Synopses & Reviews
Practitioners and researchers who have handled financial market data know that asset returns do not behave according to the bell-shaped curve, associated with the Gaussian or normal distribution. Indeed, the use of Gaussian models when the asset return distributions are not normal could lead to a wrong choice of portfolio, the underestimation of extreme losses or mispriced derivative products. Consequently, non-Gaussian models and models based on processes with jumps are gaining popularity among financial market practitioners. Non-Gaussian distributions are the key theme of this book which addresses the causes and consequences of non-normality and time dependency in both asset returns and option prices. One of the main aims is to bridge the gap between the theoretical developments and the practical implementations of what many users and researchers perceive as "sophisticated" models or black boxes. The book is written for non-mathematicians who want to model financial market prices so the emphasis throughout is on practice. There are abundant empirical illustrations of the models and techniques described, many of which could be equally applied to other financial time series, such as exchange and interest rates. The authors have taken care to make the material accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of statistics, calculus and probability, while at the same time preserving the mathematical rigor and complexity of the original models. This book will be an essential reference for practitioners in the finance industry, especially those responsible for managing portfolios and monitoring financial risk, but it will also be useful for mathematicians who want to know more about how their mathematical tools are applied in finance, and as a text for advanced courses in empirical finance; financial econometrics and financial derivatives
Review
From the reviews: "Financial Modeling Under Non-Gaussian Distributions ... is thus very welcome as it provides an accessible and easy-to-understand treatment of a broad range of topics, including core material to more advanced techniques on the subject of capturing non-Gaussian properties in the distributions of asset returns. ... Financial Modeling Under Non-Gaussian Distributions is a very accessible textbook that covers a wide range of topics. ... The authors define their target readers as specialized master and Ph.D. students, as well as financial industry practitioners." (Stephan Suess, Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Vol. 22, 2008) "This book is written for non-mathematicians who want to model financial market prices. ... It targets practioners in the financial industry. It is suitable for use as core text for students in empirical finance, financial econometrics and financial derivatives. It is useful for mathematician who want to know more about their mathematical tools are applied in finance." (Klaus Ehemann, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1138 (16), 2008)
Synopsis
Non-Gaussian distributions are the key theme of this book which addresses the causes and consequences of non-normality and time dependency in both asset returns and option prices. The aim is to bridge the gap between theoretical developments and the practical implementations of what many users and researchers perceive as sophisticated models. The emphasis throughout is on practice; there are abundant empirical illustrations of the models and techniques described, many of which could be equally applied to other financial time series, such as exchange and interest rates. Real applications are tailored for non-mathematicians who want to model financial market prices. The book is specially designed for course use, with the necessary background mathematics provided in appendices.
Synopsis
This book examines non-Gaussian distributions. It addresses the causes and consequences of non-normality and time dependency in both asset returns and option prices. The book is written for non-mathematicians who want to model financial market prices so the emphasis throughout is on practice. There are abundant empirical illustrations of the models and techniques described, many of which could be equally applied to other financial time series.
Table of Contents
Part I: Financial Markets and Financial Time Series.- Introduction. Statistical Properties of Financial Market Data. Functioning of Financial Markets and Theoretical Models for Returns. Part II: Econometric Modeling of Asset Returns.- Modeling Volatility. Modeling Higher Moments. Modeling Correlation. Extreme Value Theory. Part III: Applications of Non-Gaussian Econometrics.- Risk Management and VaR. Portfolio Allocation. Part IV: Option Pricing with Non-Gaussian Returns.-Fundamentals of Option Pricing. Non-Structural Option Pricing. Structural Option Pricing. Part V: Appendices on Option Pricing Mathematics.- Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus. Martingale and Changing Measure. Characteristic Functions and Fourier Transforms. Jump Processes.- References.- Index.