Download PDF Introduction Across different asset classes, volatility surfaces all tell different stories: in this article we let the data tell them unfiltered, building each surface directly on market quotes through interpolation rather than through the lens of a parametric model. Implied volatility surfaces are among the most informative objects Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Short-rate martingale models were among the first approaches to the modelling of interest rate term structures, providing a flexible framework for pricing fixed-income securities and interest rate derivatives. These models describe the evolution of the continuous short rate as a stochastic process and are widely used in Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Building on our earlier analysis of Binary Options and Asian Options in the first two parts of this series, this third installment introduces Basket Options and Barrier Options, offering an in-depth look at their pricing, sensitivities, and practical implementation through Monte Carlo simulations and Python. Basket Options, Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Weather conditions play a fundamental role in the dynamics of the world economy, with estimates revealing that nearly 30% of economic activities and an overwhelming 70% of businesses encounter susceptibility to weather-related fluctuations. This substantial impact underlines the critical necessity to hedge the risk associated with weather. Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Interest rate derivatives (IRD) represent the largest segment of the OTC derivative market. As of June 2023, the global OTC derivatives notional outstanding amounted to $714.7tn as reported by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The biggest share of this market is represented by IRD and FX Read more…
Download PDF Introduction We have seen some of the unique trading instruments introduced by the crypto space in our last article, namely perpetual futures and inverse futures and options. Building on our knowledge from another prior article where we introduced cryptocurrencies, basic blockchain infrastructure, as well as some decentralized finance Read more…
Download PDF Introduction An ATM equity long straddle position is delta neutral. If systematic risk is the only factor predicting expected returns, a delta neutral strategy should have an expected return equal to the risk-free rate. In this article we will review academic literature suggesting that not only is this Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Structured products are complex OTC derivatives which offer a glance into some of the deeper aspects of pricing; they are hedged with vanilla products where possible, almost always leaving basis risk, the management of which is the art of making markets in SPs. These products are very Read more…
Download PDF Introduction Credit Default Swaps (CDSs) have had an interesting trajectory to say the least, starting out as a niche derivative, they rose to prominence after the Russian financial crisis of 1998, ballooning into a market worth an enormous $62.2 trillion in 2007. In 2008, this market promptly collapsed, Read more…
The aim of this article is to walk the reader through the implementation of the Black-Scholes model for option pricing in VBA. Firstly, we’ll recap the theoretical framework. Secondly, we’ll provide the code to put the theory into practice and show some basic (but hopefully relevant) applications. The Theory – Read more…
Introduction The purpose of this article is to analyse different futures markets on cryptocurrencies and try to find justifications for excessive premia and discrepancies in prices. Firstly, we are going to present a general overview on cryptocurrencies and futures, then a short analysis of premia and finally we’ll look at Read more…
History is full of surprises, even regarding financial history. For example do you know that the only futures contracts you cannot trade are the ones on onions? This is not a joke but a serious piece of law, the Onion Futures Act passed on august 1958. Indeed in 1955, two Read more…