Course Syllabus
FINA7397 
FINANCIAL ENGINEERING:

Stochastic Calculus and Computational Finance
SPRING 2020
Professor Craig Pirrong

Office: Melcher 240B
Phone: 713-743-4466
Fax: 713-743-4789
E-mail cpirrong@uh.edu

website: www.bauer.uh.edu/spirrong

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course studies the fundamentals of innovations in quantitative finance.  I view this course as consisting of three basic interlocking conceptual "rings": valuation theory, numerical methods, and statistical/econometric methods.  This course will examine each in detail.  We will explore the major valuation techniques--PDE techniques and martingale methods in a variety of different contexts including equity option, currency option, fixed income derivative, exotic derivative, and stochastic volatility models.  This analysis will be built on an extended introduction to basic stochastic calculus.  We will also implement PDE and martingale models using numerical methods--PDE solvers and Monte Carlo techniques.  We will also investigate how to utilize basic statistical and econometric techniques to evaluate and validate models.

COURSE MATERIALS

My overheads can be downloaded from my web page.  I will distribute additional readings from time to time during the semester.  The book by Daniel Duffy, Finite Difference Methods for Financial Engineering is optional.  I strongly recommend purchasing the student version of Matlab.

GRADING                                                  

The grading for the course is based two major valuation projects and several homework assignments.  The valuation projects are team/group endeavors.  Each valuation project will involve the use of numerical techniques to value a derivative contract.  Grading will be based on an instructor-assigned grade and a team evaluation of each team member. Homework assignments are individual work.  The projects will account for 75 percent of the grade.  The homeworks account for 25 percent of the grade.

EXPECTATIONS

This course will be demanding.  I require and expect that students have a strong background in multivariate derivative calculus and integral calculus.  Moreover, programming experience (in any common language such as C or variations thereon, Visual Basic, Fortran, or a higher level language such as Matlab, Mathematica, or Gauss) is very useful but not required.  The class will include an extended, self-contained introduction to Matlab.  The material in the class is highly mathematical and you will be expected to understand the mathematical concepts and use them.

COURSE OUTLINE

This outline provides an overview of the material that we will cover in this course and the order in which it will be covered. The timing is tentative. Best efforts will be devoted to keeping on schedule, but things may get pushed back somewhat to ensure that we don't have to rush through crucial material. I will let you know if we will deviate from the schedule: absent any announcements in class or on the web, you may assume that the schedule holds.

 

January 15. Derivatives Basics Review.  Math Review and an Intro Into Stochastic Calculus.  To make sure that everyone is familiar with the basics of the kinds of derivatives contracts we will be valuing, we’ll spend our first week reviewing forwards, futures, swaps, and options.  We will also review some math basics and begin to explore stochastic calculus. 

January 22. ; Matlab Introduction.  Extended Matlab tutorial.  Matlab is a high-level mathematical programming language with some excellent matrix capabilities and a variety of useful toolboxes.  We will take a relatively deep dive into Matlab.  Mastery of this material is necessary to complete the course assignments.

January 29. Stochastic Calculus and Ito's Lemma. Stochastic calculus is the bedrock of quantitative finance. It is a very deep subject. Fortunately, the key concepts can be understood and used even if you don't know stochastic calculus in all its complexity. This week we will cover the basics, most notably Ito's lemma; by the end of this course, you should be able to use Ito's lemma in your sleep.  Homework Assignment 1 Issued: Ito's Lemma Exercises.

February 5. PDE Methods: Derivative Valuation in the Style of Black-Scholes-Merton. There are two basic (and related) approaches to value derivatives. The original approach was derived by Black, Scholes, and Merton in the early-1970s. This approach utilizes arbitrage arguments to derive partial differential equations that can be solved (subject to boundary conditions) to determine the price of a derivative. This section will examine these arguments in detail, focusing on simple equity derivatives (such as puts and calls). 

February 12. PDE Methods When the Underlying is Not Traded. The traditional B-S-M approach assumes that the asset/contract underlying a derivative contract is traded (e.g., the stock underlying a stock option contract is traded). However, many derivatives are based on underlyings that are not traded. Electricity and weather are prominent examples. Also, if volatility is itself random, options on stocks depend on a non-traded quantity. This week will explore how to extend the basic PDE framework to encompass non-traded underlyings.

February 19-March 4. Implementing PDE Models. Deriving PDEs is the easy part--solving them is the hard part! These two classes will examine in detail how to solve PDEs using finite difference methods. We will focus on the Crank-Nicolson method, but will discuss implicit and explicit schemes as well. We will also discuss successive overrelaxation methods for pricing American options. Project 1 Assigned (3/7/12): Option Valuation Using Finite Difference Methods. Readings: Duffy, ch. 8-13.

March 11. Spring Break!

March 18. Finite Difference Solutions to Models with More Than One State Variable.  Many options pricing problems have multiple state variables.  Examples include some exotic options and option pricing with stochastic volatility.  This week we will explore finite difference methods (focusing on the splitting technique) that can be used in these circumstances. Readings: Duffy, ch. 19-21.

March 25. Martingale Methods: The Girsanov Theorem, Numeraires, and the Kolmogorov and Feynman Kac Theorems. The main competitor to PDE methods for valuing derivatives is the Martingale approach. This approach was developed in the 1980s and 1990s. It exploits the fact that the lack of arbitrage implies (under certain technical conditions) the existence of an "equivalent" probability measure. An option value is determined by calculating expected payoffs under this equivalent measure and then discounting at a risk free rate. We will first discuss the concept of a measure, and then analyze the linkage between the lack of arbitrage and the existence of such a measure.  The most useful "trick" in applying Martingale methods is the Girsanov Theorem (also known as the Cameron-Girsanov-Martin Theorem.) We'll examine this theorem and see how to exploit it in pricing derivatives.  Another nice trick that frequently makes pricing easier is to change "numeraires." The numeraire implicitly assumed in the B-S-M model is a money market account, but in some circumstances other numeraires make it easier to value particular derivatives. This week we'll see how to exploit this "trick" by examining the pricing of "Quantos."  PDE methods and Martingale methods both have die-hard advocates. This week we will show that these methods are effectively equivalent. The mathematical link between them is given by two important theorems--the Kolmogorov backward equation and the Feynman Kac theorem. We will analyze these theorems in some detail.  Readings: To be distributed. 

March 25. Project 1 Due!

April 1. Martingale Methods: Numerical Implementation using Explicit Integration, Numerical Integration Monte Carlo. Martingale methods imply that derivatives can be valued by calculating the appropriate integral. There are many ways to calculate integrals. We will discuss three alternative methods, and determine the circumstances that make each appropriate. We will spend the most time on Monte Carlo (stochastic simulation) methods.  Readings: To be distributed.  Homework Assignment 2 Issued: Integration Problems. Project 2 Assigned: Using Monte Carlo Methods to value options.

April 8-15.  More Monte Carlo. There are many "tricks" to get more efficient Monte Carlo estimates of derivative value.  These include antithetic variates, control variates, importance sampling, and stratified sampling.  We will explore these methods in detail.  Moreover, we will examine ways to adopt Monte Carlo to price options with early exercise.  Readings: To be distributed. 

April 22.  Stochastic Volatility and Jumps. The B-S-M formula assumes that volatility is a constant (or a function of time). We will discuss the evidence that is inconsistent with this. Moreover, we will discuss alternative models that can potentially address the failings of the B-S-M model--the stochastic volatility and jump models. We will examine the derivation of these models, and appraise their strengths and weaknesses. We will also discuss implementation. Readings: Duffy, ch. 22; Wilmott, ch. 22 pp. 312-314; chs. 25-26, 28-29.

May 6. Project 2 Due at 5 pm.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

I joined the Bauer College faculty in January, 2003 after teaching at Oklahoma State University, Washington University, the Michigan Business School, and the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago.  I also received my BA, MBA, and Ph.D from GSB Chicago. I primarily research subjects relating to derivatives markets (e.g., futures and options) and have consulted extensively with financial exchanges in the United States, Canada, and Germany. I have taught a wide variety of subjects, including risk management, derivatives pricing, investments, microeconomics, and industrial organization