Demystifying Derivatives

This course provides students with the basic reasons people use derivatives and takes some of the mystery and jargon out of this often arcane and misunderstood market. The course describes the market participants and delineates the products into three primary product lines: Futures & Forwards, Options, and Swaps. Starting with market participants who make use of derivative products, this course then layers on the derivative products they use. Perhaps most importantly, it discusses why they use these products. Uses and applications are covered in a real-world market sensitive nature using the concerns of today's risk managers.


Anyone who has ever asked ''What are derivative products?''; Anyone whose daily job brings them into contact with derivative users and would like to have a broader understanding. Asset Managers, Trading Assistants, Sales Assistants, Compliance Managers.
No advance preparation required.
Students will be able to:
  • Define derivative market participants
  • Identify the primary product areas: futures/forwards, options & swaps.
  • Describe the ways in which each user group uses each derivative product
  • Translate their own market opinion or market risk into a derivative strategy which fits those needs
Basic capital market concepts: how & why corporations raise money (debt or equity) and who trades those products in the market.
  • Essentials of Derivative Products in a Post-Crisis Market - Evening (formerly Fundamentals of Derivatives)
  • Derivative Products I
  • Derivative Products I & II Suite - Intensive
  • Derivatives Suite: Strategies, Trading & Valuation
  • Financial Planning and Fixed Income
    Market Participants
    • Corporations (borrowers of money)
    • Banks & Asset Managers (lenders of money)
    • Speculators
    • Arbitrageurs

    The Derivative Products

    • Futures & Forwards
    • Options
    • Swaps

    Uses & Applications

    • Why each market participant would use futures/forwards, options & swaps
    • How each market participants would use futures/forwards, options & swaps
    • Strategy selection - comparing and contrasting choice
    • Our own strategy selection: we'll design a strategy as a group based on our own market opinion

    Clients who register for this course will receive a complimentary 4-month subscription to FT.com. The Financial Times is the world's most respected financial newspaper, providing a broad assessment on finance, business and the industrial sector. The move to the electronic version follows an ongoing review of our environmental responsibilities as a global business and as part of the Pearson group. FT.com also has features that are not available in hard copy, such as: Special Reports, Alphaville, editor blogs, education sections and much more! Subscriptions will start within 6-8 weeks of the start of class and are limited to one subscription per client. (Please note: as of May 1, 2011, the electronic subscription replaces the hard-copy 3-month Financial Times subscription.)

    Lunch is included for all students taking day classes.