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Assume the usual positive initial asset values. The coefficients determine a unique normalized local martingale deflator. The state-price density and local deflator distinction matters here: calling it a state-price density uses the local convention, while true expectation pricing needs an additional qualification, addressed below.

Let $ZB$ and $ZS$ be local martingales, with $Z_0=1$. The Brownian martingale representation theorem says that every local martingale in the usual natural Brownian filtration is continuous and is a stochastic integral against $W$. Applying it to $ZB$, and dividing by the positive finite-variation account, forcesfor a locally square-integrable predictable $\eta$. The Itô product rule for $ZS$ has driftIt must vanish. Since $S,Z,\sigma$ are positive, this yieldsConversely this drift choice makes both $ZB$ and $ZS$ local martingales. Continuity and strict positivity of $\sigma$ make $\lambda$ bounded along each path on every finite time interval, so its pathwise square integral is finite. The unique linear SDE solution isUniqueness follows from the forced drift and diffusion coefficients and uniqueness of this linear stochastic differential equation.

Continuity alone does not make the density a true martingale. For a true equivalent martingale measure, the stochastic exponential $D_t=Z_t{B}_t/B_0$ must have expectation one, for example under the Novikov condition on each horizon. True martingale pricing of all desired deflated payoffs also requires the relevant integrability. These stronger conclusions do not follow just from pathwise continuity.

An explicit counterexample to the stronger reading uses a three-dimensional Bessel process $R$ with $R_0=1$ and $dR=dW+R^{-1}dt$, which is a positive strong solution in the Brownian filtration. Take $B=1$ and $S=R$. Then $r=0$, $\mu =R^{-2}$ and $\sigma =R^{-1}$ are continuous and $\sigma >0$. The unique local candidate is $Z=R^{-1}$, with $ZS=1$. The reciprocal three-dimensional Bessel strict local martingale is not a true martingale. To verify the loss of expectation, use the standard Bessel transition densityIntegrating $p_t(1,y)/y$ gives $\mathbb{E}[R_t^{-1}]=2\Phi (1/\sqrt{t})-1<1$ for $t>0$, where $\Phi$ is the standard normal cumulative distribution function. A true pricing density for the constant bank account would have expectation one. Hence the printed hypotheses establish the local deflator statement, while a true-density reading needs an additional condition and is false as stated.

A local martingale deflator only forces deflated asset prices to be local martingales. True expectation pricing requires additional martingale and integrability properties. In a Brownian one-factor market, continuity of the coefficients ensures a pathwise finite market-price-of-risk square integral, but not expectation-one of its stochastic exponential. The reciprocal three-dimensional Bessel strict local martingale gives a counterexample to promoting this local conclusion automatically.