Product Description

The answer to trading profit growth lies in derivatives. All About Derivatives explains the major derivatives and their key features of each; vital mechanical issues such as storage, settle- ment, valuation, and payoff; and common types of risk and how to effectively hedge against them. Michael Durbin is known as a derivatives trader and manager for one of the world’s largest, most high-profile hedge funds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43636 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From the Back Cover

Everything you need to know about derivatives--what they are, how they work, and how they can enhance profits and control market risk

Financial derivatives, from standard put and call options to more complex strategies and combinations, are among the most versatile, powerful, and valuable tools available to investors. All About Derivatives introduces you to the many different types of derivatives, providing simple explanations and easy-to-follow methods for using each.

This straightforward, up-to-date examination covers all aspects of derivative contracts, explains techniques for pricing and trading them, shows how to use each to hedge risk or increase profits, and more. Avoiding complicated formulas and theories to focus on the information you need, it shows anyone--from individual investors to corporate risk managers--how derivatives work, how they fit into the larger world of investing, and why they can be the ideal trading vehicle for improving the financial performance of yourself or your organization.

Whatever your level of investing expertise, from beginner to veteran, All About Derivatives will give you the information you need to know:

• Contracts--forwards, futures, swaps, options, and credit derivatives
• Terms--volatility, arbitrage, the greeks, and many more
• Key mechanics--storage, settlement, valuation, and payoff
• Pricing methods and mathematics for determining fair value
• Hedging strategies for managing different types of risk
• Leverage--why it can be your best friend or worst enemy
• And more

About the Author

Michael Durbin is a veteran business systems analyst and project manager specializing in financial derivative trading systems. His projects include high-performance systems for Bank of America, Bank One, and a leading global hedge fund.

Customer Reviews

Best book for beginners
I haven't finished it yet, but this is a brilliant book and you feel that the author is in the room with you when you're reading it. He cuts though all the jargon in an easy and humorous style. The book is very clearly laid out and answers exactly what you need to know (eg. What is a swap? What are futures? How do you price a swap?). It's a fantastic way to build up your business knowledge.

I would really recommend this book to anyone who is new or has a passing knowledge of derivatives. I work in IT in interest rate derivatives and this book is by far the best I've bought. The other one I bought was Andrew Chisholm's 'Derivatives Demystified: A Step-by-Step Guide to Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options' which I think isn't as good, so if I had a choice to pick between these two books, I'd definitely go for Durbin.

Excellent introduction
I can fully recommend this book as an introduction for people that are totally new to the area. The first half is a clear introduction to various types of derivative, while the second half goes into more detail on the pricing of derivatives.

Great for fundamentals
One of the most difficult tasks for a writer of DIY and LIY books is conveying complex processes is easy to understand language. Michael Durbin has successfully acheived this; explaining the fundamentals of derivatives in concise laymens terminology with myriad of analogies and examples. As a business analyst working with both IT and IR derivatives trader, I have found this book to be the best I have read so far. The book provides the reader with a solid platform from which to delve into more complex mathematically-based books such as Hull and Fabozzi. Thoroughly recommended for the derivatives beginner or for those seeking a high level understanding of the complex derivatives world.