Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2010.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ellefsen, Per Einar
Other Authors: Paul D. Sclavounos.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61602
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author Ellefsen, Per Einar
author2 Paul D. Sclavounos.
author_facet Paul D. Sclavounos.
Ellefsen, Per Einar
author_sort Ellefsen, Per Einar
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2010.
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spelling mit-1721.1/616022019-04-09T16:04:56Z Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies Ellefsen, Per Einar Paul D. Sclavounos. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2010. Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 114-116). Investment and operational decisions involving commodities are taken based on the forward prices of these commodities. These prices are volatile, and a model of their evolution must correctly account for their volatility and correlation term structure. A two-factor model of the forward curve is proposed and calibrated to the crude oil, shipping, natural gas, and heating oil markets. The theoretical properties of this model are explored, with focus on its decomposition into independent factors affecting the level and slope of the forward curve. The two-factor model is then applied to two problems involving commodity prices. An approximate analytical expression for the prices of Asian options is derived and shown to explain the market prices of shipping options. The floating storage trade, which appeared in the oil market in late 2008, is presented as an optimal stopping problem. Using the two-factor model of the forward curve, the value of storing crude oil is derived and analyzed historically. The analytical framework for physical commodity trading that is developed allows for the calculation of expected profits, risks involved, and exposure to the major risk factors. This makes it possible for market participants to analyze such physical trades in advance, creates a decision rule for when to sell the cargo, and allows them to hedge their exposure to the forward curve correctly. by Per Einar S. Ellefsen. S.M. 2011-03-07T15:21:46Z 2011-03-07T15:21:46Z 2010 2010 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61602 704383331 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 116 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Ellefsen, Per Einar
Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title_full Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title_fullStr Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title_full_unstemmed Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title_short Commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
title_sort commodity market modeling and physical trading strategies
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61602
work_keys_str_mv AT ellefsenpereinar commoditymarketmodelingandphysicaltradingstrategies