NMAK16015U Cancelled Optimal Stopping with Applications
MSc Programme in Actuarial Mathematics
The theory of optimal stopping is concerned with the problem of choosing a time to take a particular action. Some applications are:
- The valuation/pricing of financial products/contracts
where the holder has the right to exercise the contract at
any time before the date of expiration is
equivalent to solving optimal stopping problems.
Examples:
1. American options in finance
2. Surrender options in life insurance
3. Prepayment of mortage loans - In financial engineering, where the problem is to
determine an optimal time to sell an asset. Examples
1. Optimal prediction problem, to sell the asset when the price is, or close to, the ultimate maximum.
2. Mean-variance stopping problem, to sell the asset so as to maximise the return and to minimise the risk.
The content of the course.
Optimal stopping:
- Definitions
- General theory
- Methods of solutions
Areas of applications:
- Pricing financial products with exercise feature in mathematical finance or life insurance
- Financial engineering
Knowledge:
Optimal stopping theory and applications to finance or life insurance
Skills:
At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to
- Apply general theory of optimal stopping
- Apply methods for solutions of examples of optimal stopping
- Pricing American option
Competences:
To make the student operational and to give the student knowledge in applications of optimal stopping in finance or life insurance
Book and articles
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 177
- Exam
- 1
- Total
- 206
There will be provided feedback during the course based on exercises at the lectures.
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination30-minute oral exam without time for preparation
- Aid
The student may bring notes to the oral exam, but they are only allowed to consult these in the first minute after they have drawn a question. After that, all notes must be put away.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
- Re-exam
As the ordinary exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
The student must in a satisfactory way demonstrate that he/she has mastered the learning outcome of the course.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NMAK16015U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- No limit
- Course is also available as continuing and professional education
- Study board
- Study Board of Mathematics and Computer Science
Contracting department
- Department of Mathematical Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Jesper Lund Pedersen (jesper@math.ku.dk)