Risk control and derivative pricing have become of major concern to financial institutions. The need for adequate statistical tools to measure and anticipate the amplitude of the potential moves of financial markets is clearly expressed, in particular for derivative markets. Classical theories, however, are based on simplified assumptions and lead to a systematic (and sometimes dramatic) underestimation of real risks. Theory of Financial Risk and Derivative Pricing summarises recent theoretical developments, some of which were inspired by statistical physics. Starting from the detailed analysis of market data, one can take into account more faithfully the real behaviour of financial markets (in particular the ‘rare events’) for asset allocation, derivative pricing and hedging, and risk control.



ReviewFrom reviews of the first edition: '... provides a very useful stepping stone to understand the limitations of the Black-Scholes world to that of a more generalized theory of financial markets ... Bouchard and Potters will then provide the reader with an insight and generalization that they may otherwise miss with direct application of more 'traditional' theory to the financial markets. To the experienced reader of financial theory, the book provides a useful reminder of the limitations of traditional theories and a number of useful tools that can be used in the more generalized world of financial risk.' David A. Scott C. Math. FIMA, Mathematics Today 'This book does not try to be a comprehensive text on theoretical finance, but instead picks out classical problems in finance that are overlooked by the generalizations introduced by beautiful, ideal models such as the Black and Scholes model and discusses tools, concepts and paradigms of statistical finance that can contribute to the resolution of such problems ... However, given the themes treated by the book and the expertise and knowledge of the authors, Theory of Financial Risks should certainly find a place on the bookshelves of professionals in risk management who are interested in new quantitative methods of risk minimization.' Rosario Mantegna, Institute of Physics 'The book is well written and self-contained ... It is recommended to anyone interested in a new and fresh approach to the dynamics of financial markets.' Journal of Statistical Physics 'The authors dutifully thread the relations between different financial securities and statistical estimation, rewarding the reader with an understanding that could never be obtained from a purely statistical text ... the feeling one is left with after putting the book down is one of time well spent.' Risk 'Coming to the data with fewer preconceptions than those with professional training in finance, and applying sophisticated tools, the authors offer fresh and valuable insights into financial markets.' Mathematical Reviews 'This is a terrific book. Some extremely exciting new ideas, questions, and techniques are coming from physics, and many were pioneered by the authors. This book will teach both academics and practitioners a new way of doing finance.' Xavier Gabaix, MIT 'An outstanding and original presentation of quantitative finance from a physics perspective.' Nassin Nicholas Taleb, Empirica LLC, author of Fooled by Randomness 'It is rare to read a quantitative finance book that has anything new to say. It is even rarer to find such a book written by those who know what they are talking about. Bouchaud and Potters are two of the most innovative, imaginative and experienced researches in finance. In this second edition of their ground-breaking work, they go even further into their field of econo-physics, a field that is changing the way we view the financial markets. Each page is packed with more ideas than most people put into an entire book. An inspirational book to be studied carefully and savoured.'

Paul Wilmott