AYMERIC KALIFE - CEO, iDigital Partners, Adjunct Professor, Université Paris - Dauphine
The objective of this course is to give an all-round comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theory and the day-to-day use of derivatives contracts.
This course aims at “demystifying” key derivatives products, widely used to hedge existing market risks, to speculate on the future movements of market variables or more generally to taylor the return distribution of a portfolio. Participants will learn how banks and corporate treasuries use Financial Options alike in the management of risks, for trading, hedging and arbitrage and their role in the day-to-day running of the finances of businesses.
Starting from some basic knowledge of cash equity and equity derivatives market, and based on real option trade ideas capitalizing on a “nuanced” market view, it equips the audience with the skills to price and risk manage the most common and complex options, by explaining and dissecting the risks associated with trading a derivative from a risk/return/cost perspective by means of real life examples. For each option, from vanilla to light exotics, this course makes clear why there is an investor demand, explains where the risks lie and how this affects the actual pricing, and shows how to hedge them.
The class uses Excel Spreadsheet applications and Visual Basic, involving the use of market data and Equity Research publications.
I Derivatives products features overview
II Capitalizing on a “nuanced” view using derivatives
III Arbitraging using derivatives
IV Hedging using derivatives
John C. Hull: Options, Futures, & Other Derivatives, Prentice Hall
Paul Wilmott: Derivatives: The Theory and Practice of Financial Engineering
Sheldon Natenberg: Option Volatility and Pricing: Advanced Trading Strategies and Techniques
Nassim Nicolas Taleb: Dynamic Hedging: Managing Vanilla and Exotic Options
Grading: Homeworks (trade idea on corporates, VBA project on options portfolio) + Final Exam