Financial Engineering Projects to make your Resume Attractive for Quants Jobs
1. Black-Scholes Model Implementation: Build a program that implements the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is fundamental for valuing European-style options.
2. Monte Carlo Simulation for Options: Develop a Monte Carlo simulation to price options, especially useful for complex options with various features and payoffs.
3. Binomial Tree Model: Create a binomial tree model for option pricing, particularly valuable for American-style options and options with discrete dividend payments.
4. Volatility Surface Construction: Construct a volatility surface by analyzing option prices to understand how implied volatility varies with strike and maturity.
5. Interest Rate Derivative Pricing: Build pricing models for interest rate derivatives, such as swaps, caps, floors, and swaptions, considering yield curves and interest rate volatility.
6. Credit Derivative Pricing: Develop models for pricing credit derivatives, like credit default swaps (CDS), which are essential for managing credit risk.
7. Exotic Option Pricing: Explore pricing methods for exotic options, such as Asian options, barrier options, and lookback options, which have non-standard features.
8. Real-Time Option Pricing: Create a real-time option pricing system that uses market data to continuously update option prices as market conditions change.
9. Stochastic Volatility Models: Implement pricing models that incorporate stochastic volatility, as seen in Heston or SABR models, to better capture market dynamics.
10. Portfolio Hedging Strategies: Design and test hedging strategies to manage the risk of option positions within a larger portfolio context.
These projects will help you gain a deeper understanding of derivative pricing, the underlying models, and the practical aspects of managing risk and valuing complex financial instruments.