FINC6010: Semester 2, 2022

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Units FINC6010 Semester 2 2022 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

FINC6010: Derivative Securities

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit provides an introduction to derivative securities like options, futures and swaps. These securities are derived from fundamental securities such as equities and bonds. The unit examines the nature of each type of derivative security before a thorough treatment of the pricing and use of these securities for investment management and risk management purposes.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	FINC6010
Academic unit	Finance
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	FINC5001
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Quan Gan, quan.gan@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Final exam Short answer questions	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test (Record+)	Mid-semester exam Multiple-Choice Questions	25%	Week 08 Due date: 21 Sep 2022 at 14:00	50 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment Written report	25%	Week 11	10 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type B final exam ? = Type B in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Mid-semester exam: This is a closed-book exam covering the material for weeks 1-5.
Assignment: This is a group assignment and will involve solving a practical problem using derivative pricing and risk-management techniques. Each group may have up to 6 students, and members of a group may come from different lecture streams and/or tutorial groups.
Final exam: This is a closed-book exam and will assess all the material covered in this unit.

Detailed information for each assessment will be released on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Derivatives securities: introduction and examples	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Futures markets and central counterparties	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Hedging strategies using futures	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Determination of forward and futures prices	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Swaps	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Mechanics of options markets	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Properties of stock options	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	In-semester exam	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Trading strategies involving options	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Option pricing using binomial trees	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Option pricing using Black–Scholes–Merton model	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	The Greek letters	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Information and trading, and review	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, Global Edition, 11th edition by John C. Hull,

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 11th edition (4 October 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 880 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1292410655
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1292410654

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. identify and distinguish between the various forms of derivatives instruments
LO2. apply futures strategies for long and short hedge
LO3. apply option strategies such as covered calls, spreads and combinations
LO4. price options, futures and swaps
LO5. utilise options and futures contracts for portfolio management purposes.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

More background information and guidance will be offered with the assignment.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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