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Convexity Adjustments

Correct linear forward intuition when payoff and discounting are nonlinear.

Reviewed 2026-08-10TheQuantBateman ResearchReading note
01Intuition

Name the object before manipulating it.

Correct linear forward intuition when payoff and discounting are nonlinear. Fix the information set, units and market convention before using the relationship in pricing or risk.

ONE-LINE DEFINITION

Correct linear forward intuition when payoff and discounting are nonlinear.

02Mathematics

State the governing relationship.

E[f(X)]≈f(E[X])+12f′′(E[X])Var⁡(X)\mathbb{E}[f(X)]\approx f(\mathbb{E}[X])+\tfrac12f''(\mathbb{E}[X])\operatorname{Var}(X)
Notation and units

Decimal rates and volatilities, year-fraction time and continuous compounding unless stated otherwise.

03Assumptions

Draw the boundary of the claim.

01

Definitions, units and information sets are fixed before the mathematical relationship is applied.

02

Rates and volatilities use decimal units and time uses year fractions unless stated otherwise.

03

The relationship is local to its stated assumptions and should not be extrapolated mechanically.

“An unstated convention is a future reconciliation break.”— THEQUANTBATEMAN
04Market use

Connect the definition to an observable.

Convexity Adjustments connects an observable IR quantity to valuation, scenario analysis or hedge interpretation. The desk view depends on units, timestamp and quotation convention.

Intuition→Mathematics→Implementation→Desk risk
05Desk view
FRONT OFFICE VIEW

Translate the concept into a risk question.

State the convention, identify the observable and ask which IR risk remains after the proposed hedge.

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06Related

Follow the nearest dependency.