A considerable part of the vast development in Mathematical Finance over the last two decades was determined by the application of stochastic methods. These were therefore chosen as the focus of the 2003 School on “Stochastic Methods in Finance”. The growing interest of the mathematical community in this field was also reflected by the extraordinarily high number of applications for the CIME-EMS School. It was attended by 115 scientists and researchers, selected from among over 200 applicants. The attendees came from all continents: 85 were Europeans, among them 35 Italians. The aim of the School was to provide a broad and accurate knowledge of some of the most up-to-date.
