International Journal of
Physical Sciences

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Phys. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1992-1950
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJPS
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2569

Full Length Research Paper

The physics aspect of price index changes: Super- diffusive approach

Kantawong Vuttivorakulchai*, Paisan Kanthang and Alejandro Saiz Rivera      
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Payathai, Rajathewee, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400.  
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 15 September 2011
  •  Published: 16 October 2011

Abstract

Attempts were made to quantify the buying and selling interaction of worldwide financial markets into quantitative findings. We introduce a probability density derived from non-extensive Tsallis statistical mechanics that can be applied to the interpretation of percent price index changes for important indices such as NYSE Composite, DJIA, S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, FTSE 100, NIKKEI 225, Hang Seng, Straits Times and SET index. Results of applying Tsallis’ probability density through markets’ observation illustrated the behavior of all indices indicating super diffusive dynamics. Furthermore, an Ito-Langevin equation with a time-dependent diffusion coefficient and the nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation can exhibit investment risk of each price index. Finally, we not only explained the complex behavior of financial indices in Physics aspect, but simplified it into quantitative meanings able to be virtually used further as well.

 

Key words: Econophysics, Tsallis’ probability density, Fokker-Planck equation, financial market index.