non-parametric models. ► Our approach is particularly dominant in volatile financial markets.