Professor:
Professor R. J. Williams, Office: AP&M 6121.
Professor's Office Hours: MF 1-1.50pm, W noon-12.50pm.
Lecture Time: MWF 5-5.50pm.
Lecture Place: PCYNH 120.
Section Times: W 6-6.50pm, W 7-7.50pm.
Section Place: WLH 2110.
Teaching Assistant: Michael Scullard, AP&M 6333.
TA Office Hours: Th 1.30-3.30pm, F 2.30-4.30pm.
DESCRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to the mathematics of some financial models. The aim is to provide students with an introduction to some basic probabilistic models of finance and associated mathematical machinery. The course focusses largely on financial derivatives and related mathematics.
The course begins with the development of the basic ideas of hedging and pricing of derivatives in the discrete (i.e., discrete time and discrete state) setting of binomial tree models. The famous Black-Scholes option pricing formula is derived as a limit from these models. Then a general discrete finite market model is introduced, and the fundamental theorems of asset pricing are proved in this setting. Tools from probability such as conditional expectation, filtration, (super)martingale, equivalent martingale measure, and martingale representation are all introduced and used in this discrete setting.
This course requires a solid background in probability, preferably at the level of the undergraduate probability course Math 180A at UCSD, or at a minimum Math 183. It also uses a certain amount of geometric linear algebra, so it is a good idea to review background from Math 20F.
The graduate course, Math 294, which has a similar title, is at a more advanced level and has much more emphasis on continuous time models which use measure theory.
PREREQUISITES: Math 20D, Math 20F, and Math 180A or Math 183.
TEXT: No specific text is required.
Some summary notes will be provided to accompany the course.
To access the notes, click here (you will need a password
to access this site -- this will be given in class).
OTHER REFERENCES:
F. AitSahlia and K. L. Chung, Elementary Probability Theory, Springer,
Fourth Edition.
J. Cvitanic and F. Zapatero,
Economics and Mathematics of Financial Markets, MIT Press, 2004.
T. S. Y. Ho and S. B. Lee, The Oxford Guide to Financial Modeling,
Oxford, 2004.
J. Hull, Options, Futures and other Derivative Securities, Prentice Hall.
S. Pliska, Introduction to Mathematical Finance,
Blackwell, 1998.
S. Ross, An Introduction to Mathematical Finance, Options and other topics,
Cambridge University Press, 1999.
J. Stampfli and V. Goodman, The Mathematics of Finance: Modeling and
Hedging, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2001.
P. Wilmott et al., The Mathematics of Financial Derivatives,
Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Article on incomplete markets by Jeremy Staum,
in Handbooks in OR and MS, Vol. 15, 2008, Elsevier.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Linear algebra lectures by Gil Strang (MIT). You may find lecture 1, 9, 14 helpful
in reviewing geometric aspects of linear algebra.
WIKEPEDIA AND OTHER LINKS:
CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES:
HANDOUT: For the course handout, click here.
EXAMS: There will be one midterm (in class) exam and a final exam. In class exam: Wednesday, February 11, 2009. Final exam: Monday, March 16, 2009, 7-10pm.
The final exam is on Monday, March 16, 2009, 7-10pm in the usual classroom.
The final will be an overall test of the material covered in
the lectures, reading assignments and homework.
Please bring your student ID, a blue book or two, and pens/pencils to write with.
You may bring a single 8.5"x11" sheet of paper with writing on one side of it to the exam.
No books or other notes are allowed.
You may bring a calculator.
Make sure to justify your answers (credit will not be given for "inspired'' answers).
Remember that part of each problem
is to set it up and to arrive at the answer by a progression of logical steps.
Please start each problem on a new page, write legibly, and put your name and section number on your blue book.
Extra TA office hour,
Monday, March 16th, 1-3pm, AP&M 6333.
Review Session, Saturday, March 14, 1pm, Peppercanyon 120.
Please direct any questions to Professor Ruth J. Williams, email: williams at math dot ucsd dot edu