Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance

Getting agreement between finance theory and finance practice is important like never before. In the last decade the derivatives business has grown to a staggering size, such that the outstanding notional of all contracts is now many multiples of the underlying world economy. No longer are derivatives for helping people control and manage their financial risks from other business and industries, no, it seems that the people are toiling away in the fields to keep the derivatives market afloat! (Apologies for the mixed metaphor!) If you work in derivatives, risk, development, trading, etc. youd better know what you are doing, theres now a big responsibility on your shoulders.In this second edition of Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance I continue in my mission to pull quant finance up from the dumbeddown depths, and to drag it back down to earth from the supersophisticated stratosphere. Readers of my work and blogs will know that I think both extremes are dangerous. Quant finance should inhabit the middle ground, the mathematics sweet spot, where the models are robust and understandable, and easy to mend.And thats what this book is about.This book contains important FAQs and answers that cover both theory and practice. There are sections on how to derive BlackScholes (a dozen different ways!), the popular models, equations, formulae and probability distributions, critical essays, brainteasers, and the commonest quant mistakes. The quant mistakes section alone is worth trillions of dollars!I hope you enjoy this book, and that it shows you how interesting this important subject can be. And I hope youll join me and others in this industry on the discussion forum on wilmott.com. See you there!FAQQF2...including key models, important formulae, popular contracts, essays and opinions, a history of quantitative finance, sundry lists, the commonest mistakes in quant finance, brainteasers, plenty of straighttalking, the Modellers Manifesto and lots more.