# Ho–Lee model

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Published: 2026-10-29T22:18:31.943Z

Updated: 2026-10-29T22:18:31.943Z

In financial mathematics, the Ho-Lee model is a short-rate model widely used in the pricing of bond options, swaptions and other interest rate derivatives, and in modeling future interest rates. It was developed in 1986 by Thomas Ho and Sang Bin Lee.

## Key facts

## Overview

In financial mathematics, the Ho-Lee model is a short-rate model widely used in the pricing of bond options, swaptions and other interest rate derivatives, and in modeling future interest rates. It was developed in 1986 by Thomas Ho and Sang Bin Lee. Under this model, the short rate follows a normal process:

d

r

t

=

θ

t

d         t         +         σ

d

W

t

\{\\displaystyle dr\_\{t\}=\\theta \_\{t\}\\,dt+\\sigma \\,dW\_\{t\}\}

The model can be calibrated to market data by implying the form of

θ

t

\{\\displaystyle \\theta \_\{t\}\}

from market prices, meaning that it can exactly return the price of bonds comprising the yield curve. This calibration, and subsequent valuation of bond options, swaptions and other interest rate derivatives, is typically performed via a binomial lattice based model. Closed form valuations of bonds, and "Black-like" bond option formulae are also available. As the model generates a symmetric ("bell shaped") distribution of rates in the future, negative rates are possible. Further, it does not incorporate mean reversion. For both of these reasons, models such as Black–Derman–Toy (lognormal and mean reverting) and Hull–White (mean reverting with lognormal variant available) are often preferred. The Kalotay–Williams–Fabozzi model is a lognormal analogue to the Ho–Lee model, although is less widely used than the latter two.

## References

Notes

Primary references

T.S.Y. Ho, S.B. Lee, Term structure movements and pricing interest rate contingent claims, Journal of Finance 41, 1986. doi:10.2307/2328161 John C. Hull, Options, futures, and other derivatives, 5th edition, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-009056-5

## External links

Valuation and Hedging of Interest Rates Derivatives with the Ho-Lee Model, Markus Leippold and Zvi Wiener, Wharton School Term Structure Lattice Models Archived 2012-01-23 at the Wayback Machine, Martin Haugh, Columbia University Online tools

Binomial Tree – Excel implementation, thomasho.com

## Sources

- Ho–Lee model · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=3409761

Source: Wikipedia contributors — https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=3409761&oldid=1350256797

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Adaptation notice: Reformatted for XPay; the source may be abridged, restructured or translated. Consult the cited revision for the original.