In the updated second edition of Don Chance’s well-received Essays in Derivatives, the author once again keeps derivatives simple enough for the beginner, but offers enough in-depth information to satisfy even the most experienced investor. This book provides up-to-date and detailed coverage of various financial products related to derivatives and contains completely new chapters covering subjects that include why derivatives are used, forward and futures pricing, operational risk, and best practices.

This account of the sophisticated financial hub that was 17th-century Amsterdam “does a fine job of bringing history to life” (Library Journal). The launch of the Dutch East India Company in 1602 initiated Amsterdam’s transformation from a regional market town into a dominant financial center. The Company introduced easily transferable shares, and within days buyers had begun to trade them. Soon the public was engaging in a variety of complex transactions, including forwards, futures, options, and bear raids, and by 1680 the techniques deployed in the Amsterdam market were as sophisticated as any we practice today. Lodewijk Petram’s award-winning history demystifies financial instruments by linking today’s products to yesterday’s innovations, tying the market’s operation to the behavior of individuals and the workings of the world around them. Traveling back in time, Petram visits the harbor and other places where merchants met to strike deals. He bears witness to the goings-on at a notary’s office and sits in on the consequential proceedings of a courtroom. He describes in detail the main players, investors, shady characters, speculators, and domestic servants and other ordinary folk, who all played a role in the development of the market and its crises. His history clarifies concerns that investors still struggle with today—such as fraud, the value of information, trust and the place of honor, managing diverging expectations, and balancing risk—and does so in a way that is vivid, relatable, and critical to understanding our contemporary world.

A comprehensive and practical guide to the stock market from a successful fund manager—filled with case studies, important background information, and all the tools you’ll need to become a stock market genius. Fund manager Joel Greenblatt has been beating the Dow (with returns of 50 percent a year) for more than a decade. And now, in this highly accessible guide, he’s going to show you how to do it, too. You’re about to discover investment opportunities that portfolio managers, business-school professors, and top investment experts regularly miss—uncharted areas where the individual investor has a huge advantage over the Wall Street wizards. Here is your personal treasure map to special situations in which big profits are possible, including: -Spin-offs -Restructurings -Merger Securities -Rights Offerings -Recapitalizations -Bankruptcies -Risk Arbitrage Prepared with the tools from this guide, it won’t be long until you’re a stock market genius!

"A critical look at the mutual fund industry and how we invest, and ... a compelling course for change."--Jacket.

"Outperform the Dow presents not only fascinating statistics about the performance of the Dow itself but also how to beat that performance with nearly four dozen different methods, from the basic to the sophisticated. You won't often find strategies involving futures and options included in this type of discussion, but this practical guide shows how they can be used to boost your returns in simple, safe ways you might never have considered." -DARRELL JOBMAN, CoAuthor of The Complete Guide to Electronic Futures Trading The Dow Jones Industrial Average is the most widely followed equity index in the world, and the benchmark against which most U.S. investors measure their investment returns. Outperform the Dow outlines strategies and techniques that many investors have used to consistently beat this benchmark-and pump up their portfolio values. Outperform the Dow goes beyond simply discussing these strategies to provide solid, statistical evidence of their consistent superiority in up, down, and sideways markets. Learn here how you can profit from Dow-beating strategies that include: * Last Year's Winners n Smooth Risers * Tuesday Opportunity * Triple-Witching Days n Fool's Forecast * Semi-Monthly Analysis * January Momentum * Covered Call Writing * October/June Straddles * Exotic Options The objective of investing is to supply companies with capital and for the investor to gain profits. History shows that over time, certain techniques and strategies have consistently allowed savvy investors to gain exceptional profits. Discover the secrets of successful investors, climb down off the "buy-and-hold" bandwagon, and learn how to really make your money work for you with Outperform the Dow. Please visit our Web site at www.wileyfinance.com