Lanterna Rally

Author: Domingo Tavella

Publisher: Wiley

Published: 2000-04-21

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9780471197607

Numerical methods for the solution of financial instrument pricingequations are fast becoming essential for practitioners of modernquantitative finance. Among the most promising of these newcomputational finance techniques is the finite differencemethod-yet, to date, no single resource has presented a quality,comprehensive overview of this revolutionary quantitative approachto risk management. Pricing Financial Instruments, researched and written by DomingoTavella and Curt Randall, two of the chief proponents of the finitedifference method, presents a logical framework for applying themethod of finite difference to the pricing of financialderivatives. Detailing the algorithmic and numerical proceduresthat are the foundation of both modern mathematical finance and thecreation of financial products-while purposely keeping mathematicalcomplexity to a minimum-this long-awaited book demonstrates how thetechniques described can be used to accurately price simple andcomplex derivative structures. From a summary of stochastic pricing processes and arbitragepricing arguments, through the analysis of numerical schemes andthe implications of discretization-and ending with case studiesthat are simple yet detailed enough to demonstrate the capabilitiesof the methodology- Pricing Financial Instruments explores areasthat include: * Pricing equations and the relationship be-tween European andAmerican derivatives * Detailed analyses of different stability analysisapproaches * Continuous and discrete sampling models for path dependentoptions * One-dimensional and multi-dimensional coordinatetransformations * Numerical examples of barrier options, Asian options, forwardswaps, and more With an emphasis on how numerical solutions work and how theapproximations involved affect the accuracy of the solutions,Pricing Financial Instruments takes us through doors opened wide byBlack, Scholes, and Merton-and the arbitrage pricing principlesthey introduced in the early 1970s-to provide a step-by-stepoutline for sensibly interpreting the output of standard numericalschemes. It covers the understanding and application of today'sfinite difference method, and takes the reader to the next level ofpricing financial instruments and managing financial risk. Praise for Pricing Financial Instruments "Pricing Financial Instruments is the first broad and accessibletreatment of finite difference methods for pricing derivativesecurities. The authors have taken great care to clearly explainboth the origins of the pricing problems in a financial setting, aswell as many practical aspects of their numerical methods. The bookcovers a wide variety of applications, such as American options andcredit derivatives. Both financial analysts and academicasset-pricing specialists will want to own a copy."-Darrell Duffie,Professor of Finance Stanford University "In my experience, finite difference methods have proven to be asimple yet powerful tool for numerically solving the evolutionaryPDEs that arise in modern mathematical finance. This book shouldfinally dispel the widely held notion that these methods aresomehow difficult or abstract. I highly recommend it to anyoneinterested in the implementation of these methods in the financialarena."-Peter Carr, Principal Bank of America Securities "A very comprehensive treatment of the application of finitedifference techniques to derivatives finance. Practitioners willfind the many extensive examples very valuable and students willappreciate the rigorous attention paid to the many subtleties offinite difference techniques."-Francis Longstaff, Professor TheAnderson School at UCLA "The finite difference approach is central to the numerical pricingof financial securities. This book gives a clear and succinctintroduction to this important subject. Highly recommended."-MarkBroadie, Associate Professor School of Business, ColumbiaUniversity For updates on new and bestselling Wiley Finance books:wiley.com/wbns