derivatives

Derivatives encompass a wide variety of both end-users and securities-types and are a central component of the capital markets.  This introductory-level course provides participants with a thorough understanding of the major types of derivatives and why they are used by different types of investors in various situations.  The course will compare futures to forwards contracts and describe how both are used to hedge existing positions. Participants will also learn about options concepts, conventions, opportunities and risks.  In addition, the world of swaps will be examined with descriptions of the many applications of swaps-style contracts including interest rate, currency, asset and credit default swaps.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Basic

Prerequisites:  There are no prerequisites

Options are used by sophisticated investment firms, large corporations and individual investors in a variety of end-uses.  This course, delivered by a former institutional trader and dealer, explores in detail options concepts, conventions, opportunities and risks from the perspective of an industry practitioner.   Participants will be introduced to option pricing models and will explore the Greeks – the key measures of risk and sensitivity - in detail.  Participants will also learn intuitive approaches to understanding put-call parity, volatility surfaces and will explore options trading strategies.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Basic

Prerequisites:  There are no prerequisites

This one day intermediate course provides participants with a working knowledge of option pricing, hedging and trading.  The course goes beyond the basics to explain how option risk measures are related to underlying market conditions.  Participants will gain an understanding of how volatility is traded in addition to learning insights into the process of managing an options-based portfolio.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Intermediate

Prerequisites:  Introduction to Derivatives (or similar)

Swaps have become an integral part of risk management programs used by financial, non-financial and investment firms.  Participants in this one-day course will learn about the evolution of the swaps market and the conventions used within it.  The program also explores in detail how equity swaps, interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps, asset swaps and credit default swaps are structured, priced and traded.  Participants will also learn about the use of swaps for hedging and speculation, including caps, floors and collars, and the controversies surrounding certain swap products.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Basic

Prerequisites:  There are no prerequisites

This more advanced course on swaps provides participants with a practical examination of swap pricing, structure and valuation.   The course will also review the application of swaps in trading and interest rate risk management.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Intermediate

Prerequisites:  Swaps overview (or similar)

Forwards and futures are derivatives that allow users to gain exposures to and hedge pricing risks associated with a wide variety of underlying assets.  This course provides participants with a deep dive into the differences between forwards and futures contracts and how they are used in the marketplace today.   Participants will also explore the functioning of the futures markets, the role of the exchanges and how futures contracts are priced.  The various types of forwards and futures will be described along with the conventions related to these derivatives contracts.

Duration:  One day

Program Level:  Basic

Prerequisites:  There are no prerequisites