Blog Posts

Gold attracts traders/investors for its potential to hedge against currency devaluation, inflation (over the long run), and economic/geopolitical unknowns. Two popular instruments for gold trading or investment are gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commonly represented (most commonly) by GLD, and gold futures, denoted by GC. Each offers distinct features, benefits, and risks.   Key Takeaways – […]

The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and S&P 500 Futures (ES) are two popular financial instruments. Both derive their value from the S&P 500 index, yet they differ a lot in terms of structure, trading characteristics, and their use in trading/investment strategies.   Key Takeaways – S&P 500 ETF vs. S&P 500 Futures (SPY vs. ES) […]

Volterra processes are used in various fields, including finance and economics. They’re known for their versatility in modeling memory effects and non-Markovian dynamics that are often encountered in real-world systems.   Key Takeaways – Volterra Processes Memory Effect Volterra processes incorporate history or “memory” of past values. Allows traders to model asset prices with more […]

Weather derivatives are financial instruments that can be used to hedge or speculate on the impact of weather conditions, such as temperature, rainfall, or snowfall. These instruments are used by businesses whose financial performance is significantly affected by weather, such as agriculture, energy, and tourism sectors. There are various models used to price and manage […]

Energy derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from the underlying energy products like oil, natural gas, electricity, or renewables. These derivatives are commonly used for hedging and speculative purposes. This allows traders to manage or take on the risk associated with the price volatility of energy commodities.   Key Takeaways – Energy Derivative […]

Lattice models have widespread use in the valuation of financial derivatives, risk management, and trading/investment strategy development. They provide a structured, discrete framework for modeling the evolution of financial variables over time. This makes them most useful in scenarios where continuous models are either too complex or inappropriate.   Key Takeaways – Lattice Models Flexibility […]

The Stochastic Alpha, Beta, Rho (SABR) model is widely used in financial engineering in the context of interest rate derivatives pricing. It’s designed to capture the volatility smile in derivatives markets. The SABR model is a type of stochastic volatility model and was developed by Patrick Hagan, Deep Kumar, Andrew Lesniewski, and Diana Woodward in […]

Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models are a class of macroeconomic models that are widely used in economic research and policy analysis.   Key Takeaways – Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) Models Macro-to-Micro Insights DSGE models integrate macroeconomic theories with microeconomic foundations. When done well, offer a comprehensive view of economic dynamics and policy impacts. […]

Structured product design in finance involves the creation of financial instruments that are tailored to meet specific investment objectives or risk-return profiles. These products are often combinations of traditional assets like stocks and bonds with derivatives such as options, futures, or swaps.   Key Takeaways – Structured Product Design Customization to Meet Specific Needs Structured […]

Positive and negative feedback loops in financial markets are concepts that can contribute to systemic risk. They can lead to market volatility and even crises in extreme circumstances. These loops are mechanisms through which the dynamics of financial markets can either self-reinforce (positive feedback) or self-correct (negative feedback).   Key Takeaways – Positive & Negative […]