University of Newcastle - ACFI3130: Derivative Securities

Investment concerns financial decision-making about where to place wealth to provide for future returns. Students develop an understanding of binomial option pricing, the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, put-call parity for equity options and are introduced to currency options. The use of futures and options, payoff structures for options and arbitrage bounds will also be examined. Focus is given to options on futures. Students engage in independent or collaborative work processes developing communication experience reflective of professional practice.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to: 

• comprehend the nature and pricing of options contracts together with their uses in portfolio management and risk reduction strategies;
• demonstrate what a futures contract is, how futures markets are organised, and the determinants of futures prices;
• interrelate the system of deposits, margins, and marking-to-market used by futures exchanges;
• interpret and explain speculation and hedging strategies using futures contracts, inclusive of reasons for imperfection;
• define the features of the major financial contracts traded on the Sydney Futures Exchange and analyse the speculation and hedging strategies using their futures contracts;
• explain the uses of forward-rate agreements;
• identify the major types and characteristics of options, distinguish between options and futures, and expound the factors that affect option prices;
• apply basic option pricing theorems, including put-call parity;
• examine the Black-Scholes and binomial option pricing models and how they are used to calculate option prices;
• explain the characteristics and uses of foreign currency options;
• work individually or in teams to analyse and communicate investment information leading to independent investment decision making; and,
• evaluate different financial paradigms and outcomes to inform and direct personal and professional learning.