Students
ACST307 – Quantitative Asset and Liability Modelling 2
2019 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor, Lecturer
Chong It Tan
Contact via chongit.tan@mq.edu.au
4ER 609
Wednesdays 11am-12pm
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| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ACST306
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
The topics covered in this unit include: an introduction to stochastic processes; martingales; an introduction to stochastic calculus; Ito's lemma; forwards, futures, swaps and options; arbitrage-free pricing via replicating portfolio and risk neutral probability measures; the Girsanov theorem; the Black-Scholes option pricing model for European and exotic options; the 'Greeks' and dynamic hedging; term structure of interest rates; relations among short rates, forward rates and zero-coupon bonds; interest rate models; firm-value; and intensity-based credit risk models. Students gaining a grade of credit or higher in both ACST306 and ACST307 are eligible for exemption from subject CT8 of the professional exams of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
- Describe the valuation of defaultable zero-coupon bond based on firm-value and default intensity models.
General Assessment Information
Self-assessment exercise question(s) will be released in Week 3. The solutions will be provided before the census date in Week 4. Please use the self-assessment exercise as an indicator of whether you are progressing satisfactorily in the unit. If you are having difficulties, please see the Unit Convenor before the census date on Friday of week 4 and consider withdrawing from the unit.
Macquarie University uses the grades HD, D, Cr, P and F for grading the achievements of students in units of study. The meaning of each symbol is explained in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy, available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment
It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within session assessment on iLearn within 20 working days of posting. If there are any discrepancies, students must contact the unit convenor immediately. Failure to do so will mean that queries received after the release of final results regarding assessment marks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.
Assessment criteria for all assessment tasks will be provided on the unit iLearn site.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | 20% | No | 1 October 2pm |
| Class Test | 20% | No | 23 October |
| Final Examination | 60% | No | University Examination period |
Assignment
Due: 1 October 2pm
Weighting: 20%
Assignment has to be submitted via both iLearn and ACST307/817 Assignment Box in BESS.
No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
Class Test
Due: 23 October
Weighting: 20%
The class test is of 100 minutes duration, with no additional reading time, to be held during the normal lecture time. It will cover topics in weeks 1 to 9.
You are permitted ONE A4 page of paper containing reference material printed on both sides. The material may be handwritten or typed. The page will not be returned to the students at the end of the class test. Students are permitted to use non-programmable calculators with no text-retrieval capacity. Dictionaries are not permitted.
Students who have not sat the test will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.
Where a Special Consideration application is approved, the student may be offered an alternative assessment or may receive a mark based on the percentage mark achieved by the student in one or more other assessment tasks, at the Unit Convenor’s discretion.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
Final Examination
Due: University Examination period
Weighting: 60%
The final examination will be a three-hour written exam with ten minutes reading time, to be held during the University Examination period.
You are permitted ONE A4 page of paper containing reference material printed on both sides. The material may be handwritten or typed. The page will not be returned to the students at the end of the class test. Students are permitted to use non-programmable calculators with no text-retrieval capacity. Dictionaries are not permitted.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
- Describe the valuation of defaultable zero-coupon bond based on firm-value and default intensity models.
Delivery and Resources
Classes
There are 3 hours of face-to-face teaching per week consisting of 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorials (tutorials commence in week 2).
The timetable for classes can be found on the University website at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2019/
Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials
Required texts
Detailed lecture notes and tutorial exercises are available on the unit's iLearn site.
Recommended Textbooks
•Options, Futures and Other Derivatives (9th edition); John Hull
•An Introduction to the Mathematics of Financial Derivatives (2nd edition); Salih N. Neftci
•Interest Rate Models: An Introduction; Andrew J. G. Cairns
Each copy of these books is available in the Reserve section of the Library and can be purchased from the Macquarie University Co-op bookshops
Advanced Textbooks
•Risk-Neutral Valuation - Pricing and Hedging of Financial Derivatives (1st Edition); N. H. Bingham and R. Kiesel
•Quantitative Risk Management; Alexander J. McNeil, Rüdiger Frey and Paul Embrechts
•The Theory of Stochastic Processes; D. R. Cox and H. D. Miller
•Introduction to Probability Models (8th edition); Sheldon Ross
Technology Used and Required
Students need to be able to use a computer softwares (such as Excel, R, Visual Basic or Matlab) to analyse financial problems. Although the unit does not aim to teach students how to use these softwares, you are encouraged to make use of spreadsheets and other software packages for the assignment.
Unit Webpage
The webpage for this unit can be accessed via the iLearn site at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Teaching and Learning Strategy
The unit is taught using two-hour lecture and one-hour tutorial each week. You are expected to read lecture materials in advance of the lectures. The tutorial is an opportunity for you to attempt questions for each section of work, or to ask questions. It is highly recommended to try to solve questions in advance of the tutorials. In addition to the tutorial, you should make use of the weekly Discussion Board to ask questions or to discuss concepts covered in the unit.
Unit Schedule
Please refer to the week 1's lecture slides for the outline of topics.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Supplementary exams
Information regarding supplementary exams, including dates, is available at:
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
- Describe the valuation of defaultable zero-coupon bond based on firm-value and default intensity models.
Assessment tasks
- Assignment
- Class Test
- Final Examination
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
- Describe the valuation of defaultable zero-coupon bond based on firm-value and default intensity models.
Assessment tasks
- Assignment
- Class Test
- Final Examination
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of random walk, Brownian motions, martingale, stochastic calculus and Ito’s lemma.
- Describe the characteristics and the use of forward, futures, option and swap.
- Perform the valuation of European and exotic options via the Black-Scholes option pricing model in continuous time as well as option Greeks.
- Describe the valuation of default-free zero-coupon bond using short rate interest models.
- Describe the valuation of defaultable zero-coupon bond based on firm-value and default intensity models.
Assessment tasks
- Assignment
- Class Test
- Final Examination
Research and Practice
· This unit uses research from external sources:
- Black, Fischer and Scholes, Myron. (1973): "The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities". Journal of Political Economy, 81 (3): 637–654.
- Harrison, J. M., Kreps, D. M. (1979): "Martingales and arbitrage in multiperiod markets". J. Econ. Theory, 20, 381–408.
- Cox, J.C., J.E. Ingersoll and S.A. Ross (1985). "A Theory of the Term Structure of Interest Rates", Econometrica, 53: 385–407.
- Heath, D., Jarrow, R. and Morton, A. (1992). Bond Pricing and the Term Structure of Interest Rates: A New Methodology for Contingent Claims Valuation, Econometrica, 60(1), 77-105.
- Merton, Robert C. (1974): "On the Pricing of Corporate Debt: The Risk Structure of Interest Rates", Journal of Finance, Vol. 29, No. 2, 449-470.
- Jarrow, R. A., Lando, D. and Turnbull, S. M. (1997), A Markov Model for the Term Structure of Credit Risk Spreads, Review of Financial Studies, 10(2), 481–523.