There has been a tremendous growth in the volume of financial transactions based on mathematics, reflecting the confidence in the Nobel-Prize-winning Black-Scholes option theory. Risks emanating from obligatory future payments are covered by a strategy of trading with amounts not determined by guessing, but by solving equations, and with prices not resulting from offer and demand, but from computation. However, the mathematical theory behind that suffers from inaccessibility. This is due to the complexity of the mathematical foundation of the Black-Scholes model, which is the theory of continuous-time stochastic processes: a thorough study of mathematical finance is considered to be possible only at postgraduate level. The setting of this book is the discrete-time version of the Black-Scholes model, namely the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein model. The book gives a complete description of its background, which is now only the theory of finite stochastic processes. The novelty lies in the fact that orders of magnitude -- in the sense of nonstandard analysis -- are imposed on the parameters of the model. This not only makes the model more economically sound (such as rapid fluctuations of the market being represented by infinitesimal trading periods), but also leads to a significant simplification: the fundamental results of Black-Scholes theory are derived in full generality and with mathematical rigour, now at graduate level. The material has been repeatedly taught in a third-year course to econometricians.

There has been a tremendous growth in the volume of financial transactions based on mathematics, reflecting the confidence in the Nobel-Prize-winning Black-Scholes option theory. Risks emanating from obligatory future payments are covered by a strategy of trading with amounts not determined by guessing, but by solving equations, and with prices not resulting from offer and demand, but from computation. However, the mathematical theory behind that suffers from inaccessibility. This is due to the complexity of the mathematical foundation of the Black-Scholes model, which is the theory of continuous-time stochastic processes: a thorough study of mathematical finance is considered to be possible only at postgraduate level.The setting of this book is the discrete-time version of the Black-Scholes model, namely the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein model. The book gives a complete description of its background, which is now only the theory of finite stochastic processes. The novelty lies in the fact that orders of magnitude — in the sense of nonstandard analysis — are imposed on the parameters of the model. This not only makes the model more economically sound (such as rapid fluctuations of the market being represented by infinitesimal trading periods), but also leads to a significant simplification: the fundamental results of Black-Scholes theory are derived in full generality and with mathematical rigour, now at graduate level. The material has been repeatedly taught in a third-year course to econometricians.

A ONE-STOP GUIDE FOR THE THEORIES, APPLICATIONS, AND STATISTICAL METHODOLOGIES OF MARKET RISK Understanding and investigating the impacts of market risk on the financial landscape is crucial in preventing crises. Written by a hedge fund specialist, the Handbook of Market Risk is the comprehensive guide to the subject of market risk. Featuring a format that is accessible and convenient, the handbook employs numerous examples to underscore the application of the material in a real-world setting. The book starts by introducing the various methods to measure market risk while continuing to emphasize stress testing, liquidity, and interest rate implications. Covering topics intrinsic to understanding and applying market risk, the handbook features: An introduction to financial markets The historical perspective from market events and diverse mathematics to the value-at-risk Return and volatility estimates Diversification, portfolio risk, and efficient frontier The Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory The use of a fundamental multi-factors model Financial derivatives instruments Fixed income and interest rate risk Liquidity risk Alternative investments Stress testing and back testing Banks and Basel II/III The Handbook of Market Risk is a must-have resource for financial engineers, quantitative analysts, regulators, risk managers in investments banks, and large-scale consultancy groups advising banks on internal systems. The handbook is also an excellent text for academics teaching postgraduate courses on financial methodology.

Neutrices and External Numbers: A Flexible Number System introduces a new model of orders of magnitude and of error analysis, with particular emphasis on behaviour under algebraic operations. The model is formulated in terms of scalar neutrices and external numbers, in the form of an extension of the nonstandard set of real numbers. Many illustrative examples are given. The book starts with detailed presentation of the algebraic structure of external numbers, then deals with the generalized Dedekind completeness property, applications in analysis, domains of validity of approximations of solutions of differential equations, particularly singular perturbations. Finally, it describes the family of algebraic laws characterizing the practice of calculations with external numbers. Features Presents scalar neutrices and external numbers, a mathematical model of order of magnitude within the real number system. Outlines complete algebraic rules for the neutrices and external numbers Conducts operational analysis of convergence and integration of functions known up to orders of magnitude Formalises a calculus of error propagation, covariant with algebraic operations Presents mathematical models of phenomena incorporating their necessary imprecisions, in particular related to the Sorites paradox

Covering a broad range of topics, this text provides a comprehensive survey of the modelling of chaotic dynamics and complexity in the natural and social sciences. Its attention to models in both the physical and social sciences and the detailed philosophical approach make this an unique text in the midst of many current books on chaos and complexity. Part 1 deals with the mathematical model as an instrument of investigation. The general meaning of modelling and, more specifically, questions concerning linear modelling are discussed. Part 2 deals with the theme of chaos and the origin of chaotic dynamics. Part 3 deals with the theme of complexity: a property of the systems and of their models which is intermediate between stability and chaos. Including an extensive index and bibliography along with numerous examples and simplified models, this is an ideal course text.

At the beginning of the new millennium, two unstoppable processes are taking place in the world: (1) globalization of the economy; (2) information revolution. As a consequence, there is greater participation of the world population in capital market investment, such as bonds and stocks and their derivatives. Hence there is a need for risk management and analytic theory explaining the market. This leads to quantitative tools based on mathematical methods, i.e. the theory of mathematical finance.Ever since the pioneer work of Black, Scholes and Merton in the 70's, there has been rapid growth in the study of mathematical finance, involving ever more sophisticated mathematics. However, from the practitioner's point of view, it is desirable to have simpler and more useful mathematical tools.This book introduces research students and practitioners to the intuitive but rigorous hypermodel techniques in finance. It is based on Robinson's infinitesimal analysis, which is easily grasped by anyone with as little background as first-year calculus. It covers topics such as pricing derivative securities (including the Black-Scholes formula), hedging, term structure models of interest rates, consumption and equilibrium. The reader is introduced to mathematical tools needed for the aforementioned topics. Mathematical proofs and details are given in an appendix. Some programs in MATHEMATICA are also included.