BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

 

FOSTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

 

FINANCE

 

FIN 327, Speculative Markets

Dr. Arlyn R. Rubash

Fall Semester, 2001

 

206 Baker Hall

 

 

Ph: 677-2258

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Markets for high risk financial instruments. Options, futures, and related contracts. Nature of speculative markets, mechanics of trading, regulations, analysis, and strategies.

COURSE OBJECTIVE: Students are introduced to the use of options, futures, swaps and other derivative instruments. The variety of existing and synthetic financial instruments available for risk management by speculators, hedgers and arbitrageurs is covered. Basic concepts for using options, forwards, futures, swaps and related contracts are analyzed. The nature of derivative markets, mechanics of trading, valuation, regulation, analysis and risk management strategies available for hedging and speculating are stressed.

PREREQUISITES: Finance 322 and Math 116 or 122

TEXT: Don M. Chance, An Introduction to Derivatives (1998), 4th Ed., The Dryden Press, Chicago

INTERNET: http://hilltop.bradley.edu/~arr/courses/fin327/

OFFICE HOURS: M W 3:15 - 4:00, TU 2:00 - 3:00

GRADE DETERMINATION: The final grade earned for this course will be based on three exams. Each will contribute equally (1/3) to the final grade. The exams will not be specifically cumulative (i.e., no effort will be made to retest material from the earlier exam). However, certain concepts may require an understanding of material from the earlier period, hence, exceptions will occur.

The standard percentage breakdown will be used as a guide for determining final grades.

Lower

 

Letter

 

Upper

90

<=

A

<=

100

80

<=

B

<

90

70

<=

C

<

80

60

<=

D

<

70

 

 

F

<

60

CLASS ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: Students must know and understand all material discussed in class. This requirement includes contributions from other students as well as those of the instructor.

EXAM ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: All exams must be taken as scheduled. If an exam is missed a zero (0) numeric score will be recorded for that exam. Student absencescaused by major problems such as hospital emergencies or deaths in the immediate family will allow upon presentation of adequate documentation a "make-up exam" for the one missed as soon as reasonably possible after returning to campus. To request this option, a written explanation must be filed with the instructor.

The calculation of the final course grade will then use the lower of:

    1. The average of the exams taken on time.
    2. The average of all the exams (including the make-up).

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Date

Chapter

Discussion Topics

Questions Due

8/29

1

Introduction

 

 

1

Derivative Markets

1-5,8,10,11,13

 

2

The Structure of Options Markets

1-4,6-8,11,14

 

3

Principles of Option Pricing

1,4-6,9-10

 

3

Principles of Option Pricing

12-17,18-19

 

4

Option Pricing Models
Omit pages 115-132, 159-162 Binomial Model

1,5-9

 

4

Option Pricing Models

Develop Option Pricing Spreadsheet

12-16,18-19

 

5

Basic Option Strategies

1-5,8,11

 

5

Strategies

13,14,16,18

 

6

Advanced Option Strategies

1-4,6,8,9,11-13,19

9/26

 

Exam I

 

 

7

Exam Review

 

 

7

The Structure of Futures Markets

1-3,5-9,11-18,20-21

 

8

Spot Market Pricing

1-9,11,12
8 assume 100 basis pt inc
9 assume 100 basis pt dec

 

8

Spot Market Pricing

14-17 Solve 14 with your spreadsheet

 

9

Futures Market Pricing

1-4,8

 

9

Futures Market Pricing

10-13

 

10

Futures Hedging Strategies
Appendix 10A, Omit "Tailing Hedge p.425-426

1-4,6,8-10

 

10

Futures Hedging Strategies

15,16,19

10/29

 

Exam II

 

 

11

Exam Review

1-5,7

 

11

Advanced Futures Strategies

1-5,7

 

11

Advanced Futures Strategies

12,15-17

 

13

Foreign Currency Options and Futures

1-3,5-7 On #6 put premium is $0.14

 

13

Foreign Currency Options and Futures

14,15 on #15 American firm pays 11% interest for French francs

 

14

Swaps and Other Derivatives

1-3,5,13,19

 

15

Advanced Strategies and Contemporary Issues

1-6

 

15

Advanced Strategies and Contemporary Issues

8-18

12/10

 

Exam III