Credit default swaptions (CDS options) are credit derivatives that are widely used by finan-cial institutions such as banks and hedging companies to manage their credit risk. These options are usually priced using Black-Scholes model, but the assumptions underlying this model do not always hold especially when solving complex financial problems. The proposed solution is to use numerical methods such as finite difference method (FDM) to approximate the solution of the Black-Scholes PDE in cases where closed form solutions cannot be obtained. The pricing of swaptions are important in financial markets, hence we specifically discuss the pricing of interest rate swaptions, CDS options, commodity swaptions and energy swap-tions using Black-Scholes model. Simple parabolic PDE known as heat equation given at (Higham, 2004) forms a foundations to understand the application of FDM when solving a PDE. Since, Black-Scholes PDE is also a parabolic equation it is transformed to a form of a heat equation (diffusion equation) by applying change of variables technique. FDM, specifically Crank-Nicolson method can be applied to the heat equation but in this dissertation it is applied directly to the Black-Scholes PDE to approximate its solution. Therefore, it is preferable to use Crank-Nicolson method because it is known to be second- order accurate, unconditionally stable, very flexible, suitable and can accommodate varia- tions in financial problems, (Duffy, 2008). The stability of this method is investigated using a matrix approach because it accommodates the effect of boundary conditions. To test the convergence of Crank-Nicolson method, it is compared with the Black-Scholes method used in (Tucker and Wei, 2005) to price CDS options. Conclusively the results obtained by Crank-Nicolson method to price CDS options are similar to those obtained using Black-Scholes method. / Thesis (MSc (Risk Analysis))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Credit default swaptions (CDS options) are credit derivatives that are widely used by finan-cial institutions such as banks and hedging companies to manage their credit risk. These options are usually priced using Black-Scholes model, but the assumptions underlying this model do not always hold especially when solving complex financial problems. The proposed solution is to use numerical methods such as finite difference method (FDM) to approximate the solution of the Black-Scholes PDE in cases where closed form solutions cannot be obtained. The pricing of swaptions are important in financial markets, hence we specifically discuss the pricing of interest rate swaptions, CDS options, commodity swaptions and energy swap-tions using Black-Scholes model. Simple parabolic PDE known as heat equation given at (Higham, 2004) forms a foundations to understand the application of FDM when solving a PDE. Since, Black-Scholes PDE is also a parabolic equation it is transformed to a form of a heat equation (diffusion equation) by applying change of variables technique. FDM, specifically Crank-Nicolson method can be applied to the heat equation but in this dissertation it is applied directly to the Black-Scholes PDE to approximate its solution. Therefore, it is preferable to use Crank-Nicolson method because it is known to be second- order accurate, unconditionally stable, very flexible, suitable and can accommodate varia- tions in financial problems, (Duffy, 2008). The stability of this method is investigated using a matrix approach because it accommodates the effect of boundary conditions. To test the convergence of Crank-Nicolson method, it is compared with the Black-Scholes method used in (Tucker and Wei, 2005) to price CDS options. Conclusively the results obtained by Crank-Nicolson method to price CDS options are similar to those obtained using Black-Scholes method. / Thesis (MSc (Risk Analysis))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Cette thèse étudie la dynamique du marché des credit default swaps (CDS), instruments financiers de transfert du risque du crédit, et de ses relations avec les autres marchés, en particulier durant les épisodes de crise. Le marché des CDS a connu un développement vigoureux depuis son émergence, au milieu des années 90. Les volumes de contrats de CDS échangés ont augmenté à un rythme rapide, ce marché a ainsi connu le développement le plus rapide parmi les dérivés négociés de gré-à-gré (over-the-counter – OTC). Les participants de marché, principalement les grandes banques, ont su tirer parti des possibilités offertes par les outils de transfert de risque qui leur ont permis tout d'abord, de disposer d'instruments novateurs de protection contre le risque de crédit, mais aussi d'assurer l'expansion de leur activité d'intermédiation du crédit tout en optimisant les exigences en capital. Bien que le fonctionnement du marché des CDS ait connu une amélioration depuis le début des années 2000, plusieurs éléments mettent en doute l'hypothèse d'un marché efficient et résilient aux périodes de crise. A travers cinq articles empiriques, cette thèse se penche sur deux épisodes de crises durant lesquels le fonctionnement de ce marché a pu être perturbé : d'une part la crise de mai 2005, provoquée par la dégradation en catégorie spéculative de deux entreprises américaines majeures, General Motors et Ford, par les principales agences de notation ; d'autre part la crise financière ayant débuté en 2007 et qui a évolué en crise de la dette souveraine dans le cas des Etats européens à partir de fin 2009. L'étude de ces deux phases de crise montre que le développement du marché des CDS a participé à modifier les relations entre marchés, les investisseurs ayant fait des primes de CDS une source d'information privilégiée pour évaluer le risque de crédit. En effet, les travaux empiriques menés tout au long de la thèse concluent que ce marché est devenu progressivement le lieu où tendait à se dérouler le processus de découverte des prix. Ces travaux mettent également en lumière les vulnérabilités du marché des CDS, renforcées par des effets de contagion déjà à l'œuvre lors de l'épisode de crise de 2005, et incitent à une meilleure régulation des outils de transfert du risque de crédit et, d'une manière plus générale, des dérivés OTC. / This thesis studies the dynamics of the market in credit default swaps (CDS), which are credit risk transfer instruments, and the relationships between the CDS market and other markets, particularly during crisis periods. The CDS market has seen a boom since its emergence, in the mid-90s, and volumes of CDS contracts have increased at a rapid pace. Its growth has thus been the strongest among over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. Market participants, mainly the major banks, have taken advantage of the opportunities created by credit transfer instruments, which have offered new ways to hedge against credit risk and also contributed to the expansion of their credit intermediation activity, while optimising capital requirements. Despite the improvement of the CDS market's functioning since the early 2000s, several facts call the assumption of an efficient market that is resilient to crisis periods into question. Through five empirical articles, this thesis focuses on two crisis periods which during which the functioning of this market was affected: first, the General Motors and Ford crisis in 2005 following the downgrading of the credit ratings of these two flagship companies to speculative grade; and second, the financial crisis of 2007-2009 which turned into a sovereign debt crisis in the case of European countries from end-2009 onwards. The study of these two crisis periods shows that the growth of the CDS market has contributed to a change in the relationships between markets, as investors tend to regard CDS premia as a prime source of information to assess credit risk. Indeed, the empirical research conducted throughout the thesis concludes that this has gradually become the place where the price discovery process tends to occur. This work highlights the vulnerabilities of the CDS market, reinforced by the contagion effects at work during the 2005 crisis episode, and points to the need for better regulation of credit risk transfer instruments and, more broadly, of OTC derivatives.

Submitted by Renata Junqueira (repajunqueira@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-12T19:57:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Renata de Andrade Junqueira Ribeiro.pdf: 1064886 bytes, checksum: baad34290f965fc38c8c027553d693be (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2016-09-21T14:11:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Renata de Andrade Junqueira Ribeiro.pdf: 1064886 bytes, checksum: baad34290f965fc38c8c027553d693be (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2016-09-23T17:12:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Renata de Andrade Junqueira Ribeiro.pdf: 1064886 bytes, checksum: baad34290f965fc38c8c027553d693be (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-23T17:12:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Renata de Andrade Junqueira Ribeiro.pdf: 1064886 bytes, checksum: baad34290f965fc38c8c027553d693be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-29 / This paper uses an econometric model and identifies the relation between the perception of mining company Vale S.A.’s credit risk, measured by Credit Default Swap (CDS), and earnings surprises, measured by the difference between reported earnings per share (EPS) and EPS expected by market analysts. Conclusion is that a surprise in earning announcement significantly impacts Vale’s CDS and negative surprises tend to have higher influence than positive ones. Results suggest caution upon announcing future goals, since maintaining market expectations at reasonable levels could prevent sudden increases in funding costs. / Neste trabalho, é utilizado um modelo econométrico reduzido a fim de identificar a relação entre a percepção de risco de crédito da empresa mineradora Vale S.A., medida pelo Credit Default Swap (CDS), e a surpresa na divulgação de resultado, medida pela diferença entre o lucro por ação divulgado e o esperado pelos analistas de mercado. Conclui-se que uma surpresa no anúncio do resultado influencia significativamente o CDS da Vale e as surpresas negativas têm influência maior que as positivas. Os resultados sugerem cautela no anúncio de metas futuras, uma vez que a manutenção das expectativas de mercado em patamares moderados ajuda a evitar aumentos súbitos no custo de captação.

Submitted by Rodrigo Botelho (rodrigobotelho@gmail.com) on 2013-01-15T13:24:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Mestrado_RodrigoBotelho.pdf: 783241 bytes, checksum: 6ac3257d172dff384fca0c601e146aa4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vitor Souza (vitor.souza@fgv.br) on 2013-01-15T14:50:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Mestrado_RodrigoBotelho.pdf: 783241 bytes, checksum: 6ac3257d172dff384fca0c601e146aa4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-04T16:52:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Mestrado_RodrigoBotelho.pdf: 783241 bytes, checksum: 6ac3257d172dff384fca0c601e146aa4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-27 / This paper explores the sovereign default due to the structure of Credit Default Swap spreads. These spreads show the default probability of a country. The methodology proposed in this paper applied for Argentina, Korea, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela and Rússia. We could show that a single factor model following a lognormal process captures the probability of default. We also show that the macro economic variables like inflation, unemployment e growth do not explain the dependent variable of this study. Each country responds differently to the economic crisis that leads to don’t honor their commitments debts. / Este trabalho explora a realização de default soberano em função da estrutura de spreads de CDS (Credit Default Swap). Pode-se dizer que os spreads revelam a probabilidade de default de um país. Aplicamos a metodologia proposta neste trabalho para Argentina, Coreia, Equador, Indonésia, México, Peru, Turquia, Ucrânia, Venezuela e Rússia. Nós mostramos que um modelo de um único fator seguindo um processo lognormal captura a probabilidade de default. Também mostramos que as variáveis macro econômicas inflação, desemprego e crescimento não explicam a variável dependente do estudo (probabilidade de default). Cada país reage de maneira diferente a crise econômica que a leva a não honrar seus compromissos com as dívidas contraídas.

This dissertation thesis focuses on complex analysis of the problem, which is the sovereign debt crisis in the Euro area. The aim of this paper is to provide a complex overview and analysis of the current sovereign debt crisis, from the theoretical definition of the term, through an analysis of the causes and consequences of this crisis to outline the economic policy response to it. The text is divided into two parts. The first part deals with theoretical problem solving. In the second part is analyzed and described course of sovereign debt crisis. This section also analyzes in detail causes and consequences of the sovereign debt crisis in certain countries. This section is completed by an analysis of economic policy response to the sovereign debt crisis and an expert estimate of the future development of public debt countries analyzed.

La thèse étudie les effets du projet européen de taxation des transactions financières. Elle en analyse les conséquences sur la volatilité, la liquidité, les volumes des marchés d’actions et d’options, ainsi que sur le prix des actions et des obligations. Le Chapitre I, analyse les réactions des teneurs de marché d’option et conclut à un impact non significatif pour les marchés d’options très liquides, et un impact significatif pour les marchés d’options peu liquides, qui est maximal lorsque les positions des teneurs de marché sont détenues jusqu'à leur échéance. Le Chapitre II conclut à une hausse du coût du capital pour les entreprises européennes qui serait défavorisées vis à vis de leurs concurrents situés en dehors de l’EU. C’est la non liquidité des marchés d’options à maturité longue, et l’arbitrage entre dérivés de crédit et actions, qui conduit à cette hausse, d’après le Chapitre I. Le Chapitre III modélise simultanément les prix des actions et des obligations des entreprises. Il conclut à une baisse du prix de ces actifs due à l' introduction de la FTT. Les entreprises à fort levier et taxées à des taux faibles verraient une dépréciation du prix des actions plus élevée que leur concurrentes soumises à des taux plus élevés. Ceci suggère une harmonisation des taux de taxes dans l’EU préalablement à la mise en place de la FTT. Enfin, la FTT, qui déprime le prix des actifs émis par les entreprises, est en conflit avec la règlementation BASEL III qui vise à renforcer leurs fonds propres.En conclusion, notre approche par les options permet de formaliser l’impact sur la volatilité et de trouver une justification à la baisse du prix des actifs mise en évidence par plusieurs études empiriques portant sur des introductions passées de telles taxes au Royaume-Uni et en Suède. / The dissertation reviews the effects, on capital markets, of implementing, within the EU, an excise tax (the FTT) on all financial transactions. We review the effects on the volatility, the liquidity, trading volumes and the price of assets. In Chapter I, we analyze the option market-makers hedging strategies. We conclude to an insignificant effect of the FTT in highly liquid options markets, as opposed to a significant effect in low liquid option markets, the maximum being reached when market makers hold positions until their expiration date. Chapter II evidences a negative impact of the FTT on the corporate cost of capital due to the illiquidity of long dated option markets, and the arbitrage between equity and credit derivatives. The FTT would increase considerably the cost of capital of European companies whose main competitors are outside the EU.In Chapter III, we model both stocks and bonds theoretical prices and conduct simulations of their reaction to the introduction of the FTT. We find that both shares and bond prices will be negatively affected by the FTT, increasing the cost of capital, in the short and long run. Companies with high leverage and a low tax rate will see the price of their shares fall further than the price of shares of comparable, high-tax, leveraged companies. This suggests that EU should level all corporation tax rates, within the EU, prior to the introduction of the FTT. Finally, the FTT has an antagonistic effect to the Basel III regulation which seeks to increase the capital of banks, because at the same time it lowers the prices of securities issued by Banks. In conclusion, our original approach focusing on options, is fruitful. It makes possible to quantify the impact of FTT on volatility and allows a theoretical justification of the negative impact on asset prices found in empirical reviews of past experience of the introduction of a FTT.

This paper investigates the European CDS markets response to earnings announcements between the years 2011-2013. Through the use of event study methodology, we investigate if the CDS market reacts to earnings news in terms of abnormal spread changes. Furthermore, by exploring the pre- and post announcement window the study examines the efficiency of the CDS market. The results imply that earnings announcements provide valuable information to the CDS market, with statistically significant results on the 5 % and 10 % significant level for negative and positive news respectively. Additionally, the paper shows that the market has a rather symmetric reaction to negative and positive earnings news since there is no significant difference in effects. The paper further reveals that there is no significant difference in the response between different credit rating groups. In terms of market efficiency, the study cannot confirm that there is anticipation for earnings announcements. The study further shows that there is no post-earnings announcement drift in the CDS market and that the market, overall, is efficient in incorporating the information into the spreads. Finally, a cross-sectional regression analysis confirms that negative earnings surprises are linked to large announcement day reactions, while positive earnings surprises are not.

This thesis charts the evolution of the credit default swaps (CDS) market from its inception to the present day. The first part focuses on the principles of CDS trading, the differences between CDS and insurance, the structure of the markets and variation in their volumes during the period, the influence of CDS on the credit crisis and the current state of the market. The second part looks at AIG and the relationship between CDS and the problems of AIG. The final part looks at the regulation and standardisation of the CDS market and trend in the changes to those regulations.

This dissertation analyzes key features of credit derivatives market, basic risks of the products and trends the market has experienced for several years since its inception, discusses regulatory issues of the market with regard to the Basel II treatment and key reasons for investors using credit derivatives. Dissertation also examines whether and how credit derivatives affected current financial turmoil, analyzes credit derivatives losses of selected institutions on the financial markets and compares them with total losses of these institutions. The main result of the work is that there was no substantial effect of the credit derivatives market on the current financial crisis. Dissertation also examines whether there is any connection between U.S. banks credit derivatives trades and their capital adequacy ratio. According to the analysis, there is no evidence for credit derivatives to essentially affect capital adequacy ratio of U.S. banks. A potential explanation for the higher values of U.S. banks' capital adequacy ratio may be that there are sophisticated risk management strategies banks have been implicating for many years.