FINN2021: Financial Markets and Institutions

• Foundations of Finance (FINN1011)

• None

• None

• To provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the economic principles governing the operation of a financial system.
• To develop students knowledge of the structure of financial markets and institutions and understanding of how and why institutions operate in financial markets.
• To provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of primary and derivative financial markets.
• To encourage students to analyse the role of regulation within financial markets.
• To develop students' ability to evaluate academic literature relating to financial markets.

• Overview of the financial system;
• Types of financial intermediaries;
• The banking industry;
• Mutual Funds and Hedge Funds;
• Financial regulation;
• Central banks and the conduct of monetary policy;
• Money markets;
• Bond markets;
• Foreign Exchange markets;
• Introduction to derivative markets and financial risk management;
• Introduction to options markets;
• Properties of options;
• Trading strategies and hedging positions;
• Forward and futures markets;
• Swap markets;
• Securitisation and its role in the 2008 financial crisis.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On completion of this module students should have:
• knowledge of the way in which financial systems operate;
• an understanding of the functions of financial institutions and financial markets;
• knowledge and understanding of key issues in derivative securities and markets particularly as regards their role in hedging, speculation and arbitrage;
• an understanding of the importance of unethical conduct in financial markets and the role of regulation.

Subject-specific Skills:

• On completion of this module students should:
• have developed technical and academic skills to analyse the operation of financial markets and institutions and the role of regulation;
• have the ability to examine practical issues, practice problem-solving and analysis in the study of primary financial and derivative markets and securities.

Key Skills:

• In addition, students will have had the opportunity to further develop the following key skills:
• written communication - through the summative assignment;
• planning and organising - observing the strict assignment deadlines; revising relevant material in preparation for examination;
• problem solving - by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to utilise concepts relating to financial markets, in preparation for examination and assignment;
• initiative - by searching relevant literature and information in preparation of the summative assignment;
• numeracy - by applying core mathematical and statistical skills to answer a range of examination questions;
• computer literacy - by word-processing the summative assignment; downloading assignment information and notes for revision and past exam papers from Learn Ultra; analysing financial data provided on Bloomberg terminals.

• Teaching is by lectures and small group sessions. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars and independent study.
• Formative assessment is by means of a group presentation and report, and online test.
• Summative assessment is by means of an examination plus a written assignment.

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