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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

No Banner module data is available

Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Rhea George
Semester 2: Rhea George
Autumn: Rhea George
Module TeachersAnn Largey
Rhea George
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Array
Description

This module will introduce students to financial markets and the financial institutions that represent each of private, public and sovereign interests, that participate in them. In this module students will develop their knowledge of the function of financial markets as well as the securities that they provide a trading platform for. Students will develop the skills to value such securities. This module is delivered through a combination of weekly lectures and on-line learning tools, including moodle quizes. Students are expected to attend lectures and to engage in on-line learning and research activities on a regular basis. In addition students will undertake problem sets and read recommended expert articles.

Learning Outcomes

1. explain and critically analyse the behaviour of financial markets and institutions
2. analyze individual stocks and stock markets
3. analyze sovereign and corporate bonds
4. describe the use of derivatives
5. explain (international) portfolio diversification
6. assess the risks and the benefits of financial markets from different perspectives



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture36No Description
Independent Study20Moodle Quiz
Independent Study29Research
Independent Study20Problem sets
Directed learning20Preparation for examination
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The Investment Environment
This section will examine the investment environment and describe the function and structure of capital markets. It will describe the process by which securities are created and the major trading protocols and trading platforms that have resulted

Equities
This section will build student's understanding of the nature of equity investment within a market-wide risk and return framework. Students will develop technical skills to value equities from a number of different perspectives.This section will consider the implications of international equity investment in terms of currency risk and dual listing.

Bonds and Money Market Securities
This section provides a grounding in the principles of fixed income investment sceurities, including zero-coupon bonds, government and corporate bonds. Students will learn how to value such securities and the role they would play in an investment portfolio within a market-wide risk and return framework.

Derivative Securities and Alternative Investments
This section introduces students to derivative securities such as futures and options. Students will develop their understanding of the nature and investment characteristics of these securities. This section also examines alternative investments including hedge funds.

Principles of Portfolio Investment
This section looks at the theory of portfolio based investment and builds student's knowledge to understand and calculate the benefits of diversification in a portfolio context

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
In Class TestEnd of term assessment100%Sem 1 End
Indicative Reading List

  • Solnik, B. and D. McLeavey: 2004, International Investments, 5th edition, Pearson Addison Wesley, 0201785684
  • Fabozzi,FJ; Modigliani F and Jones FJ: 2010, Foundations of Financial Markets and Institutions, 4th, Pearson International Edition, ISBN-13;978-0-13-135423-4
Other Resources

None

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