Dynamic Hedging is the definitive source on derivatives risk. It provides a real-world methodology for managing portfolios containing any nonlinear security. It presents risks from the vantage point of the option market maker and arbitrage operator.

Introduction Dynamic Hedging 1

Part 1 Markets, Instruments, People

1 Introduction to the Instruments 9

2 The Generalized Option 38

3 Market Making and Market Using 48

4. Liquidity and Liquidity Holes 68

5 Arbitrage and the Arbitrageurs 80

6 Volatility and Correlation 88

Part II Measuring Option Risks

7 Adapting Black-Scholes-Merton: The Delta 115

8 Gamma and Shadow Gamma 132

9 Vega and the Volatility Surface 147

10 Theta and Minor Greeks 167

11 The Greeks and Their Behavior 191

12 Fungibility, Convergence, and Stacking 208

13 Some Wrinkles of Option Markets 222

14 Bucketing and Topography 229

15 Beware the Distribution 238

16 Option Trading Concepts 256

Part III Trading and Hedging Exotic Options

17 Binary Options: European Style 273

18 Binary Options: American Style 295

19 Barrier Options (I) 312

20 Barrier Options (II) 347

21 Compound, Choosers, and Higher Order Options 376

22 Multiasset Options 383

23 Minor Exotics: Lookback and Asian Options 403

Part IV Modules

Module A Brownian Motion on a Spreadsheet, a Tutorial 415

Module B Risk Neutrality Explained 426

Module C Numeraire Relativity and the Two-Country Paradox 431

Module D Correlation Triangles: A Graphical Case Study 438

Module E The Value-at-Risk 445

Module F Probabilistic Rankings in Arbitrage 453

Module G Option Pricing 459

Notes 479

Bibliography 490

Index 499 

Dynamic Hedging is the definitive source on derivatives risk. It provides a real-world methodology for managing portfolios containing any nonlinear security. It presents risks from the vantage point of the option market maker and arbitrage operator. The only book about derivatives risk written by an experienced trader with theoretical training, it remolds option theory to fit the practitioner's environment. As a larger share of market exposure cannot be properly captured by mathematical models, noted option arbitrageur Nassim Taleb uniquely covers both on-model and off-model derivatives risks.

The author discusses, in plain English, vital issues, including:
* The generalized option, which encompasses all instruments with convex payoff, including a trader's potential bonus.
* The techniques for trading exotic options, including binary, barrier, multiasset, and Asian options, as well as methods to take into account the wrinkles of actual, non-bellshaped distributions.
* Market dynamics viewed from the practitioner's vantage point, including liquidity holes, portfolio insurance, squeezes, fat tails, volatility surface, GARCH, curve evolution, static option replication, correlation instability, Pareto-Levy, regime shifts, autocorrelation of price changes, and the severe flaws in the value at risk method.
* New tools to detect risks, such as higher moment analysis, topography exposure, and nonparametric techniques.
* The path dependence of all options hedged dynamically

Dynamic Hedging is replete with helpful tools, market anecdotes, at-a-glance risk management rules distilling years of market lore, and important definitions. The book contains modules in which the fundamental mathematics of derivatives, such as the Brownian motion, Ito's lemma, the numeraire paradox, the Girsanov change of measure, and the Feynman-Kac solution are presented in intuitive practitioner's language.

Dynamic Hedging is an indispensable and definitive reference for market makers, academics, finance students, risk managers, and regulators.

The definitive book on options trading and risk management

"If pricing is a science and hedging is an art, Taleb is a virtuoso." --Bruno Dupire, Head of Swaps and Options Research, Paribas Capital Markets

"This is not merely the best book on how options trade, it is the only book." --Stan Jonas, Managing Director, FIMAT-Société Générale

"Dynamic Hedging bridges the gap between what the best traders know and what the best scholars can prove." --William Margrabe, President, The William Margrabe Group, Inc.

"The most comprehensive, insightful, intuitive work on the subject. It is instrumental for both beginning and experienced traders."--

"A tour de force. That rare find, a book of great practical and theoretical value. Taleb successfully bridges the gap between the academic and the real world. Interesting, provocative, well written. Each chapter worth a fortune to any current or prospective derivatives trader."--Victor Niederhoffer, Chairman, Niederhoffer Investments

Partial table of contents: MARKETS, INSTRUMENTS, PEOPLE. The Generalized Option. Liquidity and Liquidity Holes. Volatility and Correlation. MEASURING OPTION RISKS. Gamma and Shadow Gamma. Theta and Minor Greeks. Fungibility, Convergence, and Stacking. Bucketing and Topography. Beware the Distribution. TRADING AND HEDGING EXOTIC OPTIONS. Binary Options: European Style. Compound, Choosers, and Higher Order Options. Multiasset Options. MODULES. Risk Neutrality Explained. Correlation Triangles: A Graphical Case Study. Probabilistic Rankings in Arbitrage. Option Pricing. Notes. Bibliography. Index.