CORPFIN 3502 - Options, Futures & Risk Management III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

This course examines the function and operation derivative markets serve in finance. To begin, the course identifies relationships that must hold in such markets if there are to be no arbitrage opportunities. The course then covers options pricing using the Binomial and Black-Scholes approach, as well as describing a wide range of futures and options dealing strategies, along with their applications to hedging and risk management. Currency and fixed-interest derivatives are also considered as well as swaps, options on futures and some alternative exotic options.

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Course Details

Course Code	CORPFIN 3502
Course	Options, Futures & Risk Management III
Coordinating Unit	Adelaide Business School
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Prerequisites	CORPFIN 2500
Assumed Knowledge	SACE Stage 2 Math. Studies & CORPFIN 2500 & ECON 2508; discrete & continuous compounding, how financial markets operate, stock & bond price valuation procedures, algebra & simple differentiation
Assessment	Exam/assignments/tests/tutorial work as prescribed at first lecture

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Shan Li

Semester 1 - Course Coordinator
Mr Gary Tan
gary.tan@adelaide.edu.au

Semester 2 - Course Coordinator
Dr Shan Li
shan.li02@adelaide.edu.au

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

This course is designed to provide coverage of the principles behind the pricing and utilisation of derivatives as an investment tool plus hedging instrument. This course is geared towards those students following a pathway incorporating finance in their study program. This course forms part of RG146 ASIC requirements for providing financial derivatives advice in Australia, plus covers a significant amount of the body of knowledge on derivatives required for CFA examinations.

Communication Skills

The continuing development of good inter-personal and communication skills is widely recognised as important for all graduates. This course specifically seeks to develop students’ abilities to participate in discussions in tutorials.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students should be able to:
1 Price American and European options
2 Price forward and futures contracts
3 Develop strategies to profit from mispriced derivative assets
4 Hedge underlying positions using derivatives

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1 and 2
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	3 and 4
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	3 and 4
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	3 and 4
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	3 and 4
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	3 and 4
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	3 and 4
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	3 and 4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Text Books
The core material that will be covered within the course is available on MyUni. However, it is also a requirement that you obtain a copy of one of the following texts and that you supplement your studies from the course-reader with one of these texts:

• Chance, Don .M, An Introduction to Derivatives and Risk Management.

• Kolb, R.W, Futures, Options & Swaps.

• Hull, J., Options, Futures and Other Derivatives.

• Das, Sundram, Derivatives Principles and Practice.

Any of the above texts will be of immense use. However, this course is based around the Australasian market for derivatives and as such some differences exist between the textbook and what is taught in the lectures. This course also follows closely the body of knowledge deemed necessary for completion of the CFA levels I to III exams.

Readings
The following articles are available on MyUni:
• ‘What Does an Option Pricing Model Tell Us About Option Prices?’ by Stephen Figlewski, Financial Analysts Journal, Sept-Oct 1989.
• ‘Risk Without Reward’ by James Glassman, The Browser – HARVARD magazine.
• ‘How Leeson Broke Barings’ by IFCI Risk Institute at www.newrisk.ifci.ch
• ‘Risk Management Lessons from Long-Term Capital Management’ by Philippe Jorion, European Financial Management Journal, 6:277-300, 2000.
• ‘Derivatives Debacles’ by Anatoli Kuprianov, Federal Reserve of Richmond, Economic Quarterly, 81:4, 1995.

Recommended Resources

Perdisco e-workbook: www.perdisco.com.au/login

An online study resource has been developed for this unit to help you learn the content that will be covered. Using hundreds of interactive practice questions and problem solving exercises, the e-workbook helps you make the most of your study time by offering:
• The chance to practice and revise each topic until you completely understand it
• Step-by-step feedback explaining why each answer you have given was correct or incorrect
• Help that’s available when you need it (even outside of normal class hours)
The e-workbook will provide unlimited access throughout the course and can be purchased online by credit card, money order, cheque or BPAY. Payment instructions are provided after registration.
To start using the e-workbook, visit www.perdisco.com.au/login and click on ‘Create a new account’.

Online Learning

Videos are available of the topics covered in the course and serve as a learning-aid, not a replacement for attending lectures as the material presented can differ slightly on an annual basis.

Other materials, including supplementary questions & answers, are also available on MyUni for students to work through in addition to the regular tutorial questions.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures
Learning and teaching for this course will be delivered through lectures, supplemented with the reading materials mentioned in 3.1. Students are also encouraged to utilise the recommended resources described in 3.2

Tutorials
Tutorial classes will be held weekly commencing second week of the semester. Membership of tutorial classes is to be finalised by the end of the second week of semester.

Tutorials are an important component of your learning in this course. The communication skills developed in tutorials by regularly and actively participating in discussions are considered to be most important by the School and are highly regarded by employers and professional bodies.

Consultation and Communication
Please check your student email and MyUni as course-related announcements are communicated via email and on MyUni.

Lecturer consultation times are advertised on MyUni course website.

Tutors will inform you of their consultation arrangements at your first tutorial. This information will also be placed on MyUni

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course, of private study outside of your regular classes.

Students in this course are expected to attend all lectures throughout the semester plus one tutorial class each week.

Learning Activities Summary

The course material is presented in 10 topics, as described below:

1. An Introduction to Futures Markets
2. Principles of Forward and Futures Pricing
3. Hedging with Futures
4. An Introduction to Options Markets
5. Basic Options Valuation
6. The Binomial Option Pricing Model
7. The Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model
8. Options Strategies and Risk Management for Individuals
9. Options on Futures, Currency Derivatives and Exotic Options
10. An Introduction to Swaps

Two case studies will also be examined during the semester. They are:
• The Demise of Long-Term Capital Management
• Barings Bank Collapse

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

The assessment components include:
o 1 classroom written test of a 1 hour duration (worth 20% towards your final grade)
o 1 group assignment (worth 15% towards your final grade)
o 1 closed-book final exam (worth 65% towards your final grade)

The assessment components are as follows:

Assesment	Due Date	Weighting	Related Learning Outcome
Written Test	Week 6 of Semester 1	20%	Focused on #1, #2 and #4 (Topics 1 - 5)
Group Assesment	Week 11 of Semester 1	15%	Focused on #3 and #4 (Topics 1 - 7)
Final Exam 3 hours closed book	See examinations office for date of exam.	65%	All
Total		100%

Assessment Related Requirements

1. The group assignment should be presented as a professional report for a client. As such the presentation and ‘readability’ of the document will be an important aspect in its assessment.

2. Example of a previous similar assignment will be posted on the MyUni site
3. To gain a pass for this course, a mark of at least 45% must be obtained on the examination as well as a total of at least 50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49.
4. Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment process.
5. Students in this course are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign) into the examination. The use of a calculator in the examination is permitted in this course.

Assessment Detail

A sample group assignment and a sample exam are provided for viewing on MyUni.

Submission

Presentation of Assignments
• Please retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
• Please attach an ‘Assignment Cover Sheet’, which is signed and dated by you before submission.
• All group assignments must be attached to a ‘Group Assignment Cover Sheet’, which must be signed and dated by all group members before submission. All team members are expected to contribute approximately equally to a group assignment.

Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments, which do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Late Assignment Submission
Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain a fair and equitable system. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. A late assignment (without prior arrangement) will be penalised by a 10% mark reduction for each day, or part thereof, that it is late.

Return of Assignments
Lecturer will aim to mark and return assignments to students within four (4) weeks of the due date with written feedback. Students are responsible for collecting their marked assignments from the Student Hub within 10 working days from the release of results.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator