MA415 Half Unit
The Mathematics of the Black and Scholes Theory
This information is for the 2022/23 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Arne Lokka
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Financial Mathematics. This course is available on the MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Fudan) and MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Pre-requisites
Students must have completed September Introductory Course (Financial Mathematics and Quantitative Methods for Risk Management) (MA400).
Course content
This course develops the mathematical theory of risk-neutral valuation. In the context of the binomial tree model for a risky asset, the course introduces the concepts of replication and martingale probability measures. The mathematics of the Black & Scholes methodology follow. In particular, the expression of European contingent claims as expectations with respect to the risk-neutral probability measure of the corresponding discounted payoffs, pricing formulae for European put and call options, and the Black & Scholes PDE are derived. The course expands on PDE techniques for the pricing and hedging of several options. Implied volatilities as well as stochastic volatility models are then considered. The course also introduces the Black & Scholes model for foreign exchange markets and various foreign exchange options.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT.
Formative coursework
Weekly homework
Indicative reading
N H Bingham and R Kiesel, Risk-Neutral Valuation, Springer; T Björk, Arbitrage Theory in Continuous Time, Oxford; P J Hunt and J Kennedy, Financial Derivatives in Theory and Practice, Wiley; D Lamberton and J Kennedy, Introduction to Stochastic Calculus Applied to Finance, Chapman & Hall; D. Lamberton and B. Lapeyre, Introduction to Stochastic Calculus Applied to Finance, Chapman & Hall/Crc Financial Mathematics Series, 2nd edition, 2007; S E Shreve, Stochastic Calculus for Finance: Continuous-time Models: vol. 2, Springer
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Key facts
Department: Mathematics
Total students 2021/22: 45
Average class size 2021/22: 45
Controlled access 2021/22: No
Value: Half Unit
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.