O crescente volume de transações e a diversidade no mercado de derivativos leva a busca de modelos mais sofisticados para a estimação do preço e o cálculo do risco nesse mercado. Associada a essa premissa em alguns momentos de grande liquidez mundial, círculos virtuosos de melhoria na economia mundial e queda dos prêmios de risco individuais dos títulos emitidos pelos países tidos como desenvolvidos (EUA, alguns países da comunidade européia e outros), os grandes investidores mundiais podem procurar alternativas em ativos financeiros de países em desenvolvimento que oferecem um retorno maior. A partir desses argumentos e do fato do aumento do volume de captação e da grande valorização de títulos da divida externa brasileira em 2003, foi escolhido modelar os contratos futuros de títulos da divida externa brasileira negociados na Bolsa de Mercadorias Futuro. O contrato futuro de títulos da divida externa brasileira é um derivativo do ativo objeto C-Bond ou Global40 ou EI Bond que envolve duas moedas distintas (o Real e o Dólar Norte Americano) no qual o retorno é obtido em termo de valores das variáveis medidas na moeda Dólar Norte Americano já que o título é cotado nessa moeda, porém o ajuste de mercado é denominado na moeda Real. Analogicamente no Estados Unidos da América existe um derivativo semelhante: o contrato futuro de NIKKEI225 negociados na bolsa de Chicago Mercantile Exchange para investidores norte-americanos. Esse contrato de NIKKEI225 é classificado por diversos autores em uma das categorias de Quanto Derivativo por ser um derivativo que envolve duas moedas distintas no qual o retorno é obtido em termo de valores das variáveis medidas na primeira moeda, sendo realizado na segunda moeda. Sendo assim, esta dissertação atribui qual categoria de Quanto Derivativo os contratos futuros de títulos da divida externa brasileira, estima o preço de mercado e calcula o risco de mercado do contrato futuro de C-Bond associando a estrutura de Quanto Derivativo. Embora em termos de atribuição da categoria esse contrato de C-Bond seja da categoria I de WEI (1997) devido ao fato da cotação da moeda (PTAX800) variar o longo dos dias até o vencimento, foi levantado uma possibilidade de ser atribuída a categoria II de WEI (1997) advindo de uma particularidade na cotação do mercado cambial brasileiro. Essa particularidade advinda do câmbio intermediário e da transação PTAX800, que é uma média ponderada do volume negociado no dia, é gerada devido à concentração dos negócios serem 12:00 a 13:00. Portanto com a informação do câmbio intermediário divulgado pelo Banco Central do Brasil é possível determinar antes do final do final com boa precisão o valor da transação PTAX800 e sendo assim abrir a possibilidade da classificação do contrato de C-Bond em categoria II por possuir a cotação da moeda fixa para esse dia. A modelagem de estimação de preço foi realizada para as duas categorias e obteve resultados pouco significativos que possa definir qual categoria seja a mais adequada. Já na modelagem de risco de mercado foi considerado o contrato de C-Bond como um Quanto Derivativo da categoria II e os resultados foram satisfatórios com a aprovação do Valor em Risco calculado baseado em KUPIEC (1995). / The increasing volume of transactions and the diversity in the market of derivatives more take the search of models sophisticated for the esteem of the price and the calculation of the risk in this market. Associated to this premise at some moments of great world-wide liquidity, virtuous circles of improvement in the world-wide economy and fall of the individual prices of risk of the headings emitted for the had countries as developed (U.S.A., some countries of the Europe Community and others), the great world-wide investors can look alternatives in financial assets of developing countries that offer a bigger return. To leave of these arguments and the fact of the increase of the volume of captation and the great valuation of headings of he divides external Brazilian in 2003, was chosen shape future contracts of negotiated headings of divides external Brazilian in the Bolsa de Mercadoria Futuro. The future contract of headings of divides external Brazilian is a derivative of the C-Bond or Global40 or EI Bond that involves two distinct currencies (the Real and the Dollar American North) in which the return is gotten in term of values of the variable measured in the currency Dollar American North since the heading is quoted in this currency, however the market adjustment is called in the Real currency. Similarity in the United States of America exists a similar derivative: the future contract of NIKKEI225 negotiated in the future market of Chicago Mercantile Exchange for North American investors. This contract of NIKKEI225 is classified by diverse authors in one of the categories of Quanto Derivative for being a derivative that involves two distinct currencies in which the return is gotten in term of values of the variable measured in the first currency, being carried through in the second currency. Being thus, this dissertation attributes which category of Quanto Derivative future contracts of headings of it divides external Brazilian, it esteem the market price and it calculates the risk of market of the future contract of C-Bond associating the structure of Quanto Derivative. Although in terms of attribution of the category this contract of C-Bond is of category I of WEI (1997) which had to the fact of the quotation of the currency (PTAX800) to vary the long one of the days until the expiration, a possibility of being attributed category II of WEI (1997) happened of a particularity in the quotation of the Brazilian cambial market was raised. This happened particularity of the intermediate exchange and transaction PTAX800, that is a weighed mean of the volume negotiated in the day, is generated due to concentration of the businesses to be 12:00 to 13:00. Therefore with the information of the intermediate exchange divulged by the Brazilian Central Bank it is possible to determine before the end of the end with good precision the value of transaction PTAX800 and being thus to open the possibility of the classification of the contract of C-Bond in category II for possessing the quotation of the fixed currency for this day. The modeling of price esteem was carried through for the two categories and got little resulted significant that can define which category are adjusted. Already in the modeling of market risk the contract of C-Bond was considered as one Quanto Derivative of category II and the results they had been satisfactory with the approval of the Value in Risk calculated based in KUPIEC (1995).

O crescente volume de transações e a diversidade no mercado de derivativos leva a busca de modelos mais sofisticados para a estimação do preço e o cálculo do risco nesse mercado. Associada a essa premissa em alguns momentos de grande liquidez mundial, círculos virtuosos de melhoria na economia mundial e queda dos prêmios de risco individuais dos títulos emitidos pelos países tidos como desenvolvidos (EUA, alguns países da comunidade européia e outros), os grandes investidores mundiais podem procurar alternativas em ativos financeiros de países em desenvolvimento que oferecem um retorno maior. A partir desses argumentos e do fato do aumento do volume de captação e da grande valorização de títulos da divida externa brasileira em 2003, foi escolhido modelar os contratos futuros de títulos da divida externa brasileira negociados na Bolsa de Mercadorias Futuro. O contrato futuro de títulos da divida externa brasileira é um derivativo do ativo objeto C-Bond ou Global40 ou EI Bond que envolve duas moedas distintas (o Real e o Dólar Norte Americano) no qual o retorno é obtido em termo de valores das variáveis medidas na moeda Dólar Norte Americano já que o título é cotado nessa moeda, porém o ajuste de mercado é denominado na moeda Real. Analogicamente no Estados Unidos da América existe um derivativo semelhante: o contrato futuro de NIKKEI225 negociados na bolsa de Chicago Mercantile Exchange para investidores norte-americanos. Esse contrato de NIKKEI225 é classificado por diversos autores em uma das categorias de Quanto Derivativo por ser um derivativo que envolve duas moedas distintas no qual o retorno é obtido em termo de valores das variáveis medidas na primeira moeda, sendo realizado na segunda moeda. Sendo assim, esta dissertação atribui qual categoria de Quanto Derivativo os contratos futuros de títulos da divida externa brasileira, estima o preço de mercado e calcula o risco de mercado do contrato futuro de C-Bond associando a estrutura de Quanto Derivativo. Embora em termos de atribuição da categoria esse contrato de C-Bond seja da categoria I de WEI (1997) devido ao fato da cotação da moeda (PTAX800) variar o longo dos dias até o vencimento, foi levantado uma possibilidade de ser atribuída a categoria II de WEI (1997) advindo de uma particularidade na cotação do mercado cambial brasileiro. Essa particularidade advinda do câmbio intermediário e da transação PTAX800, que é uma média ponderada do volume negociado no dia, é gerada devido à concentração dos negócios serem 12:00 a 13:00. Portanto com a informação do câmbio intermediário divulgado pelo Banco Central do Brasil é possível determinar antes do final do final com boa precisão o valor da transação PTAX800 e sendo assim abrir a possibilidade da classificação do contrato de C-Bond em categoria II por possuir a cotação da moeda fixa para esse dia. A modelagem de estimação de preço foi realizada para as duas categorias e obteve resultados pouco significativos que possa definir qual categoria seja a mais adequada. Já na modelagem de risco de mercado foi considerado o contrato de C-Bond como um Quanto Derivativo da categoria II e os resultados foram satisfatórios com a aprovação do Valor em Risco calculado baseado em KUPIEC (1995). / The increasing volume of transactions and the diversity in the market of derivatives more take the search of models sophisticated for the esteem of the price and the calculation of the risk in this market. Associated to this premise at some moments of great world-wide liquidity, virtuous circles of improvement in the world-wide economy and fall of the individual prices of risk of the headings emitted for the had countries as developed (U.S.A., some countries of the Europe Community and others), the great world-wide investors can look alternatives in financial assets of developing countries that offer a bigger return. To leave of these arguments and the fact of the increase of the volume of captation and the great valuation of headings of he divides external Brazilian in 2003, was chosen shape future contracts of negotiated headings of divides external Brazilian in the Bolsa de Mercadoria Futuro. The future contract of headings of divides external Brazilian is a derivative of the C-Bond or Global40 or EI Bond that involves two distinct currencies (the Real and the Dollar American North) in which the return is gotten in term of values of the variable measured in the currency Dollar American North since the heading is quoted in this currency, however the market adjustment is called in the Real currency. Similarity in the United States of America exists a similar derivative: the future contract of NIKKEI225 negotiated in the future market of Chicago Mercantile Exchange for North American investors. This contract of NIKKEI225 is classified by diverse authors in one of the categories of Quanto Derivative for being a derivative that involves two distinct currencies in which the return is gotten in term of values of the variable measured in the first currency, being carried through in the second currency. Being thus, this dissertation attributes which category of Quanto Derivative future contracts of headings of it divides external Brazilian, it esteem the market price and it calculates the risk of market of the future contract of C-Bond associating the structure of Quanto Derivative. Although in terms of attribution of the category this contract of C-Bond is of category I of WEI (1997) which had to the fact of the quotation of the currency (PTAX800) to vary the long one of the days until the expiration, a possibility of being attributed category II of WEI (1997) happened of a particularity in the quotation of the Brazilian cambial market was raised. This happened particularity of the intermediate exchange and transaction PTAX800, that is a weighed mean of the volume negotiated in the day, is generated due to concentration of the businesses to be 12:00 to 13:00. Therefore with the information of the intermediate exchange divulged by the Brazilian Central Bank it is possible to determine before the end of the end with good precision the value of transaction PTAX800 and being thus to open the possibility of the classification of the contract of C-Bond in category II for possessing the quotation of the fixed currency for this day. The modeling of price esteem was carried through for the two categories and got little resulted significant that can define which category are adjusted. Already in the modeling of market risk the contract of C-Bond was considered as one Quanto Derivative of category II and the results they had been satisfactory with the approval of the Value in Risk calculated based in KUPIEC (1995).

This research assessed market efficiency, volatility behaviour, asset pricing, and oil price risk exposure of the oil and gas companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange with the aim of providing fresh evidence on the pricing dynamics in this sector. In market efficiency analysis, efficient market hypothesis (EMH) and random walk hypothesis were tested using a mix of statistical tools such as Autocorrelation Function, Ljung-Box Q-Statistics, Runs Test, Variance Ratio Test, and BDS test for independence. To confirm the results from these parametric and non-parametric tools, technical trading and filter rules, and moving average based rules were also employed to assess the possibility of making abnormal profit from the stocks under study. In seasonality analysis, stock returns were tested for the day-of-the-week and month-of-the-year effects. Volatility processes, estimation, and forecasting were undertaken using both asymmetric and symmetric volatility models such as GARCH (1,1) and Threshold ARCH or TARCH (1,1,1) to investigate the volatility behaviour of stock returns. To determine the effect of an exogenous variable on volatility, Brent crude oil price was used in the models formulated as a variance regressor for the assessment of its impact on volatility. The models were then used to forecast the price volatility taking note of the forecasting errors for the determination of the most effective forecasting model. International oil price risk exposure of the oil and gas sector was measured using a multi-factor asset pricing model similar to that developed by Fama and French (1993). Factors used in the asset pricing model are assessed for statistical significance and relevance in the pricing of oil and gas stocks. Data used in the study were mainly the adjusted daily closing prices of oil and gas companies quoted on the exchange. Five indices of FTSE All Share, FTSE 100, FTSE UK Oil and Gas, FTSE UK Oil and Gas Producers, and FTSE AIM SS Oil and Gas were also included in the analysis. Our findings suggest that technical trading rules cannot be used to gain abnormal returns, which could be regarded as a sign for weak form market efficiency. The results from seasonality analysis have not shown any day-of-the-week or monthly effect in stock returns. The pattern of stock returns’ volatility can be estimated and forecasted, although the relationship between risk and return cannot be generalised. On a similar note, the relationship between volatility attributes and the efficient market hypothesis cannot be clearly established. However, we have established that volatility modelling can significantly measure the quantum of risk in the oil and gas sector. Market risk, oil price risk, size and book-to-market related factors in asset pricing models were found to be relevant in the determination of asset prices of the oil and gas companies.

This thesis deals with various issues regarding determinants of US corporate credit spreads. These spreads are estimated as the difference between yields to maturity for corporate bonds and default-free instruments (Treasury bonds) of the same maturity. Corporate credit spreads are considered as measures of default risk. However, the premium required by investors for holding risky rather than risk-free bonds will incorporate a compensation not only for the default risk but also for other factors related to corporate bonds such as market liquidity or tax differential between corporate and Treasury bonds. In this study we firstly examine the relationship between bond ratings and credit spreads given that bond rating changes are expected to carry some informational value for debt investors. The findings indicate that bond ratings generally carry some informational value for corporate bond investors. The Granger causal relationship is more evident for negative watch lists and during periods of uncertainty in financial markets. In line with previous studies, our results suggest that changes in credit spreads are significantly related to interest rate levels, systematic risk factors (Fama and French) factors and equity returns.

Usage of outputs from credit scoring models within decision-making process is often neglected in the existing literature. Nonetheless, it is a critical component of a successful lending process. This thesis introduces the concept of credit scoring and discusses steps typically employed within model development process. This thesis then provides an overview of how modeling outputs are typically used in lending. The thesis primarily focuses on definition of cut-offs points, policy and business rules, limit assignment and risk based pricing. The introduced approaches are modeled in the last part of the thesis.

The aim of the thesis is to present a robust conceptual framework for risk management of non-financial companies in order to improve decision making in the area of hedging with derivative instruments. Application of modern quantitative methods.

This thesis investigates systematic liquidity risk and short-term stock price reaction to large one-day price changes. We study 642 constituents of the FTSALL share index over the period from 1st July 1992 to 29th June 2007. We show that the US evidence of a priced systematic liquidity risk of Pastor and Stambaugh (2003) and Liu (2006) is not country-specific. Particularly, systematic liquidity risk is priced in the London Stock Exchange when Amihud's (2002) illiquidity ratio is used as a liquidity proxy. Given the importance of systematic liquidity risk in the asset pricing literature, we are interested in testing whether the different levels of systematic liquidity risk across stocks can explain the anomaly following large one-day price changes. Specifically, we expect that the stocks with high sensitivity to the fluctuations in aggregate market liquidity to be more affected by price shocks. We find that most liquid stocks react efficiently to price shocks, while the reactions of the least liquid stocks support the uncertain information hypothesis. However, we show that time-varying risk is more important than systematic liquidity risk in explaining the price reaction of stocks in different liquidity portfolios. Indeed, the time varying risk explains nearly all of the documented overreaction and underreaction following large one-day price changes. Our evidence suggests that the observed anomalies following large one-day price shocks are caused by the pricing errors arising from the use of static asset pricing models. In particular, the conditional asset pricing model of Harris et al. (2007), which allow both risk and return to vary systematically over time, explain most of the observed anomalies. This evidence supports the Brown et al. (1988) findings that both risk and return increase in a systematic fashion following price shocks.

<p>The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility &ldquo / smile&rdquo / curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant.</p>

<p>The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility &ldquo / smile&rdquo / curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The present mini-thesis seeks to explore and investigate the mathematical theory and concepts that underpins the valuation of derivative securities, particularly European plainvanilla options. The main argument that we emphasise is that novel models of option pricing, as is suggested by Hull and White (1987) [1] and others, must account for the discrepancy observed on the implied volatility curve. To achieve this we also propose that market volatility be modeled as random or stochastic as opposed to certain standard option pricing models such as Black-Scholes, in which volatility is assumed to be constant. / South Africa