Course Catalogue

Derivative Securities ACCFIN4040

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course provides an understanding of the main derivative financial instruments: futures, swaps and options. It explains the trading mechanisms used on derivative markets, the fundamental principles underlying the pricing of derivative instruments and their use in portfolio management.

Timetable

Lectures: One 2-hour lecture a week for 10 weeks

Tutorials: One 1-hour tutorial a week for 8 weeks.

Requirements of Entry

Grade D3 or above in Finance 2.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1. Written Assignment, including Essay; Individual; 1250 words; 25%; ILOs 1-4.

2. Degree exam: in-person; Individual; 120 minutes; 75%; ILOs 1-6.

Main Assessment In: December

Course Aims

The course provides an understanding of the uses and the valuation of the main derivative financial instruments: futures, swaps and options. It covers the trading mechanisms used on derivative markets and explains the fundamental principles underlying the pricing of derivative instruments and their use in portfolio management. Particular attention is paid to the practicalities of using derivative instruments for risk management purposes. The course also provides an introduction to the working of the foreign exchange market and the instruments traded thereon. Related institutional aspects are introduced where necessary.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Analyse how futures and forwards can be used by hedgers and speculators.

2. Evaluate the price and the value of forward (futures) contracts.

3. Perform valuation of an interest rate swap and a currency swap.

4. Discuss how option payoffs are determined.

5. Discuss the use of a variety of option trading strategies and apply the put-call parity theorem.

6. Evaluate the fair value of an option contract using the binomial option pricing model and the Black-Scholes- Merton option pricing model.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions