FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES - 2020/1

Module code: PHY3048

Module Overview

This module covers various the application of statistical physics to model share prices. This mathematics is then applied to calculating prices for some examples of financial derivatives.

Module provider

Physics

Module Leader

SWEENEY Stephen (Physics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 117

Lecture Hours: 33

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Financial products and markets:

Cash, interest rates, Stocks, dividends, Bonds, Swaps, Commodities, Derivatives, Markets, participants, arbitrage.

 

Stochastic Processes:

Random Variables, Probabilities, Variance, Normal and Lognormal distributions, Brownian motion, Wiener process, Ito Calculus.

 

Option Pricing:

Binomial trees, Share price models, drift and volatility, Forward contracts, European and American options, Calls and Puts, Binomial pricing model, Black-Scholes model and hedging.

 

Portfolio optimisation theory and types of trade.

 

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework COURSEWORK 30
Examination EXAMINATION - 2.0 HOURS 70

Alternative Assessment

Alternative assessment: None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:


  • Understanding of the concepts of derivative pricing, and underlying mathematics.



 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • Coursework assignment involving data analysis and modeling of financial instruments, and

  • A final examination of 2 hour duration in which In Part A answer all questions (30 points); In Part B answer two questions out of three (15-points each). If all three questions in Part B are attempted only the best two will be counted.



 

Formative assessment

Many problem sets are issued during the course, and feedback will be given during tutorial sessions.

 

 

 

Module aims

  • The aims are to expose the students to the fundamentals of financial derivatives, to explore their underlying science by analogy to physical systems, and to show, by various methods, how the fair price of financial options may be determined.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Understand the mathematics and models that underpin the analysis of financial data, including the properties of random variables, probability distributions and share price models and be able to assess their validity and remit. KCT
003 Know about a range of common financial derivatives, be able to explain financial terminology and produce pay-off and profit diagrams for forward contracts, put and call options. KCP
004 Understand and be able to derive and use Binomial Tree models and the Black-Scholes-Merton model. KCP
005 Examine and explain the role of quantities such as the “greeks” in financial analysis. KC
002 Understand Brownian motion process and Ito’s lemma. KC
006 Understand and be able to derive the price of call and put options. KCPT
007 Understand basic portfolio optimisation theory and types of trading and traders. KCP

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Help students develop an understanding of how the ideas of stochastic processes can be applied to financial derivatives.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

33 hours of lecture classes/tutorials and computer-based problem-solving

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PHY3048

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Physics with Astronomy BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Physics BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Financial Mathematics BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Mathematics and Physics BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Mathematics and Physics MPhys 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Mathematics and Physics MMath 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.