This bookdescribes computational financetools. It covers fundamental numerical analysis and computational techniques, such asoption pricing, and givesspecial attention tosimulation and optimization. Many chapters are organized as case studies aroundportfolio insurance and risk estimation problems. In particular, several chapters explain optimization heuristics and how to use them for portfolio selection and in calibration of estimation and option pricing models. Such practical examples allow readers to learn the steps for solving specific problems and apply these steps to others. At the same time, the applications are relevant enough to make the book a useful reference. Matlab and R sample code is provided in the text and can be downloaded from the book's website.
Shows ways to build and implement tools that help test ideasFocuses on the application of heuristics; standard methods receive limited attentionPresents as separate chapters problems from portfolio optimization, estimation of econometric models, and calibration of option pricing models"

Computationally-intensive tools play an increasingly important role in financial decisions. Many financial problems-ranging from asset allocation to risk management and from option pricing to model calibration-can be efficiently handled using modern computational techniques. Numerical Methods and Optimization in Finance presents such computational techniques, with an emphasis on simulation and optimization, particularly so-called heuristics. This book treats quantitative analysis as an essentially computational discipline in which applications are put into software form and tested empirically. This revised edition includes two new chapters, a self-contained tutorial on implementing and using heuristics, and an explanation of software used for testing portfolio-selection models. Postgraduate students, researchers in programs on quantitative and computational finance, and practitioners in banks and other financial companies can benefit from this second edition of Numerical Methods and Optimization in Finance.