Module overview
Financial markets form the source of a vast number of challenging computational problems. These are not only intellectually challenging from the point of view of computational modelling, but the financial sector is also an employer of a significant fraction of graduates of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
This module covers two aspects of the use of computational processing in Finance,
- The use of computation in the analysis of finance algorithmic instruments. This includes the use of statistical analysis and machine learning.
- The computation and programming concepts behind cryptocurrencies.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Analyse the strength and limitations of Blockchain technologies
- Describe the emerging variants of cryptocurrency-based decentralized system
- Identify the methods required to analyse information from financial data and trading systems.
- Explain the approaches required to calculate the price of options.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The concepts underlying Cryptocurrencies.
- The mathematical tools, and their computational implementations, underlying the subject
- Theoretical foundation of Blockchain technologies
- The concepts underlying computational finance
Syllabus
Part I: Data-driven models
a.Financial Instruments
b.Portfolio optimisation
c.Introduction to stochastic processes and the pricing of derivatives
d.Foundations of time series analysis
Part II: Foundations of Blockchain
a. Concepts underpinning Cryptocurrencies
b. Consensus in decentralized systems
c. Bitcoin mining
d. Platforms, tokens and Smart contracts
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 36 |
| Wider reading or practice | 20 |
| Completion of assessment task | 20 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 74 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Teaching space, layout and equipment required. Teaching will be in standard lecture rooms and time-tabled laboratory sessions in which students will need access to individual desktop computers running MATLAB and its Financial Toolbox. The introductory part will use several illustrations using this toolbox, but the second part of the module may be implemented in any programming language of convenience in discussion with the instructor. Due to time-tabled laboratory supervisions of advanced material, the number of students registered on this module may be capped according to lab capacity.
Textbooks
P. Brandimarte (2006). Numerical methods in finance and economics. Wiley.
Andreas M. Antonopoulos (2014). Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies. O'Reilly Media.
J. C. Hull (2017). Options, Futures and other Derivatives. Pearson.
Satoshi Nakamoto (2008). Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.
P. Wilmott, Paul Wilmott (2007). Paul Wilmott Introduces Quantitative Finance. Wiley.
Assessment
Summative
Summative assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Continuous Assessment | 25% |
| Final Assessment | 75% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External