Rate-optimal estimation of mixed semimartingales

Understand

Consider the sum $Y=B+B(H)$ of a Brownian motion $B$ and an independent fractional Brownian motion $B(H)$ with Hurst parameter $H\in(0,1)$.

• Even though $B(H)$ is not a semimartingale, it was shown in [\textit{Bernoulli} \textbf{7} (2001) 913--934] that $Y$ is a semimartingale if $H>3/4$.
• Moreover, $Y$ is locally equivalent to $B$ in this case, so $H$ cannot be consistently estimated from local observations of $Y$.
• This paper pivots on another unexpected feature in this model: if $B$ and $B(H)$ become correlated, then $Y$ will never be a semimartingale, and $H$ can be identified, regardless of its value.