Derivatives Pricing
| Module title | Derivatives Pricing |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEAM035 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Stanley Gyoshev (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 100 |
|---|
Module description
Summary:
This module aims to equip you with theoretical frameworks and numerical methods to evaluate credit instruments and financial derivative instruments in the bond, stock, equity, FX, and interest rate markets. It covers the analysis of the five distinct valuation methods, including Forwards, Futures, SWAPs, and options via Binomial Trees and Black-Scholes model. Fixed Income Instruments, securitisation techniques, and the numerical methods to price derivatives in the equity market will also be covered.
Prerequisite: The students are expected to have a good command of the University of Exeter Business School Approved Financial Calculator, MS Excel, and basic financial concepts such as NPV, Bond, and Stock Pricing.
Additional Information:
Internationalization
This module helps students build an online professional profile, allowing them to connect with former students and potential employers internationally in about 100 countries and hundreds of banks across the globe. In addition, many of the examples discussed throughout the module are based on American, European, and Asian markets.
External Engagement
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) accredits this module, and all of the content is based on the CFA level examination.
Employability
Mastery of this module's content will enable the students to develop intellectual sophistication in the areas of derivatives/fixed income pricing, financial engineering, and risk management. Derivatives and Fixed income mastery potentially open up an exciting range of career opportunities across multiple industries such as investment banks, hedge funds, consultancies, and insurance firms. As well as creating an online profile aimed at employers in about 100 countries and hundreds of banks across the globe, students also develop their understanding and evaluation of derivatives, financial engineering skills, and risk assessment skills.
Sustainability
All of the resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).
Module aims - intentions of the module
The main goal of this module is to prepare the students for a quantitative finance career which includes (but is not limited to) trading, risk management, and structures in the areas of fixed income and derivatives. This module will be useful to prepare the student for the Derivatives Trader's profession and the hedging responsibility of the Financial Director.
Towards the end of the module, the students will understand the mechanisms, risks, and pricing techniques of various products such as forward and futures contracts, European and American options, bonds, swaps, interest rate derivatives, etc. While the treatments of topics are somewhat quantitatively oriented, the practical relevance of the module's content will be highlighted by real-world examples and case studies. The module examines a variety of distinct models from both theoretical and technical perspectives.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. price various derivatives and credit instruments and critically evaluate their usefulness in risk reduction applications using MS Excel and Financial Calculators;
- 2. price Forwards, Futures, and SWAPs;
- 3. identify the forms of basic derivative contracts and essential hedging strategies;
- 4. outline the theoretical background and implementation of the Binomial Option Pricing Model;
- 5. apply the Black-Scholes model for option pricing and compare its relationship to the Binomial Option Pricing Model;
- 6. price financial options using both analytical and numerical techniques;
- 7. explain some popular interest rate option products and how they can be priced, including all kinds of fixed and variable SWAPs and other fixed-income instruments.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. improve their mathematical finance knowledge and apply computational methods in pricing options, derivatives, and fixed income products;
- 9. evaluate rigorous theoretical arguments based on mathematical and analytical reasoning;
- 10. rigorously analyse problems in finance, especially derivatives and fixed income pricing;
- 11. interpret financial data and problems in the light of established theories.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 12. analyse critically problems arising in both academic and practical contexts;
- 13. develop computing skills;
- 14. plan and manage his/her own study;
- 15. make appropriate use of learning resources, including sophisticated computer datasets;
- 16. develop their interpersonal skills and group working through the LinkedIn assignment (formative);
- 17. show competence in debate and discussion through active class participation (formative);
- 18. access empirical research literature and critically appraise it (formative).
Syllabus plan
This module covers two broad areas – derivatives and fixed income:
• Forward Markets and Contracts
• Futures Markets and Contracts
• Option Markets and Contracts
• Swap Markets and Contracts
• Interest Rate Derivative Instruments
• Using credit derivatives to enhance return and manage risk via CDS (Credit Default Swaps)
• Valuing Bonds with Embedded Options
• Mortgage-Backed Sector of the Bond Market
• Europe's whole loan sales market burgeoning as the mortgage credit market comes of age
• Solving the Liquidity Conundrum
If time permits:
• Ethical Use of Derivatives and Fixed Income Instruments: Nassim Taleb and Daniel Kahneman: Reflection on a Crisis
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 12 | 6 two-hour Q&A sessions (in weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11) |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | Tutorials (in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 10 & 11) |
| Guided Independent Study | 128 | Reading prepared lectures in PDF, solving problems in Excel, mock tests, preparation for classes and assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Project | 2 weeks | 16-18 | Verbal |
| Weekly Excel Spreadsheets to practice both numerical problems and MCQ | 1-3 hours | 1-15 | Correct answers |
| Group Coursework during weekly tutorials | 50 minutes tutorial each week | 1-18 | Verbal feedback to each group |
| Mock Exam / Test | 3 to 8 hours during exam preparation period | 1-15 | Automatic pre-programmed feedback from ELE, Correct answers and explanations of the mistakes for which partial credit is given. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In class test 1 | 15 | 1 hour | 1-15 | Verbal during Q&A sessions & automatic pre-programmed feedback from ELE. Correct answers and explanations of the mistakes for which partial credit is given. |
| In class test 2 | 15 | 1 hour | 1-15 | Verbal during Q&A sessions & automatic pre-programmed feedback from ELE. Correct answers and explanations of the mistakes for which partial credit is given. |
| Examination | 70 | 1 hour | 1-15 | automatic pre-programmed feedback from ELE. Correct answers and explanations of the mistakes for which partial credit is given. |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| In class test 1 | In class test 1 | 1-15 | Referral/deferral period |
| In class test 2 | In class test 2 | 1-15 | Referral/deferral period |
| Exam | Exam | 1-15 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- CFA Program Curriculum 2020 Level I Volumes 1-6 Box Set. CFA Institute.
- CFA Program Curriculum 2020 Level II Volumes 1-6 Box Set. CFA Institute.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
The following websites are worth exploring, particularly if you are new to the subject. Please understand that material from these must not be cut and pasted into assignments.
- www.cbot.com -- Chicago Board of Trade
- www.cme.com -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange
- https://www.theocc.com/ -- Options Clearing Corporation
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | BEAM031 or BEAM047 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 12/12/2006 |
| Last revision date | 04/12/2024 |
