The average investor is usually unaware of the theoretical bases and academic underpinnings of various investment strategies. Investment books and popular reference guides barely mention efficient market or random walk theory, and the mathematical aspect of portfolio management theory appears as little more than a footnote. Little actually new has been added to the field of investment and market theory for the last 30 years, but recently Peters introduced the landmark Chaos and Order in the Capital Markets (1991). Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics that, despite its name, attempts to make order out of seemingly random events and that has found application in the natural sciences. Market chaologists, as they have come to be known, have marshaled an array of formulas and computer models but have been criticized for not being able to explain their ideas in practical terms or to demonstrate how to apply these ideas. Fractals are the main mathematical tool of chaos theory, and Peters now shows how these can be applied to financial markets and trading. This book is unquestionably complex and relatively expensive, but all libraries with investment collections should consider purchasing at least one copy. |