The Trade Lifecycle

Drive Profit and Manage Risk with Expert Guidance on Trade Processing

Now in its second edition, The Trade Lifecycle offers a guide to the trade lifecycle and the inherent risks and weaknesses. Step by step, Robert Baker divides a trade into its component parts and tracks it from pre-conception to maturity. The text examines how the trade affects each of the business functions of a financial institution. As well as illustrating each part of the trade process, the author highlights the legal, operational, liquidity, credit, and market risks to which the trade is exposed. The Trade Lifecycle contains a clear understanding of all parts of the trade process, including derivative and credit derivative trades.

The book examines trading in general, as well as trading related to the financial services industry and includes the risk factors associated with trading. The author offers an in-depth review of specific trades and examines the cash flows associated with each. Information is included on the often misunderstood asset classes and derivative products and reviews the three important aspects of trading – liquidity, price, and leverage.

The Trade Lifecycle explores the anatomy of the trade that is the core element of the lifecycle and offers an analysis of the lifecycle in detail. Baker explains the four methods of direct monitoring of trades throughout their lifetime – risk management, market risk control, counterparty risk control, and accounting. He also includes a vivid discussion of profit and loss attribution followed by a full description of the business functions in the lifecycle. Based on the author’s real-life experiences, The Trade Lifecycle offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what happens on the trading floor and includes insight into the real world of capital markets.

Revised and updated, the second edition includes thoughts on the problems caused by Information Technology and offers possible solutions. The new and stricter macro and micro regulations that affect investment banks and other financial institutions are also discussed. This second edition offers an explanation on the difference between asset classes and financial products. It also contains an explanation of the quantitative analyst.

Comprehensive and practical, The Trade Lifecycle offers a one-stop resource for understanding the lifecycle of a trade.