Quantitative finance is the use of mathematical models and extremely large datasets to analyze financial markets and securities. Common examples include (1) the pricing of derivative securities such as options, and (2) risk management, especially as it relates to portfolio management applications. Professionals who work in this field are often referred to as Quants. Quantitative finance focuses on the mathematical models used to price securities and measure risk. A quantitative analyst uses mathematical models and applies them to financial markets in order to support the trading and risk management departments that operate in banks and financial institutions.