Credit Risk

Objectives

This course covers the main concepts and techniques required to manage the risk of portfolios of credit-sensitive assets, such as corporate bonds or loans. We will also learn how to use credit derivatives to manage credit risk, focusing particularly on Credit Default Swaps. Finally, we will study more complex structures, such as Collateralized Debt Obligations, which were at the forefront of the financial crisis of 2008. The materials covered in this course are relevant to commercial and investment banks and to any large firm with credit-sensitive assets.
A.Knowledge & Understanding
1.Understand the main drivers of credit risk
2.Know the main techniques used to measure & manage credit risk
B.Subject-Specific Skills
1.Estimate probabilities of default
2.Compute the Credit Value-at-Risk of a bond portfolio
3.Price &use credit derivatives
C.General Skills
1.Improve analytical thinking
2.Use IT tools available to managers
3.Financial theories & markets

General characterization

Code

14512

Credits

3

Responsible teacher

João Pedro Pereira

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese | English

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

A set of handouts will be distributed in class.
The following additional references may be helpful:
1. Lando, 2004, Credit Risk Modeling, Princeton University Press.
2. Smithson, C., 2003, Credit Portfolio Management, Wiley.
3. CreditMetrics - Technical Document, JP Morgan, 1997.
4. Chaplin, 2010, Credit Derivatives, Wiley.
5. Schönbucher, P.J., 2003, Credit Derivatives Pricing Models: Model, Pricing and Implementation, John Wiley & Sons.

Teaching method

T. Teaching Methods. The course will follow a standard lecture mode, where we will:
1. Discuss the theory of each topic.
2. Solve small applied problems.
L. Learning Methods. The recommend learning methods are:
1. Reviewing the content of the lectures and related bibliography.
2. Solving larger take-home projects.

Evaluation method

The assessment of this curricular unit is done together with the block of curricular units of the same area of knowledge. This assessment has 3 moments, which together define the final grade of the CU:
•Individual exam with a weighting of 50% of the total mark
•Group work with a weighting of 35% of the total grade value
•Individual reflection-action exercise carried out at the end of the curricular unit, with a weighting of 15% of the total grade value. The set of individual action-reflection exercises is a journaling activity, which will constitute, at the end, a learning portfolio capable of synthesising the contributions of the Executive Master for that student.

Subject matter

1. Foundations for credit risk modelling
Default loss; exposure; loss given default; probability of default; portfolio default loss.
2. Estimation of default probabilities
Agency credit ratings; credit scoring and internal rating models.
3. Structural approach to credit risk
Merton’s model; Moody’s-KMV EDF
4. Portfolio models
Credit migration approach (CreditMetrics)
5. Valuing defaultable bonds
Credit spreads (G, I, Z); Risk-neutral pricing
6. Credit derivatives
Credit default swaps (CDS); credit spread options; total return swaps; credit-linked notes.
7. Collateralized Debt Obligations

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: