Author: Moorad Choudhry
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470033770
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
The value-at-risk measurement methodology is a widely-used tool in financial market risk management. The fourth edition of Professor Moorad Choudhry’s benchmark reference text An Introduction to Value-at-Risk offers an accessible and reader-friendly look at the concept of VaR and its different estimation methods, and is aimed specifically at newcomers to the market or those unfamiliar with modern risk management practices. The author capitalises on his experience in the financial markets to present this concise yet in-depth coverage of VaR, set in the context of risk management as a whole. Topics covered include: Defining value-at-risk Variance-covariance methodology Monte Carlo simulation Portfolio VaR Credit risk and credit VaR Topics are illustrated with Bloomberg screens, worked examples, exercises and case studies. Related issues such as statistics, volatility and correlation are also introduced as necessary background for students and practitioners. This is essential reading for all those who require an introduction to financial market risk management and value-at-risk.
An Introduction to Value-at-Risk
Author: Moorad Choudhry
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470033770
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
The value-at-risk measurement methodology is a widely-used tool in financial market risk management. The fourth edition of Professor Moorad Choudhry’s benchmark reference text An Introduction to Value-at-Risk offers an accessible and reader-friendly look at the concept of VaR and its different estimation methods, and is aimed specifically at newcomers to the market or those unfamiliar with modern risk management practices. The author capitalises on his experience in the financial markets to present this concise yet in-depth coverage of VaR, set in the context of risk management as a whole. Topics covered include: Defining value-at-risk Variance-covariance methodology Monte Carlo simulation Portfolio VaR Credit risk and credit VaR Topics are illustrated with Bloomberg screens, worked examples, exercises and case studies. Related issues such as statistics, volatility and correlation are also introduced as necessary background for students and practitioners. This is essential reading for all those who require an introduction to financial market risk management and value-at-risk.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470033770
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
The value-at-risk measurement methodology is a widely-used tool in financial market risk management. The fourth edition of Professor Moorad Choudhry’s benchmark reference text An Introduction to Value-at-Risk offers an accessible and reader-friendly look at the concept of VaR and its different estimation methods, and is aimed specifically at newcomers to the market or those unfamiliar with modern risk management practices. The author capitalises on his experience in the financial markets to present this concise yet in-depth coverage of VaR, set in the context of risk management as a whole. Topics covered include: Defining value-at-risk Variance-covariance methodology Monte Carlo simulation Portfolio VaR Credit risk and credit VaR Topics are illustrated with Bloomberg screens, worked examples, exercises and case studies. Related issues such as statistics, volatility and correlation are also introduced as necessary background for students and practitioners. This is essential reading for all those who require an introduction to financial market risk management and value-at-risk.
Value at Risk, 3rd Ed.
Author: Philippe Jorion
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071736921
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 624
Book Description
Since its original publication, Value at Risk has become the industry standard in risk management. Now in its Third Edition, this international bestseller addresses the fundamental changes in the field that have occurred across the globe in recent years. Philippe Jorion provides the most current information needed to understand and implement VAR-as well as manage newer dimensions of financial risk. Featured updates include: An increased emphasis on operational risk Using VAR for integrated risk management and to measure economic capital Applications of VAR to risk budgeting in investment management Discussion of new risk-management techniques, including extreme value theory, principal components, and copulas Extensive coverage of the recently finalized Basel II capital adequacy rules for commercial banks, integrated throughout the book A major new feature of the Third Edition is the addition of short questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, making it even easier to check progress. Detailed answers are posted on the companion web site www.pjorion.com/var/. The web site contains other materials, including additional questions that course instructors can assign to their students. Jorion leaves no stone unturned, addressing the building blocks of VAR from computing and backtesting models to forecasting risk and correlations. He outlines the use of VAR to measure and control risk for trading, for investment management, and for enterprise-wide risk management. He also points out key pitfalls to watch out for in risk-management systems. The value-at-risk approach continues to improve worldwide standards for managing numerous types of risk. Now more than ever, professionals can depend on Value at Risk for comprehensive, authoritative counsel on VAR, its application, and its results-and to keep ahead of the curve.
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071736921
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 624
Book Description
Since its original publication, Value at Risk has become the industry standard in risk management. Now in its Third Edition, this international bestseller addresses the fundamental changes in the field that have occurred across the globe in recent years. Philippe Jorion provides the most current information needed to understand and implement VAR-as well as manage newer dimensions of financial risk. Featured updates include: An increased emphasis on operational risk Using VAR for integrated risk management and to measure economic capital Applications of VAR to risk budgeting in investment management Discussion of new risk-management techniques, including extreme value theory, principal components, and copulas Extensive coverage of the recently finalized Basel II capital adequacy rules for commercial banks, integrated throughout the book A major new feature of the Third Edition is the addition of short questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, making it even easier to check progress. Detailed answers are posted on the companion web site www.pjorion.com/var/. The web site contains other materials, including additional questions that course instructors can assign to their students. Jorion leaves no stone unturned, addressing the building blocks of VAR from computing and backtesting models to forecasting risk and correlations. He outlines the use of VAR to measure and control risk for trading, for investment management, and for enterprise-wide risk management. He also points out key pitfalls to watch out for in risk-management systems. The value-at-risk approach continues to improve worldwide standards for managing numerous types of risk. Now more than ever, professionals can depend on Value at Risk for comprehensive, authoritative counsel on VAR, its application, and its results-and to keep ahead of the curve.
Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science
Author: Saul I. Gass
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461304598
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 774
Book Description
Operations Research: 1934-1941," 35, 1, 143-152; "British The goal of the Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Operational Research in World War II," 35, 3, 453-470; Management Science is to provide to decision makers and "U. S. Operations Research in World War II," 35, 6, 910-925; problem solvers in business, industry, government and and the 1984 article by Harold Lardner that appeared in academia a comprehensive overview of the wide range of Operations Research: "The Origin of Operational Research," ideas, methodologies, and synergistic forces that combine to 32, 2, 465-475. form the preeminent decision-aiding fields of operations re search and management science (OR/MS). To this end, we The Encyclopedia contains no entries that define the fields enlisted a distinguished international group of academics of operations research and management science. OR and MS and practitioners to contribute articles on subjects for are often equated to one another. If one defines them by the which they are renowned. methodologies they employ, the equation would probably The editors, working with the Encyclopedia's Editorial stand inspection. If one defines them by their historical Advisory Board, surveyed and divided OR/MS into specific developments and the classes of problems they encompass, topics that collectively encompass the foundations, applica the equation becomes fuzzy. The formalism OR grew out of tions, and emerging elements of this ever-changing field. We the operational problems of the British and U. s. military also wanted to establish the close associations that OR/MS efforts in World War II.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461304598
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 774
Book Description
Operations Research: 1934-1941," 35, 1, 143-152; "British The goal of the Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Operational Research in World War II," 35, 3, 453-470; Management Science is to provide to decision makers and "U. S. Operations Research in World War II," 35, 6, 910-925; problem solvers in business, industry, government and and the 1984 article by Harold Lardner that appeared in academia a comprehensive overview of the wide range of Operations Research: "The Origin of Operational Research," ideas, methodologies, and synergistic forces that combine to 32, 2, 465-475. form the preeminent decision-aiding fields of operations re search and management science (OR/MS). To this end, we The Encyclopedia contains no entries that define the fields enlisted a distinguished international group of academics of operations research and management science. OR and MS and practitioners to contribute articles on subjects for are often equated to one another. If one defines them by the which they are renowned. methodologies they employ, the equation would probably The editors, working with the Encyclopedia's Editorial stand inspection. If one defines them by their historical Advisory Board, surveyed and divided OR/MS into specific developments and the classes of problems they encompass, topics that collectively encompass the foundations, applica the equation becomes fuzzy. The formalism OR grew out of tions, and emerging elements of this ever-changing field. We the operational problems of the British and U. s. military also wanted to establish the close associations that OR/MS efforts in World War II.
What are the chances and limitations of value-at-risk (VaR) models?
Author: Alexander Linn
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638503291
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 76
Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject Business economics - Controlling, grade: 1,7, European Business School - International University Schloß Reichartshausen Oestrich-Winkel (Department of Accounting and Control), language: English, abstract: The risk and return framework is generally accepted and discussed by scientists, at least since Markowitz introduced his Portfolio Theory in 1952. Subsequently, models were developed to evaluate investments under consideration of risk and return. Traditionally, practitioners primarily focused on past earnings as a measure of the profitability of an investment, without adequately considering potential risks. Therefore, the development of professional risk management systems was often neglected. Thus, the possibility of high losses was not appropriately incorporated in their investment strategies. The consequences of such mistreatment became evident in the mid 1990s, when some of the world’s largest companies faced huge losses and sometimes even insolvency. Most of these failures were a direct result of inappropriate use of financial instruments and insufficient internal control mechanisms. The most spectacular debacles even resulted in losses of more than one billion dollars for each affected institution. In case of Barings Bank, a single trader ruined the 233-year old British financial institution by inappropriate investments in high-risk futures in 1995. The consequent loss of $1.3 billion, realized in a very short period, could not be absorbed and forced the downfall of Barings. At Daiwa Bank, it was also a single trader who caused a $1.1 billion deficit. In contrast, the losses were accumulated over 11 years from 1984. Another well-publicized bankruptcy was declared in 1994 by the Californian Orange County, after losses of $1.8 billion. Such evidence of poor risk management and control shows that proper financial risk management is crucial for all kinds of institutions in order to guarantee stability and continuity. Therefore, it is necessary to establish adequate risk management processes and to develop appropriate tools, which quantify risk exposures of both entire institutions and single financial instruments. This risk quantification should alert management early enough to prevent exceptional losses. One of the key concepts addressing these prob-lems of modern risk management was introduced in 1993 with the Value-at-Risk (VaR) models.
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638503291
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 76
Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject Business economics - Controlling, grade: 1,7, European Business School - International University Schloß Reichartshausen Oestrich-Winkel (Department of Accounting and Control), language: English, abstract: The risk and return framework is generally accepted and discussed by scientists, at least since Markowitz introduced his Portfolio Theory in 1952. Subsequently, models were developed to evaluate investments under consideration of risk and return. Traditionally, practitioners primarily focused on past earnings as a measure of the profitability of an investment, without adequately considering potential risks. Therefore, the development of professional risk management systems was often neglected. Thus, the possibility of high losses was not appropriately incorporated in their investment strategies. The consequences of such mistreatment became evident in the mid 1990s, when some of the world’s largest companies faced huge losses and sometimes even insolvency. Most of these failures were a direct result of inappropriate use of financial instruments and insufficient internal control mechanisms. The most spectacular debacles even resulted in losses of more than one billion dollars for each affected institution. In case of Barings Bank, a single trader ruined the 233-year old British financial institution by inappropriate investments in high-risk futures in 1995. The consequent loss of $1.3 billion, realized in a very short period, could not be absorbed and forced the downfall of Barings. At Daiwa Bank, it was also a single trader who caused a $1.1 billion deficit. In contrast, the losses were accumulated over 11 years from 1984. Another well-publicized bankruptcy was declared in 1994 by the Californian Orange County, after losses of $1.8 billion. Such evidence of poor risk management and control shows that proper financial risk management is crucial for all kinds of institutions in order to guarantee stability and continuity. Therefore, it is necessary to establish adequate risk management processes and to develop appropriate tools, which quantify risk exposures of both entire institutions and single financial instruments. This risk quantification should alert management early enough to prevent exceptional losses. One of the key concepts addressing these prob-lems of modern risk management was introduced in 1993 with the Value-at-Risk (VaR) models.
The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report, Authorized Edition
Author: United States. Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
Publisher: Public Affairs
ISBN: 1610390415
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 578
Book Description
Examines the causes of the financial crisis that began in 2008 and reveals the weaknesses found in financial regulation, excessive borrowing, and breaches in accountability.
Publisher: Public Affairs
ISBN: 1610390415
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 578
Book Description
Examines the causes of the financial crisis that began in 2008 and reveals the weaknesses found in financial regulation, excessive borrowing, and breaches in accountability.
Value at Risk and Bank Capital Management
Author: Francesco Saita
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080471064
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 276
Book Description
Value at Risk and Bank Capital Management offers a unique combination of concise, expert academic analysis of the latest technical VaR measures and their applications, and the practical realities of bank decision making about capital management and capital allocation. The book contains concise, expert analysis of the latest technical VaR measures but without the highly mathematical component of other books. It discusses practical applications of these measures in the real world of banking, focusing on effective decision making for capital management and allocation. The author, Francesco Saita, is based at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, one of the foremost institutions for banking in Europe. He provides readers with his extensive academic and theoretical expertise combined with his practical and real-world understanding of bank structure, organizational constraints, and decision-making processes. This book is recommended for graduate students in master's or Ph.D. programs in finance/banking and bankers and risk managers involved in capital allocation and portfolio management. - Contains concise, expert analysis of the latest technical VaR measures but without the highly mathematical component of other books - Discusses practical applications of these measures in the real world of banking, focusing on effective decision making for capital management and allocation - Author is based at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, one of the foremost institutions for banking in Europe
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080471064
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 276
Book Description
Value at Risk and Bank Capital Management offers a unique combination of concise, expert academic analysis of the latest technical VaR measures and their applications, and the practical realities of bank decision making about capital management and capital allocation. The book contains concise, expert analysis of the latest technical VaR measures but without the highly mathematical component of other books. It discusses practical applications of these measures in the real world of banking, focusing on effective decision making for capital management and allocation. The author, Francesco Saita, is based at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, one of the foremost institutions for banking in Europe. He provides readers with his extensive academic and theoretical expertise combined with his practical and real-world understanding of bank structure, organizational constraints, and decision-making processes. This book is recommended for graduate students in master's or Ph.D. programs in finance/banking and bankers and risk managers involved in capital allocation and portfolio management. - Contains concise, expert analysis of the latest technical VaR measures but without the highly mathematical component of other books - Discusses practical applications of these measures in the real world of banking, focusing on effective decision making for capital management and allocation - Author is based at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, one of the foremost institutions for banking in Europe
International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards
Author:
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 9291316695
Category : Bank capital
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 9291316695
Category : Bank capital
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
Kendall's Advanced Theory of Statistics, Distribution Theory
Author: Maurice George Kendall
Publisher: Wiley-Interscience
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 712
Book Description
This major revision contains a largely new chapter 7 providing an extensive discussion of the bivariate and multivariate versions of the standard distributions and families. Chapter 16 has been enlarged to cover multivariate sampling theory, an updated version of material previously found inthe old Volume III. The previous chapters 7 and 8 have been condensed into a single chapter providing an introduction to statistical inference. Elsewhere, major updates include new material on skewness and kurtosis, hazard rate distributions, the bootstrap, the evaluation of the multivariate normalintegral and ratios of quadratic forms. The new edition includes over 200 new references, 40 new exercises and 20 further examples in the main text. In addition, all the text examples have been given titles, and these are listed at the front of the book for easier reference.
Publisher: Wiley-Interscience
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 712
Book Description
This major revision contains a largely new chapter 7 providing an extensive discussion of the bivariate and multivariate versions of the standard distributions and families. Chapter 16 has been enlarged to cover multivariate sampling theory, an updated version of material previously found inthe old Volume III. The previous chapters 7 and 8 have been condensed into a single chapter providing an introduction to statistical inference. Elsewhere, major updates include new material on skewness and kurtosis, hazard rate distributions, the bootstrap, the evaluation of the multivariate normalintegral and ratios of quadratic forms. The new edition includes over 200 new references, 40 new exercises and 20 further examples in the main text. In addition, all the text examples have been given titles, and these are listed at the front of the book for easier reference.
Volatility and Correlation
Author: Riccardo Rebonato
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470091401
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 864
Book Description
In Volatility and Correlation 2nd edition: The Perfect Hedger and the Fox, Rebonato looks at derivatives pricing from the angle of volatility and correlation. With both practical and theoretical applications, this is a thorough update of the highly successful Volatility & Correlation – with over 80% new or fully reworked material and is a must have both for practitioners and for students. The new and updated material includes a critical examination of the ‘perfect-replication’ approach to derivatives pricing, with special attention given to exotic options; a thorough analysis of the role of quadratic variation in derivatives pricing and hedging; a discussion of the informational efficiency of markets in commonly-used calibration and hedging practices. Treatment of new models including Variance Gamma, displaced diffusion, stochastic volatility for interest-rate smiles and equity/FX options. The book is split into four parts. Part I deals with a Black world without smiles, sets out the author’s ‘philosophical’ approach and covers deterministic volatility. Part II looks at smiles in equity and FX worlds. It begins with a review of relevant empirical information about smiles, and provides coverage of local-stochastic-volatility, general-stochastic-volatility, jump-diffusion and Variance-Gamma processes. Part II concludes with an important chapter that discusses if and to what extent one can dispense with an explicit specification of a model, and can directly prescribe the dynamics of the smile surface. Part III focusses on interest rates when the volatility is deterministic. Part IV extends this setting in order to account for smiles in a financially motivated and computationally tractable manner. In this final part the author deals with CEV processes, with diffusive stochastic volatility and with Markov-chain processes. Praise for the First Edition: “In this book, Dr Rebonato brings his penetrating eye to bear on option pricing and hedging.... The book is a must-read for those who already know the basics of options and are looking for an edge in applying the more sophisticated approaches that have recently been developed.” —Professor Ian Cooper, London Business School “Volatility and correlation are at the very core of all option pricing and hedging. In this book, Riccardo Rebonato presents the subject in his characteristically elegant and simple fashion...A rare combination of intellectual insight and practical common sense.” —Anthony Neuberger, London Business School
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470091401
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 864
Book Description
In Volatility and Correlation 2nd edition: The Perfect Hedger and the Fox, Rebonato looks at derivatives pricing from the angle of volatility and correlation. With both practical and theoretical applications, this is a thorough update of the highly successful Volatility & Correlation – with over 80% new or fully reworked material and is a must have both for practitioners and for students. The new and updated material includes a critical examination of the ‘perfect-replication’ approach to derivatives pricing, with special attention given to exotic options; a thorough analysis of the role of quadratic variation in derivatives pricing and hedging; a discussion of the informational efficiency of markets in commonly-used calibration and hedging practices. Treatment of new models including Variance Gamma, displaced diffusion, stochastic volatility for interest-rate smiles and equity/FX options. The book is split into four parts. Part I deals with a Black world without smiles, sets out the author’s ‘philosophical’ approach and covers deterministic volatility. Part II looks at smiles in equity and FX worlds. It begins with a review of relevant empirical information about smiles, and provides coverage of local-stochastic-volatility, general-stochastic-volatility, jump-diffusion and Variance-Gamma processes. Part II concludes with an important chapter that discusses if and to what extent one can dispense with an explicit specification of a model, and can directly prescribe the dynamics of the smile surface. Part III focusses on interest rates when the volatility is deterministic. Part IV extends this setting in order to account for smiles in a financially motivated and computationally tractable manner. In this final part the author deals with CEV processes, with diffusive stochastic volatility and with Markov-chain processes. Praise for the First Edition: “In this book, Dr Rebonato brings his penetrating eye to bear on option pricing and hedging.... The book is a must-read for those who already know the basics of options and are looking for an edge in applying the more sophisticated approaches that have recently been developed.” —Professor Ian Cooper, London Business School “Volatility and correlation are at the very core of all option pricing and hedging. In this book, Riccardo Rebonato presents the subject in his characteristically elegant and simple fashion...A rare combination of intellectual insight and practical common sense.” —Anthony Neuberger, London Business School
Red-Blooded Risk
Author: Aaron Brown
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118043863
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 437
Book Description
An innovative guide that identifies what distinguishes the best financial risk takers from the rest From 1987 to 1992, a small group of Wall Street quants invented an entirely new way of managing risk to maximize success: risk management for risk-takers. This is the secret that lets tiny quantitative edges create hedge fund billionaires, and defines the powerful modern global derivatives economy. The same practical techniques are still used today by risk-takers in finance as well as many other fields. Red-Blooded Risk examines this approach and offers valuable advice for the calculated risk-takers who need precise quantitative guidance that will help separate them from the rest of the pack. While most commentators say that the last financial crisis proved it's time to follow risk-minimizing techniques, they're wrong. The only way to succeed at anything is to manage true risk, which includes the chance of loss. Red-Blooded Risk presents specific, actionable strategies that will allow you to be a practical risk-taker in even the most dynamic markets. Contains a secret history of Wall Street, the parts all the other books leave out Includes an intellectually rigorous narrative addressing what it takes to really make it in any risky activity, on or off Wall Street Addresses essential issues ranging from the way you think about chance to economics, politics, finance, and life Written by Aaron Brown, one of the most calculated and successful risk takers in the world of finance, who was an active participant in the creation of modern risk management and had a front-row seat to the last meltdown Written in an engaging but rigorous style, with no equations Contains illustrations and graphic narrative by renowned manga artist Eric Kim There are people who disapprove of every risk before the fact, but never stop anyone from doing anything dangerous because they want to take credit for any success. The recent financial crisis has swelled their ranks, but in learning how to break free of these people, you'll discover how taking on the right risk can open the door to the most profitable opportunities.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118043863
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 437
Book Description
An innovative guide that identifies what distinguishes the best financial risk takers from the rest From 1987 to 1992, a small group of Wall Street quants invented an entirely new way of managing risk to maximize success: risk management for risk-takers. This is the secret that lets tiny quantitative edges create hedge fund billionaires, and defines the powerful modern global derivatives economy. The same practical techniques are still used today by risk-takers in finance as well as many other fields. Red-Blooded Risk examines this approach and offers valuable advice for the calculated risk-takers who need precise quantitative guidance that will help separate them from the rest of the pack. While most commentators say that the last financial crisis proved it's time to follow risk-minimizing techniques, they're wrong. The only way to succeed at anything is to manage true risk, which includes the chance of loss. Red-Blooded Risk presents specific, actionable strategies that will allow you to be a practical risk-taker in even the most dynamic markets. Contains a secret history of Wall Street, the parts all the other books leave out Includes an intellectually rigorous narrative addressing what it takes to really make it in any risky activity, on or off Wall Street Addresses essential issues ranging from the way you think about chance to economics, politics, finance, and life Written by Aaron Brown, one of the most calculated and successful risk takers in the world of finance, who was an active participant in the creation of modern risk management and had a front-row seat to the last meltdown Written in an engaging but rigorous style, with no equations Contains illustrations and graphic narrative by renowned manga artist Eric Kim There are people who disapprove of every risk before the fact, but never stop anyone from doing anything dangerous because they want to take credit for any success. The recent financial crisis has swelled their ranks, but in learning how to break free of these people, you'll discover how taking on the right risk can open the door to the most profitable opportunities.