Everything you need to master the mathematics powering derivatives

By Stewart Cowley

The derivatives market is enormous – standing at over $500 trillion globally. Warren Buffett called them “financial weapons of mass destruction”. They nearly brought about the collapse of the Western financial system in 2008. They are opaque and often misunderstood.

They are also immensely powerful and useful tools in the hands of responsible investors – and key to defending money from volatility and the unexpected.

In this accessible and entertaining book, veteran fund manager Stewart Cowley explains with his trademark wit and clarity:

– what derivatives are
– how you can alter the characteristics of a portfolio using derivatives
– how you can protect a portfolio using derivatives
– how you can increase the returns to a portfolio using derivatives.

Supported by simple spreadsheet examples and illustrations, Derivatives in a Day is perfect for anyone who wants to quickly get a practical grasp of this important financial market.

Stewart Cowley has been working in financial markets since 1987. He is one of a handful of people to have ever held a triple-A rating by Standard & Poor’s and was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal for long-term investment performance by FE Trustnet. He has also been one of the UK’s most visible fund managers, having written for the New Statesman, the Sunday Telegraph and Citywire. He has made frequent appearances on BBC TV and radio and Sky News. His previous books, Man vs Money and Man vs Big Data, have both been bestsellers.