More about derivatives

Sup guys?

I've been trying to educate myself on derivatives lately and I am wondering if anyone could point me towards some good resources. Specifically, I am looking to learn more about swaps, options, futures, and forwards.

Thanks

20 Comments
 

What a lot of traders have told me is that Hull is informative but it doesn't look at derivs from a trader's perspective (or just their perspective maybe?).

They recommended Natenberg.

I don't accept sacrifices and I don't make them. ... If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade at all. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud.
 
manbearpigIf you want to learn pricing, go with Shreve (stochastic calculus for finance vols I and II). Hull has more breadth but far less depth.

lol... if you just start to learn derivatives and have no math background, then don't start with Shreve. But on the hand, you may be a ninja. If that's the case, Øksendal and Karatzes & Shreve are also great to learn pricing.

 

natenberg is too complicated for a beginner. Options, Plain & Simple is the best introductory text ive read. also the classes on 888options.com are good

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Best Response

A sort of easy reading book would be Derivative Markets by McDonald. Goes through the basics and then some.

A rule of thumb to distinguish European and American options: "Think of a mother and daughter you would like to f*ck. Buy an American put option on the mother and an European call on the daughter, with maturity on her 18 birthday. Then you strangle her."

That is the only thing my professor taught me back in UG about options that stuck with me.

CNBC sucks "This financial crisis is worse than a divorce. I've lost all my money, but the wife is still here." - Client after getting blown up
 
Working9-5 A rule of thumb to distinguish European and American options: "Think of a mother and daughter you would like to f*ck. Buy an American put option on the mother and an European call on the daughter, with maturity on her 18 birthday. Then you strangle her."

I have NEVER laughed this hard.

"Every man should lose a battle in his youth, so he does not lose a war when he is old"
 

Manbearpig: Damn... you're right.

CNBC sucks "This financial crisis is worse than a divorce. I've lost all my money, but the wife is still here." - Client after getting blown up
 

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