Last updated: 1 August 2024

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Quantitative Finance


Prices a portfolio of LIBOR swaptions on a LIBOR Market Model using a Monte-Carlo simulation and computes Greeks.

Prices a portfolio of American call options using a Binomial lattice (Cox, Ross and Rubenstein method).

Prices a portfolio of European options using the Black-Scholes-Merton formula.

Prices a portfolio of up-and-in barrier options using a Monte-Carlo simulation.
Implementation:

Deep Learning


Trains a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) using Tensorflow

Inference with a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) using Tensorflow

Trains a Long Short Term Memory model (LSTM) using Tensorflow

Inference with a Long Short Term Memory model (LSTM) using Tensorflow

(All deep learning applications have been implemented using Nvidia’s TensorFlow NGC Docker container.)

Benchmark Description

This application prices a portfolio of LIBOR swaptions on a LIBOR Market Model using a Monte-Carlo simulation. It also computes Greeks.

In each Monte-Carlo path, the LIBOR forward rates are generated randomly at all required maturities following the LIBOR Market Model, starting from the initial LIBOR rates. The swaption portfolio payoff is then computed and discounted to the pricing date. Averaging the per-path prices gives the final net present value of the portfolio.

The full algorithm is illustrated in the processing graph below:

LiborGreeksGraph

More details can be found in Prof. Mike Giles’ notes [1].

This benchmark uses a portfolio of 15 swaptions with maturities between 4 and 40 years and 80 forward rates (and hence 80 delta Greeks). To study the performance, the number of Monte-Carlo paths is varied between 128K-2,048K.

[1] M. Giles, “Monte Carlo evaluation of sensitivities in computational finance,” HERCMA Conference, Athens, Sep. 2007.

  • Application Class: Pricer
  • Model: Libor Market Model
  • Instrument Type: Swaption Portfolio
  • Numerical Method: Monte-Carlo
  • Portfolio Size: 15 swaptions
  • Maturities: 4 to 40 years
  • Number of Forward Rates: 80
  • Number of Sensitivities: 80
  • Monte-Carlo Paths:128K–1,024K

This benchmark application prices a portfolio of American call options using a Binomial lattice (Cox, Ross and Rubenstein method).

For a given size N of the binomial tree, the option payoff at the N leaf nodes is computed first (the value at maturity for different stock prices, using the Black-Scholes model). Then, the pricer works towards the root node backwards in time, multiplying the 2 child nodes by the pre-computed pseudo-probabilities that the price goes up or down, including discounting at the risk-free rate, and adding the results. After repeating this process for all time steps, the root node holds the present value.

The algorithm is illustrated in the graph below:

Binomial tree illustration

This binomial pricing method is applied for every option in the portfolio.

For this benchmark, we use 1,024 steps (the depth of the tree). We vary the number of options in the portfolio to study the performance.

  • Application Class: Batch Pricer
  • Model: Black-Scholes
  • Instrument Type: American Option
  • Numerical Method: Binomial Lattice
  • Portfolio Size: 128K–2,048K
  • Maturities: 1–5 years
  • Depth of Lattice: 1,024

This benchmark application prices a portfolio of European options using the Black-Scholes-Merton formula.

The pricer calculates both the call and put price for a batch of options, defined by their current stock price, strike price, and maturities. It applies the Black-Scholes-Merton forumla for each option in the portfolio.

For this benchmark, we repeat the application of the formula 100 times to increase the overall runtime for the performance measurements. The number of options in the portfolio is varied to study the performance.

  • Application Class: Batch Pricer
  • Model: Black-Scholes
  • Instrument Type: European Option
  • Numerical Method: Closed-form Formula
  • Portfolio Size: 32M-256M
  • Maturities: 1–5 years

This benchmark application prices a portfolio of up-and-in barrier options with European exercise, using a Monte-Carlo simulation.

The Black-Scholes model is used to generate the paths. That is, in every Monte-Carlo path, the stock value at a fixed grid of time steps is computed using a geometric Brownian motion with constant volatility and the risk-free rate. If the stock value crosses the barrier anywhere along the path, the option becomes valid and its payoff is the positive value of the difference between the stock at maturity and the option’s strike. Otherwise, the option’s payoff is zero.

Then the payoff of each option is discounted to the valuation date using the risk-free rate and averaged across the paths. This yields the net present values of all options.

The full algorithm is illustrated in the processing graph below:

MC Barrier Option Pricer Graph

This benchmark uses 50,000 Monte-Carlo paths and 50 time-steps. The number of options in the portfolio is varied to study the performance.

  • Application Class: Batch Pricer
  • Model: Black-Scholes
  • Instrument Type: Barrier Option
  • Numerical Method: Monte-Carlo
  • Paths: 50,000
  • Time Steps: 50
  • Number of Options: 2,000–32,000
  • Maturities: 1-5 years

This application benchmarks the training of a deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), as illustrated below.

Deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)

RNNs are at the core of many deep learning applications in finance, as they show excellent predition performance for time-series data.

For benchmark purposes, we focus on a single layer of such network, as this is the fundamental building block of more complex deep RNN models. We use Tensorflow, optimised by Nvidia in their NGC Docker container.

  • Application Class: Deep Learning
  • Model: Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)
  • Mode: Training
  • Hidden Layers: 1
  • Hidden Units: 1,024
  • Sequence Length: 32
  • Batch Size: 128
  • Optimizer: Stochastic gradient descent
  • Training Data: Random

This application benchmarks the inference performance of a deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), as illustrated below.

Deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)

RNNs are at the core of many deep learning applications in finance, as they show excellent predition performance for time-series data.

For benchmark purposes, we focus on a single layer of such network, as this is the fundamental building block of more complex deep RNN models. We use Tensorflow, optimised by Nvidia in their NGC Docker container.

  • Application Class: Deep Learning
  • Model: Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)
  • Mode: Inference
  • Hidden Layers: 1
  • Hidden Units: 1,024
  • Sequence Length: 32

This application benchmarks the training of a deep Long-Short Term Memory Model Network (LSTM). This is a modified version of the vanialla RNN, to overcome problems with vanishing or exploding gradients during back-propagation. This allows LSTMs to learn complex long-term dependencies better than RNNs.

RNNs are at the core of many deep learning applications in finance, as they show excellent predition performance for time-series data. In fact, LSTMs are often the perferred form of RNN networks in practial applications.

For benchmark purposes, we focus on a single layer of such network, as this is the fundamental building block of more complex deep LSTM models. We use Tensorflow, optimised by Nvidia in their NGC Docker container.

  • Application Class: Deep Learning
  • Model: Long Short Term Memory (LSTM)
  • Mode: Training
  • Hidden Layers: 1
  • Hidden Units: 1,024
  • Sequence Length: 32
  • Batch Size: 128
  • Optimizer: Stochastic gradient descent
  • Training Data: Random

This application benchmarks the inference performance of a deep Long-Short Term Memory Model Network (LSTM). This is a modified version of the vanialla RNN, to overcome problems with vanishing or exploding gradients during back-propagation. This allows LSTMs to learn complex long-term dependencies better than RNNs.

RNNs are at the core of many deep learning applications in finance, as they show
excellent predition performance for time-series data. In fact, LSTMs are often the
perferred form of RNN networks in practial applications.

For benchmark purposes, we focus on a single layer of such network,
as this is the fundamental building block of more complex deep LSTM models.
We use Tensorflow, optimised by Nvidia in their NGC Docker container.

  • Application Class: Deep Learning
  • Model: Long Short Term Memory (LSTM)
  • Mode: Inference
  • Hidden Layers: 1
  • Hidden Units: 1,024
  • Sequence Length: 32
  • Precision: FP16

SystemOperating SystemMemory (RAM)CompilerECCPrecision ModeOther
Intel HaswellRedHat EL 6.6 (64bit)128GBIntel Compiler 17.0ondouble2x Hyperthreading
SystemOperating SystemMemory (RAM)CompilerECCPrecision ModeOther
Intel HaswellRedHat EL 6.6 (64bit)128GBIntel Compiler 17.0ondoubleno Hyperthreading
SystemOperating SystemMemory (RAM)CompilerECCPrecision ModeOther
Intel HaswellRedHat EL 6.6 (64bit)128GBIntel Compiler 17.0ondouble2xHyperthreading
SystemOperating SystemMemory (RAM)CompilerECCPrecision ModeOther
Intel HaswellRedHat EL 6.6 (64bit)128GBIntel Compiler 17.0ondouble2xHyperthreading

The application is executed repeatedly, recording the wall-clock time for each run, until the estimated timing error is below a specified value. The full algorithm execution time from inputs to outputs is measured. This includes setup of accelerators and data transfers if applicable. The speedup vs. a sequential implementation on a single core is reported.

Hardware Specification

ProcessorCoresLogical CoresFrequencyGFLOPs (double)Max. MemoryMax. Memory B/W
Dual Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU (Haswell)2 x 162 x 322.30 GHz2 x 663768 GB2 x 68 GB/s
ProcessorCoresLogical CoresFrequencyGFLOPs (double)Max. MemoryMax. Memory B/W
Dual Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU (Haswell)2 x 162 x 322.30 GHz2 x 663768 GB2 x 68 GB/s
ProcessorCoresLogical CoresFrequencyGFLOPs (double)Max. MemoryMax. Memory B/W
Dual Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU (Haswell)2 x 162 x 322.30 GHz2 x 663768 GB2 x 68 GB/s
ProcessorCoresLogical CoresFrequencyGFLOPs (double)Max. MemoryMax. Memory B/W
Dual Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU (Haswell)2 x 162 x 322.30 GHz2 x 663768 GB2 x 68 GB/s
Processor
Processor
Processor
Processor

Speedup vs. Sequential*

(higher is better)

*the sequential version runs on a single core of an Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU

Speedup vs. Sequential*

(higher is better)

*the sequential version runs on a single core of an Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU

Speedup vs. Sequential*

(higher is better)

*the sequential version runs on a single core of an Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU

Speedup vs. Sequential*

(higher is better)

*the sequential version runs on a single core of an Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 CPU

Speedup vs. P100*

(higher is better)

*the results are normalised to the P100 GPU performance

Speedup vs. P100*

(higher is better)

*the results are normalised to the P100 GPU performance

Speedup vs. P100*

(higher is better)

*the results are normalised to the P100 GPU performance

Speedup vs. P100*

(higher is better)

*the results are normalised to the P100 GPU performance

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