Futures, Options, and Swaps
by Robert W. Kolb
|
List Price: $105.95
Our Price: $51.47
Your Save: $ 54.48 ( 51% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Wiley-Blackwell
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.645
EAN: 9781405150491
ISBN: 1405150491
Label: Wiley-Blackwell
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 840
Publication Date: 2007-03-05
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Studio: Wiley-Blackwell
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Coverage of Several Types of Financial Derivatives
Comment: "Futures, Options and Swaps" offers good coverage of several major types of financial derivatives (futures, options and swaps). This book was a core reading for one of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) examinations when I took such examinations a number of years ago...a strong suggestion that this is an authoritative publication in the financial sector.
Robert Kolb does a good job covering the subject matter from the perspective of how to accomplish something with a future, option or swap. Moreover, Kolb makes a point of consistently offering commentary as to why one might use a certain financial instrument for a given task/problem.
For those readers with an interest in learning more about futures, options and swaps, this is a good source of information.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much better than many realize
Comment: Let's face it: the big Kahuna in this space is Hull's 6th Edition of "Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" (I actually prefer the 5th Edition), which is frequently referred to as "The Bible" by financial quants. Paul Wilmott's two volume "Quantitative Finance" also has a solid following, in addition to growing appreciation for Mark Joshi's "The Concepts and Practice of Mathematical Finance." Robert Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps" therefore is often confined to an "also-ran" and treated as unserious because of its inclusion in the CFA curriculum. This is unfair, and for most undergraduate and MBA students who are not destined for derivatives dealing desks, and even many who are, Kolb is the better volume.
Critics of Hull frequently cite that he is dry and technical to the point of somnolence. For Wilmott the opposite is the case. Critics hold his tone is flippant and that he glosses over major dimensions. My own view is these harsh reactions to these fine authors are exaggerations, but do have some evidence to support their expression. This, as a professor, leads me to the conclusion that for many students the author's tone is a major factor in their successful engagement with a fundamental teaching text.
This leads me to Kolb's excellent works. Many undergraduate and some MBA students of derivatives use "Hull lite" ("Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets"), but I encourage the wider adoption and use of Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps." Kolb is superior to Hull for tone, accessibility, lucidity, and utility. Where Hull reaches for a completist coverage of obscure pricing models, Kolb's coverage is instead complete in a practical sense, while not abandoning treatment of less well-known options and their pricing models. Kolb's clarity is commendable, and never dry. Kolb does not gloss over or ignore difficult topics, and his style is never pedantic or superficial.
This text does, however, contain any number of horrible errors and editing snafus that frustrate the reader. The errata sheet from the publisher does little to ameliorate the pain from these howlers. One wonders how a book can contain so many errors in such a competitive field. But it is fairly easily explained: because of Kolb's adoption by the CFA curriculum, there is a floor of near guaranteed sales that creates a non-competitive economic rent.
I particularly recommend Kolb over Hull and Wilmott for those students whose background is not mathematics, engineering, or hard sciences. While the book is technical, it is not written in near-code geek speak. For my MBA students who are "poets" rather than "rocket scientists" Kolb wins as hands down favorite. Hull remains excellent for experts, PhD students, technicians, and pricing specialists, however, Kolb certainly deserves wider respect and use by the majority of students of derivatives. In short, while flawed, Kolb is an excellent and accessible work. I recommend the wide adoption of Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps," and in fact, all his other works, for most students of finance.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This book delivers on its title
Comment: After studying this book, you will know the technical intricacies of futures, options, and swaps. It has also excellent definitions of all the "Greek" risk measures (Delta, Vega, Gamma, etc...).
The book is well organized. The chapter sequence makes good sense. This is a good book overall.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I bought it becasue I had to....
Comment: Many of us ended up with this book on the shelf because it was recommended by the AIMR for the CFA course. This book was so badly edited that it was distracting - figures in tables not matching figures in the text, some calculations just plain wrong, and everything covered at a very superficial level. This had the potential to bridge the gap between a Hull-type presentation and an undergrad-type. Sadly, this book really disappoints.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive book on Derivatives
Comment: Got many books on derivatives, but Kolb's is my favourite one. He covers the topic in a slightly less quantitative way than Hull does and goes straight to all the different derivatives while avoiding any further explanations like Ito's Lemma etc. I especially liked the part on swaps with many examples like flavoured swaps or equity swaps. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a good software, than I would recommend The Complete Guide to Option Pricing Formulas (build on Excel VBA).
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Coverage of Several Types of Financial Derivatives
Comment: "Futures, Options and Swaps" offers good coverage of several major types of financial derivatives (futures, options and swaps). This book was a core reading for one of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) examinations when I took such examinations a number of years ago...a strong suggestion that this is an authoritative publication in the financial sector.
Robert Kolb does a good job covering the subject matter from the perspective of how to accomplish something with a future, option or swap. Moreover, Kolb makes a point of consistently offering commentary as to why one might use a certain financial instrument for a given task/problem.
For those readers with an interest in learning more about futures, options and swaps, this is a good source of information.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much better than many realize
Comment: Let's face it: the big Kahuna in this space is Hull's 6th Edition of "Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" (I actually prefer the 5th Edition), which is frequently referred to as "The Bible" by financial quants. Paul Wilmott's two volume "Quantitative Finance" also has a solid following, in addition to growing appreciation for Mark Joshi's "The Concepts and Practice of Mathematical Finance." Robert Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps" therefore is often confined to an "also-ran" and treated as unserious because of its inclusion in the CFA curriculum. This is unfair, and for most undergraduate and MBA students who are not destined for derivatives dealing desks, and even many who are, Kolb is the better volume.
Critics of Hull frequently cite that he is dry and technical to the point of somnolence. For Wilmott the opposite is the case. Critics hold his tone is flippant and that he glosses over major dimensions. My own view is these harsh reactions to these fine authors are exaggerations, but do have some evidence to support their expression. This, as a professor, leads me to the conclusion that for many students the author's tone is a major factor in their successful engagement with a fundamental teaching text.
This leads me to Kolb's excellent works. Many undergraduate and some MBA students of derivatives use "Hull lite" ("Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets"), but I encourage the wider adoption and use of Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps." Kolb is superior to Hull for tone, accessibility, lucidity, and utility. Where Hull reaches for a completist coverage of obscure pricing models, Kolb's coverage is instead complete in a practical sense, while not abandoning treatment of less well-known options and their pricing models. Kolb's clarity is commendable, and never dry. Kolb does not gloss over or ignore difficult topics, and his style is never pedantic or superficial.
This text does, however, contain any number of horrible errors and editing snafus that frustrate the reader. The errata sheet from the publisher does little to ameliorate the pain from these howlers. One wonders how a book can contain so many errors in such a competitive field. But it is fairly easily explained: because of Kolb's adoption by the CFA curriculum, there is a floor of near guaranteed sales that creates a non-competitive economic rent.
I particularly recommend Kolb over Hull and Wilmott for those students whose background is not mathematics, engineering, or hard sciences. While the book is technical, it is not written in near-code geek speak. For my MBA students who are "poets" rather than "rocket scientists" Kolb wins as hands down favorite. Hull remains excellent for experts, PhD students, technicians, and pricing specialists, however, Kolb certainly deserves wider respect and use by the majority of students of derivatives. In short, while flawed, Kolb is an excellent and accessible work. I recommend the wide adoption of Kolb's "Futures, Options, and Swaps," and in fact, all his other works, for most students of finance.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This book delivers on its title
Comment: After studying this book, you will know the technical intricacies of futures, options, and swaps. It has also excellent definitions of all the "Greek" risk measures (Delta, Vega, Gamma, etc...).
The book is well organized. The chapter sequence makes good sense. This is a good book overall.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I bought it becasue I had to....
Comment: Many of us ended up with this book on the shelf because it was recommended by the AIMR for the CFA course. This book was so badly edited that it was distracting - figures in tables not matching figures in the text, some calculations just plain wrong, and everything covered at a very superficial level. This had the potential to bridge the gap between a Hull-type presentation and an undergrad-type. Sadly, this book really disappoints.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive book on Derivatives
Comment: Got many books on derivatives, but Kolb's is my favourite one. He covers the topic in a slightly less quantitative way than Hull does and goes straight to all the different derivatives while avoiding any further explanations like Ito's Lemma etc. I especially liked the part on swaps with many examples like flavoured swaps or equity swaps. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a good software, than I would recommend The Complete Guide to Option Pricing Formulas (build on Excel VBA).
A new and updated edition of the most readable, comprehensive text available on derivatives markets.
- Utilizes an even more applied approach than previous editions
- Provides an excellent balance between introductory and advanced topics
- Extensively updated to incorporate and explicate development in the field including the areas of electronic trading platforms, globalization of markets, hedge funds, financial scandals involving derivatives, and government regulation
- Revised to include over 50 text boxes with applied vignettes on topical issues, product profiles, and historical anecdotes
|
|
|
|
|
|
| eFinancialDistrict Market Place |
| Private For Sale.com | For a FREE Home EvaluationClick here | |
| American Consumer Credit Counseling | There IS An Option To Avoid Bankruptcy... Click here To Find Out How! | |
| Planet Loan | Get Free Debt Consolidation Quotes! Click here to lower your monthly payments. | |
| LowerMyBills.com | You Don't Need Perfect Credit to Refinance & Save $1000s. Compare Quotes from up to 4 lenders at LowerMyBills.com | |
| Credit Repair | Bad Credit cost you money in higher interest rates Click here to learn proven methods of repairing your credit. | |
|
What is eFinancialDistrict Market Place?
eFinancialDistrict is a full-featured finance and accounting portal, and this book store is a part of it.
Since the book store selectively offers finance and accounting books and other related products,
our guess is that you are also interested in various finance and banking services.
This market place lists links to those services. Half of services offer you free information for you
to find out more about those services. Of course, it is completely free to request information.
If you find something interesting, just click on it! |
|
|
