15.437
Options and Futures Markets
Spring 2010
Instructor: John Carrington Cox
TA: Tara Kumari Bhandari
Section A:
TTh 1:00-2:30
(E51-145)
Section B: TTh 2:30-4:00
(E51-145)
Information:
A. Course
Description
This is a course about financial derivatives. The
main focus will be on options and futures. The course will
have a mixture of lectures and case discussions. The lectures
will emphasize fundamental economic principles. The cases
provide an opportunity to apply the principles in a variety of
situations.
B.
Prerequisites
The prerequisite for this course is 15.401 or
15.407.
C.
Materials
The text for the course is the seventh edition of
Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives by John Hull. It is
available in the bookstore. Please make sure that your book
contains the DerivaGem software. Suggested readings in the
text are given in the course outline.
The cases are included in the course reader. The
reader also contains suggested study questions for the
cases. Copies of some of the transparencies that will be used
in class are in the reader; others will be posted on the course
website.
D.
Exams
There will be two exams. Each will count for 50% of
the final grade. The first exam will be given in class on
Thursday, April 1. The second exam will be a take-home
exam. It will be given out at the end of class on Tuesday, May
11 and will be due in at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13. Both
exams will be open book and open notes.
E. Other Course
Requirements
1. Case Preparation. You should read
each case and think about the suggested study questions. No
written reports will be required, but you will certainly get more
from the course, and do better on the exams, if you put some extra
effort into the cases.
2. Problem Sets. Problem sets and
their solutions will be posted on the course website throughout the
semester. You should work the problems first and then compare
your answers to the solutions. The problem sets are an
important part of preparing for the exams.
Announcements
Recitation Schedule - Preliminary
May be subject to change.
Friday, February 12, 2:45-4:00p E51-145
Friday, February 19, 1:00p-2:30p E51-151
Friday, February 26, 1:00p-2:30p E51-061
Wednesday, March 10, 6:00p-7:30p E51-151
Tuesday, March 30, 6:00p-7:30p E51-151 (midterm review)
Friday, April 16, 1:00p-2:30p, E51-151
Friday, April 30, 1:00p-2:30p, E51-151
Friday, May 7, 1:00p-2:30p, E51-151 (final exam review)
Announced on
09 March 2010
2:49
p.m.
by Tara Kumari Bhandari
