Stochastic Finance

This is the third, revised and extended edition of the classical introduction to the mathematics of finance, based on stochastic models in discrete time. In the first part of the book simple one-period models are studied, in the second part the idea of dynamic hedging of contingent claims is developed in a multiperiod framework. Due to the strong appeal and wide use of this book, it is now available as a textbook with exercises. It will be of value for a broad community of students and researchers. It may serve as basis for graduate courses and be also interesting for those who work in the financial industry and want to get an idea about the mathematical methods of risk assessment.

Auteur

Hans Föllmer, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Alexander Schied, Universität Mannheim.

Résumé

This book is an introduction to financial mathematics. It is intended for graduate students in mathematics and for researchers working in academia and industry.

The focus on stochastic models in discrete time has two immediate benefits. First, the probabilistic machinery is simpler, and one can discuss right away some of the key problems in the theory of pricing and hedging of financial derivatives. Second, the paradigm of a complete financial market, where all derivatives admit a perfect hedge, becomes the exception rather than the rule. Thus, the need to confront the intrinsic risks arising from market incomleteness appears at a very early stage.

The first part of the book contains a study of a simple one-period model, which also serves as a building block for later developments. Topics include the characterization of arbitrage-free markets, preferences on asset profiles, an introduction to equilibrium analysis, and monetary measures of financial risk.

In the second part, the idea of dynamic hedging of contingent claims is developed in a multiperiod framework. Topics include martingale measures, pricing formulas for derivatives, American options, superhedging, and hedging strategies with minimal shortfall risk.

This third revised and extended edition now contains more than one hundred exercises. It also includes new material on risk measures and the related issue of model uncertainty, in particular a new chapter on dynamic risk measures and new sections on robust utility maximization and on efficient hedging with convex risk measures.