Understanding the SABR Model for Option Pricing

Understanding the SABR Model for Option Pricing

When pricing options, one must always be careful to model the implied volatility of the instrument appropriately. This is not actually particularly easy, because implied volatility is, by definition, not observable in the market. It is essentially a value that, when...
Always remember your “hidden client”

Always remember your “hidden client”

Most of us like to think that our jobs are simple and straightforward. We get a specific task by our managers or bosses. And we then set out to accomplish that task to the best of our abilities. If we do a good job, our bosses reward us. If we do a bad job, they...
Beware of geeks bearing models

Beware of geeks bearing models

Modelling complex phenomena is as much an art as it is a science. The past twenty years have given us a number of examples where models have gone very badly wrong. These examples serve to demonstrate very clearly the inherent dangers of taking models too seriously....
How and why Product Control teams fail

How and why Product Control teams fail

Product control in the context of capital markets is one of the most important functions in any organisation that trades financial products. The timely, complete, and accurate reporting of profit and loss (P&L) is essential to the proper functioning of such a...