Mathematical Techniques in Finance

Originally published in 2003, Mathematical Techniques in Finance has become a standard textbook for master's-level finance courses containing a significant quantitative element while also being suitable for finance PhD students. This fully revised second edition continues to offer a carefully crafted blend of numerical applications and theoretical grounding in economics, finance, and mathematics, and provides plenty of opportunities for students to practice applied mathematics and cutting-edge finance. Ales Cerný mixes tools from calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, numerical mathematics, and programming to analyze in an accessible way some of the most intriguing problems in financial economics. The textbook is the perfect hands-on introduction to asset pricing, optimal portfolio selection, risk measurement, and investment evaluation. The new edition includes the most recent research in the area of incomplete markets and unhedgeable risks, adds a chapter on finite difference methods, and thoroughly updates all bibliographic references. Eighty figures, over seventy examples, twenty-five simple ready-to-run computer programs, and several spreadsheets enhance the learning experience. All computer codes have been rewritten using MATLAB and online supplementary materials have been completely updated. A standard textbook for graduate finance courses Introduction to asset pricing, portfolio selection, risk measurement, and investment evaluation Detailed examples and MATLAB codes integrated throughout the text Exercises and summaries of main points conclude each chapter

Modern finance overlaps with many fields of mathematics, and for students this can represent considerable strain. Mathematical Techniques in Finance is an ideal textbook for Masters finance courses with a significant quantitative element while also being suitable for finance Ph.D. students. Developed for the highly acclaimed Master of Science in Finance program at Imperial College London, it offers a carefully crafted blend of numerical applications and theoretical grounding in economics, finance, and mathematics. In the best engineering tradition, Ales Cerny mixes tools from calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, numerical mathematics, and programming to analyze in an accessible way some of the most intriguing problems in financial economics. Eighty figures, over 70 worked examples, 25 simple ready-to-run computer programs, and several spreadsheets further enhance the learning experience. Each chapter is followed by a number of classroom-tested exercises with solutions available on the book's web site. Applied mathematics is a craft that requires practice - this textbook provides plenty of opportunities to practice it and teaches cutting-edge finance into the bargain. Asset pricing is a common theme throughout the book; and readers can follow the development from discrete one-period models to continuous time stochastic processes. This textbook sets itself apart by the comprehensive treatment of pricing and risk measurement in incomplete markets, an area of current research that represents the future in risk management and investment performance evaluation.