Global Derivative Debacles

Download or read book Global Derivative Debacles written by Laurent L Jacque and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2015-05-28 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book analyzes in depth all major derivatives debacles of the last half century including the multi-billion losses and/or bankruptcy of Metallgesellschaft (1994), Barings Bank (1995), Long Term Capital Management (1998), Amaranth (2006), Société Générale (2008) , AIG (2008) and JP Morgan-Chase (2012). It unlocks the secrets of derivatives by telling the stories of institutions which played in the derivative market and lost big. For some of these unfortunate organizations it was daring but flawed financial engineering which brought them havoc. For others it was unbridled speculation perpetrated by rogue traders whose unchecked fraud brought their house down. Should derivatives be feared "as financial weapons of mass destruction" or hailed as financial innovations which through efficient risk transfer are truly adding to the Wealth of Nations? By presenting a factual analysis of how the malpractice of derivatives played havoc with derivative end-user and dealer institutions, a case is made for vigilance not only to market and counter-party risk but also operational risk in their use for risk management and proprietary trading. Clear and recurring lessons across the different stories in this volume call not only for a tighter but also "smarter" control system of derivatives trading and should be of immediate interest to financial managers, bankers, traders, auditors and regulators who are directly or indirectly exposed to financial derivatives. The book groups cases by derivative category, starting with the simplest and building up to the most complex — namely, Forwards, Futures, Options and Swaps in that order, with applications in commodities, foreign exchange, stock indices and interest rates. Each chapter deals with one derivative debacle, providing a rigorous and comprehensive but non-technical elucidation of what happened. What is new in the second edition? A new chapter on JP Morgan-Chase's London Whale, an in-depth discussion of credit-default swaps, and an update of the revamped regulatory framework with Basel 2.5 and Basel III against the backdrop of the Euro crisis, along with a revised and expanded discussion of the AIG debacle. Contents:Derivatives and the Wealth of NationsForwards:Showa Shell Sekiyu K KCitibank's Forex LossesBank Negara MalaysiaFutures:Amaranth Advisors LLCMetallgesellschaftSumitomoOptions: Allied LyonsAllied Irish BanksBaringsSociété GénéraleSwaps:Procter & GambleGibson Greeting CardsOrange CountyLong-Term Capital ManagementAIGJP Morgan Chase London WhaleFrom Theory to Malpractice: Lessons Learned Readership: Economists; undergraduates and graduates majoring in finance, economics and business administration; professionals, financial managers and CPAs in the financial service industry. Key Features:Includes simple graphs or numerical illustrations to enhance readers' understanding of the complex world of derivatives and financial engineering step-by-step, story-by-storyUses actual case studies to introduce college students, finance professionals and general readers to the world of high finance which shapes their day-to-day livesDemystifies the mysterious world of financial derivativesBrings alive difficult concepts by profiling the protagonists in each debacle and the corporate setting within which the derivative debacle unfoldedProvides a glossary of key concepts to discuss the respective derivatives product, how it is valued, trading strategies, and the workings of the market where it is tradedKeywords:Derivatives;Debacles;Options;Swaps;Futures;Forwards;Financial Engineering;Market Manipulation;Rogue Traders;Speculation;London WhaleReview: Reviews of the First Edition: “This timely and well-written book is a ‘must read’ for anyone directly or indirectly involved in financial markets and instruments as well as risk management. By telling actual stories of how rogue traders and incompetent managers put their firms at risk, the author demystifies the complex world of financial derivatives. His incisive and in-depth analysis of all major derivatives debacles should help the reader understand what happened and avoid future disasters.” Gabriel Hawawini The Henry Grunfeld Professor of Investment Banking INSEAD “The author has written a book whose clarity makes it accessible to a wide range of practitioners and executives, and he brings the technical subject matter to life through the concrete examples of the highest profile failures in the use of derivatives” B Craig Owens Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Campbell Soup “The book is a timely contribution to a subject that has been at the epicenter of the current financial crisis … Learning from past mistakes and applying the lessons is what sets this book apart and should make it a useful guide for practitioners.” Dr Oliver S Kratz Head of Global Thematic Equities Deutsche Bank