We define Bernstein-type operators on the half line $\mathopen [0,+\infty \mathclose [$ by means of two sequences of strictly positive real numbers. After studying their approximation properties, we also establish a Voronovskaja-type result with respect to a suitable weighted norm.
The paper is devoted to a careful analysis of the shape-preserving properties of the strongly continuous semigroup generated by a particular second-order differential operator, with particular emphasis on the preservation of higher order convexity and Lipschitz classes. In addition, the asymptotic behaviour of the semigroup is investigated as well. The operator considered is of interest, since it is a unidimensional Black-Scholes operator so that our results provide qualitative information on the solutions of classical problems in option pricing theory in Mathematical Finance.