Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance

Getting agreement between finance theory and finance practice is important like never before. In the last decade the derivatives business has grown to a staggering size, such that the outstanding notional of all contracts is now many multiples of the underlying world economy. No longer are derivatives for helping people control and manage their financial risks from other business and industries, no, it seems that the people are toiling away in the fields to keep the derivatives market afloat! (Apologies for the mixed metaphor!) If you work in derivatives, risk, development, trading, etc. you'd better know what you are doing, there's now a big responsibility on your shoulders. In this second edition of Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance I continue in my mission to pull quant finance up from the dumbed-down depths, and to drag it back down to earth from the super-sophisticated stratosphere. Readers of my work and blogs will know that I think both extremes are dangerous. Quant finance should inhabit the middle ground, the mathematics sweet spot, where the models are robust and understandable, and easy to mend. …And that's what this book is about. This book contains important FAQs and answers that cover both theory and practice. There are sections on how to derive Black-Scholes (a dozen different ways!), the popular models, equations, formulae and probability distributions, critical essays, brainteasers, and the commonest quant mistakes. The quant mistakes section alone is worth trillions of dollars! I hope you enjoy this book, and that it shows you how interesting this important subject can be. And I hope you'll join me and others in this industry on the discussion forum on wilmott.com. See you there!” FAQQF2…including key models, important formulae, popular contracts, essays and opinions, a history of quantitative finance, sundry lists, the commonest mistakes in quant finance, brainteasers, plenty of straight-talking, the Modellers' Manifesto and lots more.

The definitive question and answer guide to understanding corporate finance From the team behind the popular corporate finance website, Vernimmen.com comes a concise guide to the subject, presented in an easy-to-use, highly accessible «question and answer» format. An essential reference for students of corporate finance and practising corporate financiers alike, Frequently Asked Questions in Corporate Finance answers key questions in financial engineering, valuation, financial policy, cost of capital, financial analysis, and financial management. Covering both the theory and practice of corporate finance, the book demonstrates how financial theory can be put to use solving practical problems. What advantages are there to a business looking to spin off its divisions into subsidiaries? Is there a formula that can be used to determine the change in normalised free cash flows? What are the possible reasons behind a share buyback? What are the pros and cons of off-market share buy-back? Filled with the answers to all of the most common, and not so common, questions about corporate finance, the book presents authoritative, reliable information from a respected team of experts from the banking, corporate, and academic worlds.

A practical guide to addressing the challenges managers face in implementing and enforcing new anti-bribery regulations The Bribery Act became the law of the land in July 2011. It abolished all existing U.K. anti-bribery laws and replaced them with a suite of new regulations decidedly different and more strenuous than what has come before. Under it companies found noncompliant will be open to billions in penalties and remediation costs, and managers will be open to prosecution if anyone associated with their company commits an offence covered by the act. As employees in nearly all departments will share responsibility for ensuring that adequate procedures are in place and enforced, there is a screaming need for practical, jargon-free guidance on the subject. This book fills that need. It arms managers and advisors with the knowledge and tools they need to implement, communicate and test controls and procedures that not only comply with but exceed the new anti-bribery requirements. It also offers priceless pointers on how to effectively react to bribery allegations if and when they occur. Packed with takeaway tips and checklists that put crucial information at readers' fingertips Written by a chartered accountant and compliance expert, the book offers practical steps managers should take to guarantee company compliance Describes best practices in anti-bribery and corruption compliance in all key business areas, including accounting, sales and marketing, management, legal, and internal auditing

Written by leading market risk academic, Professor Carol Alexander, Quantitative Methods in Finance forms part one of the Market Risk Analysis four volume set. Starting from the basics, this book helps readers to take the first step towards becoming a properly qualified financial risk manager and asset manager, roles that are currently in huge demand. Accessible to intelligent readers with a moderate understanding of mathematics at high school level or to anyone with a university degree in mathematics, physics or engineering, no prior knowledge of finance is necessary. Instead the emphasis is on understanding ideas rather than on mathematical rigour, meaning that this book offers a fast-track introduction to financial analysis for readers with some quantitative background, highlighting those areas of mathematics that are particularly relevant to solving problems in financial risk management and asset management. Unique to this book is a focus on both continuous and discrete time finance so that Quantitative Methods in Finance is not only about the application of mathematics to finance; it also explains, in very pedagogical terms, how the continuous time and discrete time finance disciplines meet, providing a comprehensive, highly accessible guide which will provide readers with the tools to start applying their knowledge immediately. All together, the Market Risk Analysis four volume set illustrates virtually every concept or formula with a practical, numerical example or a longer, empirical case study. Across all four volumes there are approximately 300 numerical and empirical examples, 400 graphs and figures and 30 case studies many of which are contained in interactive Excel spreadsheets available from the accompanying CD-ROM . Empirical examples and case studies specific to this volume include: Principal component analysis of European equity indices; Calibration of Student t distribution by maximum likelihood; Orthogonal regression and estimation of equity factor models; Simulations of geometric Brownian motion, and of correlated Student t variables; Pricing European and American options with binomial trees, and European options with the Black-Scholes-Merton formula; Cubic spline fitting of yields curves and implied volatilities; Solution of Markowitz problem with no short sales and other constraints; Calculation of risk adjusted performance metrics including generalised Sharpe ratio, omega and kappa indices.

An essential guide to corporate finance Understanding corporate finance is a necessity for financial practitioners who struggle every day to find the right balance between maximizing corporate value and reducing a firm's financial risk. Divided into two comprehensive parts, Mastering Corporate Finance Essentials presents the material by example, using an extended scenario involving a new business formation. In Part One, present and future value mathematics are introduced followed by a number of applications using the tools. In Part Two, statistics as applied to finance are examined, with detailed discussions of standard deviations, correlations, and how they impact diversification. Through theory and real-world examples this book provides a solid grounding in corporate finance Other titles by Stuart McCrary include: Mastering Financial Accounting Essentials, How to Create and Manage a Hedge Fund, and Hedge Fund Course Covers the essential elements of this field, from traditional capital budgeting concepts and methods of valuing investment projects under uncertainty to the importance of «real-options» in the decision-making process This reliable resource offers a hands-on approach to corporate finance that will allow you to gain a solid understanding of this discipline.

In this updated student edition, Paul Wilmott updates and extends his earlier classic, Derivatives: The Theory and Practice of Financial Engineering. Included on CD are numerous Bloomberg screen dumps to illustrate, in real terms, the points raised in the book, along with essential Visual basic code, spreadsheet explanations of the models, and the reproduction of term sheets and option classification tables. The author presents all the current financial theories in a manner designed to make them easy to understand and implement. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

The third edition of Ethics in Finance presents an authoritative and wide-ranging examination of the major ethical issues in finance. This new edition has been expanded and thoroughly updated with extensive coverage of the recent financial crisis and the very latest developments within the financial world. Substantially updated new edition with nearly 40% new material, including sections on credit cards, mortgage lending, microfinance, risk management, derivatives, and securitization Includes coverage and references to the recent financial crisis and the very latest developments within the financial world Focuses on the practical issues that confront finance professionals, policy makers, and consumers of financial services Cites examples of the scandals that have shaken public confidence in Wall Street and world financial markets Includes numerous examples throughout to illustrate the concepts and issues described within the text

Explore the foundations of modern finance with this intuitive mathematical guide In Mathematical Techniques in Finance: An Introduction , distinguished finance professional Amir Sadr delivers an essential and practical guide to the mathematical foundations of various areas of finance, including corporate finance, investments, risk management, and more. Readers will discover a wealth of accessible information that reveals the underpinnings of business and finance. You’ll learn about: Investment theory, including utility theory, mean-variance theory and asset allocation, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model Derivatives, including forwards, options, the random walk, and Brownian Motion Interest rate curves, including yield curves, interest rate swap curves, and interest rate derivativesComplete with math reviews, useful Excel functions, and a glossary of financial terms, Mathematical Techniques in Finance: An Introduction is required reading for students and professionals in finance.

Project finance has spread worldwide and includes numerous industrial projects from power stations and waste-disposal plants to telecommunication facilities, bridges, tunnels, railway networks, and now also the building of hospitals, education facilities, government accommodation and tourist facilities. Despite financial assessment of PF projects being fundamental to the lender’s decision, there is little understanding of how the use of finance is perceived by individual stakeholders; why and how a financial assessment is performed; who should be involved; where and when it should be performed; what data should be used; and how financial assessments should be presented. Current uncertainty in financial markets makes many sponsors of construction project financings carefully consider bank liquidity, the higher cost of finance, and general uncertainty for demand. This has resulted in the postponement of a number of projects in certain industry sectors. Governments have seen tax receipts drastically reduced which has affected their ability to finance infrastructure projects, often irrespective of the perceived demand. Equity providers still seek to invest, however there are less opportunities due to market dislocation. Due to the demand for global infrastructure it is believed that project financings will return to their pre-crunch levels, or more so, however lenders’ liquidity costs will be passed on to the borrowers. Lenders will also be under stricter regulation both internally and externally. The steps outlined in the guide are designed to provide a basic understanding for all those involved or interested in both structuring and assessing project financings. Secondary contracts involving constructors, operators, finance providers, suppliers and offtakers can be developed and assessed to determine their commercial viability over a projects life cycle. Special Features a structured guide to assessing the commercial viability of construction projects explains economic metrics to use in the decision making process detailed case study shows how stakeholders apply the concept of project finance

The literature surveys presented in this edited volume provide readers with up-to-date reviews on eleven contemporary topics in finance. Topics include unconventional monetary policy, implicit bank guarantees, and financial fraud – all linked to the exceptional event of the Global Financial Crisis Explores how recent studies on inflation risk premia and finance and productivity have benefitted from new empirical methods and the availability of relevant data Demonstrates how angel investing, venture capital, relationship lending and microfinance have benefitted from increased research as they have become more seasoned Investigates crowdfunding and crypto-currencies which have both arisen from recent technological developments