Questions tagged [self-study]
A routine question from a textbook, course, or test used for a class or self-study. This community's policy is to "provide helpful hints" for self-study questions.
89
questions
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3
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Tick Imbalance Bars - Advances in Financial Machine Learning
I would really appreciate if any of you can clarify the following questions. I have been struggling to understand it on my own.
$b_t=\begin{cases}b_{t-1}, & \text{if}\ \Delta p_t = 0 \\ \frac{|\...
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10
votes
4
answers
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Self study references for a Mathematician
I just finished my undergraduate (BSc) degree in Pure Mathematics & Applied Mathematics. I am starting my postgraduate degree in Pure Mathematics in a month's time.
I am considering pursuing a ...
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votes
1
answer
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Tick Imbalance Bars - clarification on T index
I have been trying to learn quant related things on my own. I recently picked up a book called "Advances in Financial Machine Learning" by Marcos Lopez De Prado. I am having difficulty understanding ...
- 281
5
votes
4
answers
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Difficulty understanding put-call parity for currency options
I am self-studying for an actuarial exam on models for financial economics. I am having difficulty thinking about the put-call parity for currency options, specifically how use the notation. Here is ...
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4
votes
2
answers
538
views
What's the explanation for the formula for the volatility of a stock / volatility of the continuously compounded return of a stock?
I am self-studying for an actuarial exam, Models for Financial Economics.
It's stated as a given in my manual that $\sigma$ is the volatility of the stock, $\sqrt{\text{Var}(\ln(S_t/S_0))}$ and that ...
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4
votes
2
answers
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views
Computing $\gamma$ and $\mu$ at the efficient frontier
Consider the condition which the weights of any portfolio belonging to the efficient frontier satisfy:
\begin{equation}
\gamma\boldsymbol{wC} = \boldsymbol{m} - \mu\boldsymbol{u}\end{equation}
...
- 143
4
votes
0
answers
60
views
How to compute this current value using no arbitrage condition?
Suppose $X_t$ is a geometric Brownian motion with drift $\mu$ and volatility $\sigma$. $X_0$ is known. You have a machine that produces something worth $X_t$ at random times $t$ generated by a Poisson ...
- 141
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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Understanding the relationship between the Black-Scholes formula and a replicating portfolio
I'm self-studying and I'm considering the below example. The specific example is not especially relevant, but I included it for reference.
I'm trying to understand the relationship between a ...
- 339
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
Is there an error in this problem on pricing an asset using the true probability of an up move?
I'm self-studying for an actuarial exam and I encountered the following problem:
The true probability of an up move, $p$, must satisfy: $$p = \frac{e^{{(\alpha - \delta})h} - d}{u - d},$$
where $\...
- 339
3
votes
1
answer
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Introduction of a stochastic discount factor in martingale pricing
The example below is taken from Björk (2009). Let Radon-Nikodym derivative be
$$L=\frac{dP}{dQ} \;\; \text{on} \; \mathcal F$$
or written analogously
$$P(A) = \int_AL(\omega)dQ(\omega) \;\; \text{for ...
- 456
3
votes
1
answer
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Characteristic function and distribution of a random variable
This is exercise 4.3 in Bjork, Arbitrage Theory in Continous Time.
$$
X_t = \int^t_0 \sigma(s)dW_s
$$
$\sigma$ is a deterministic function and $W_t$ is brownian motion.
I am asked to find the ...
- 1,617
3
votes
1
answer
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Derive OIS rate from IRS rate and Fed Funds/Libor basis spread
For example I have 7Y interest rate swap rate and 7Y Fed funds/Libor basis spread. What is the step-by-step procedure to derive OIS rate from these two?
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3
votes
1
answer
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Risk Manager must-know list
What are the products, concepts, and models a risk manager must know? I'm not looking for an exhaustive list, but rather a general list as the one in Paul & Dominic's Guide To Quant Careers:
...
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3
votes
1
answer
354
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Equivalent Definitions of Self-Financing Portfolio
Consider a multi-period model with $t=0,...,T$. Suppose there is a bond with $B_0=1$ and $B_t=(1+R)^t$ and a stock with $S_0=s_0$ and
$$
S_{t+1}=S_t\,\xi_{t+1},
$$
with $\xi_t$ iid random variables....
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2
votes
1
answer
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Is this a poorly written example, or could volatility in fact be negative?
I'm self-studying and I encountered the following example. It seems to suggest that volatility is negative in this example. I was under the impression that volatility can never be negative, both from ...
- 339
2
votes
1
answer
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Is the Non-discounted Bachelier call option price a Martingale? [duplicate]
My math finance professor once said someting that I can't make sense of. Hope you can answer:
For a foward process the non-discounted price for a European call option under Bachelier is
$$C_t = \...
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2
votes
1
answer
803
views
Why are the greeks for the underlying stock 0 with the exception of delta?
In my textbook that I am self-studying from it is given that (assuming the Black-Scholes framework):
$\Delta_{stock} = \partial S / \partial S = 1$
All other Greeks for the underlying stock = 0
I ...
- 339
2
votes
2
answers
387
views
Black-Scholes-Merton formula and option pricing
If the distribution is skewed to the right,Black-Scholes overprices out-of-the-money puts and in-the-money calls. It underprices in-the-money puts and out-of-the-money calls.
How?
Stock price log-...
2
votes
1
answer
209
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Risk neutral modelling of a stock
Suppose a stock $S$ follows
$$dS(t) = \alpha(t)S(t)dt + \sigma(t)S(t)dW(t),$$
where $W(t)$ is a Brownian motion under $P$. Also suppose there is a short rate process $r(t)$. My question would be is ...
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2
votes
1
answer
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What is a notation '1' in risk neutral probabilities paper?
I'm reading the paper by Zhao et al (2008) and have a problem with used definitions in the text on the page 1535.
First, we generate a sample, $R$, of a given size from the distribution (21). Let $\...
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votes
1
answer
330
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Martingale Binomial Tree Process
3 step binomial tree process with $S_0=4,u=2,d=0.5,r=0.25.$ Determine the probability p and q such that the stock price process is a martingale (i.e. $E[S3]=S_0)$
I know P = 1/3 and Q = 2/3 but having ...
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votes
2
answers
820
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Carry & roll - question regarding the repo transaction
Could someone please explain the carry and roll trade that a lot of traders are doing with negative euro debt?
I read an example that they borrow in the repo market then buy a longer dated bond to ...
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2
votes
3
answers
277
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A more mathematically rigorous explanation for why in the B-S model, the expected return on a call goes down as the stock price goes up
A problem asks whether the following statement is true assuming the Black-Scholes Framework:
The expected return on a call option goes up as the stock price goes up.
The solution is:
The statement ...
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2
votes
1
answer
126
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Is there a quick way to see why this claim $C(S, t)$ on $S$ does not satisfy the Black-Scholes PDE?
I'm self-studying for an actuarial exam on financial economics and encountered the below practice exam problem.
An exam problem should typically take 5-6 minutes to complete, so I'm wondering if ...
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2
votes
1
answer
187
views
Calculating the annual return on an option using a replicating porfolio
I am self-studying and encountered the following problem:
My idea was to calculate the price of the put using a replicating portfolio, then use the formula:
$$Pe^{\gamma h} = S\Delta e^{\alpha h} + \...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Understanding the necessary and sufficient conditions for rational early exercise of a call option
I am self-studying for an actuarial exam, and I encountered the following in my text:
The author states that if $PV_{t, T}\text{(Divs)} < K(1 - e^{-r(T - t)})$, early exercise is not rational.
...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Z-Spread vs Discount Margin
I'm comparing two types of discounting: Z-Spread and Discount Margin.
Reading the article by O'Kane Credit Spread Explained I found Z-Spread is used for fixed rate notes meanwhile Discount Margin, ...
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votes
0
answers
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Applications of a certain type of stochastic processes in quantitative finance [duplicate]
A compound Poisson random vector $Y$ is well defined in this site in wikipidia.
Nothing prevents me from compound strictly stationary stochastic processes instead of compound random vectors. The ...
2
votes
0
answers
126
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Optimal consumption process [Munk (2011)]
I'm trying to solve problem 4.4 in Munk (2011). The problem is as follows:
Assume the market is complete and $\xi = (\xi_{t})$ is the unique state-price deflator.
Present value of any consumption ...
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2
votes
1
answer
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(Self-study) Futures, bonds, and arbitrage
I'm currently self studying futures, so I'm sorry if this questions comes off a bit stupid. I'm currently reading a book by Walsh, J.B. Knowing the Odds: An Introduction to Probability.
I quote this ...
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2
votes
0
answers
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How do we know that the instantaneous rate of return on this option, $\gamma$ is negative?
I am self-studying models for financial economics and encountered the following problem:
I don't see how the author can conclude that $\gamma = -0.62$. Let's rearrange the second to last equation: $$\...
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votes
0
answers
85
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Modelling the Cost of Risk
I would like to read something about the cost of risk. Could anyone recommend some reference about how it is calculated or modelled?
- 678
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votes
0
answers
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Financial theory
Ok guys, I'm studying from Danthine and Donaldson - Intermediate Financial Theory. The book itself doesn't have a lot of worked examples, and I'm lacking the basics for understanding some concepts ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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Measure of a Brownian motion = normal distribution?
Consider some model where the process increments are normally distributed, e.g. Vasicek:
$$dr(t) = \left(\theta - ar(t)\right)dt + \sigma dW(t).$$
We usually say that $W(t)$ is a Brownian motion ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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issue with benchmarks in "standard securities calculation methods"
I wonder if anyone is using the benchmark cases in "Standard securities calculation methods" issued by Securities Industry Association (Vol 1, 3rd ed.) to calibrate their implementations for ...
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1
vote
2
answers
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Is a wiener proces measurable? (exercise from Bjork)
I will claim $$E[W(T) \vert F_t] = 0$$ for $t<T$. Anyway, in an exercise in Bjork the results requires that $$E[W(t) \vert F_t] = 0$$ But why? Isn't $W(t)$ measurable at time $t$ and hence not ...
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1
answer
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How does buying a CDX and then taking a short CDS position generates alpha? [closed]
Can someone please explain to me how buying a CDX and then taking a short CDS position generates alpha? I am so confused.
- 81
1
vote
3
answers
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Interpolating the swap curve
Does anyone know how I can calculate the swap rate in between main tenors for specific dates? For example: what is the implied swap rate in 1 year, 60 days time.
Is there an easy way to do this in ...
- 81
1
vote
1
answer
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Why is the statement "the volatility of a $T - t$-month prepaid forward on asset X is $\sigma$" the same as "the volatility of asset X is $\sigma$"?
I'm self studying and I'm having trouble with understanding the equivalent formulations of the volatility $\sigma$ of an asset $X$, as in the below problem.
In the below the problem (and the first ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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How does this statement about the price of a prepaid forward on a stock follow?
I am self-studying for an actuarial exam on financial economics. This statement in the following problem/solution seems to imply that the prepaid forward price on a stock is the same as the prepaid ...
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1
vote
2
answers
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Expected Utility
We know that under certainty, any increasing monotone transformation of a utility function is also a utility function representing the same preferences. Under uncertainty, we must restrict this ...
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vote
1
answer
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Characterizing distribution of a stochastic intergal
characterize the distribution of $\int_0^T f(t)Z_tdt$. In
particular, verify that it is a Gaussian distribution and compute its moments.
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vote
2
answers
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Relationship between CML and SML
I am referring to the book Sharpe et al. (1998), Investments, 6th Edition. I am trying to wrap my head around some lines from the book, pertaining to Security Market Line.
It reads:
Earlier it was ...
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1
vote
1
answer
104
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Is it possible to approach finding the risk premium of this derivative using Ito's Lemma?
I understand the author's intended solution to the below problem, but I thought I would see if I could solve this using first principles and Ito's Lemma instead for practice.
Let $V(S(t), t) = e^{rt}\...
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1
vote
2
answers
341
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Monte Carlo Accuracy - Antithetic Variate Method
I'm self studying for an actuarial exam and I am curious about a property of the antithetic variate method for increasing the Monte Carlo price accuracy (i.e. For every random draw of $z$, also ...
- 339
1
vote
1
answer
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Calculating the price of a call and put using multinomial trees and risk-neutral probabilities
I am self-studying for an actuarial exam and I encountered this example. The books shows one method of solving using a replicating portfolio, and then shows this solution involving risk-neutral ...
- 339
1
vote
1
answer
119
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Calculating European call option, the Bjork way
We have a 3 period binomial tree with values:
...
- 57
1
vote
2
answers
184
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Bootstrap zero curve source of information
I'm trying to understand the bootstrap methodology to construct a zero curve from a par curve in detail. I'm looking for a good source of information, preferably with a detailed example, that ...
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vote
1
answer
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Proving that the $\Delta$ of a call on a futures contract under the B-S model is $N(d_1)$
The author of my textbook says that the $\Delta$ of a call on a futures contract is $N(d_1)$ and not $e^{-rT}N(d_1)$. I wasn't convinced, so I tried to prove this.
Let $F = F_{0, T}(S) = S_0e^{(r - \...
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1
vote
2
answers
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Trading liquidity risk
I am trying to understand trading liquidity risk $\cdots$ "Trading liquidity risk occurs when an entity is unable to buy or sell a security at the market price due to a temporary inability to find a ...
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