DCU Home | Our Courses | Loop | Registry | Library | Search DCU
<< Back to Module List

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Fixed Income Securities
Module Code EF507 (ITS) / FBA1013 (Banner)
Faculty DCU Business School School DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinatorSeyed Aref Mahdavi Ardekani
Module TeachersSandeep Keshava Rao
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Array
Description

The objective of this course is to develop a deeper understanding of the characteristics of fixed income securities and to introduce students to the practice of interest rate risk management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the contingent claims framework to derive the prices of fixed income securities
2. Assess the sensitivity of fixed income securities to interest rate movements
3. Evaluate interest rate options using the models of Black and Black, Derman and Toy
4. Calculate the credit exposure arising from derivative counterparty exposures
5. Value credit default swaps and use the copula approach to value nth-to-default swaps
6. Explain how debt is securitised and how the resulting tranches are rated



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture48The lecturer will present the essential ideas and core concepts, pointing students towards resources where they can get further information.
Independent Study48Preparation for lectures and assigned readings.
Independent Study29Individual / group project on a topic approved by the Lecturer.
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

Pricing of Bonds
Bond price formula; sensitivity of bond prices; time, yield and coupon rate; zero coupon bond prices.Bond Yield Measures: Gross redemption yield; current yield; yield to call; realised compound yield; grossed up net redemption yield.Bond Price Volatility, Duration and Convexity: Macauley Duration; duration and maturity for nonzero-coupon bonds; the effect of the yield level and coupon frequency; duration as time elapses; duration between maturity dates; modified duration; convexity.The Term Structure of Interest Rates: Factors determining the level of forward rates; influences on the short-term rate; the mathematics of inflation and interest: Fisher's Law; influences on the long-run interest rate; traditional theories of the yield curve; newer theories of the yield curve.Callable Bonds, Option Adjusted Yields: Option adjusted duration and convexity; call adjusted estimation technique; significance and diversity of the call provision.Mortgage Backed Securities: Mortgage and pass-through cash flows; comparison of features of mortgage pass-through securities with treasuries and corporates: payment delay, monthly payments, prepayment effects, seasoning.Convertible Bonds: Who issues convertibles? advantages and disadvantages to issuing firms; advantages and disadvantages to the investor; analysis of convertible securities; dilution of the convertible privilege; when should a convertible be converted or sold?Index Linked Securities: Characteristics; impact of inflation; effects of not holding to maturity; impact of duration on volatilityThe Swap Yield Curve: Short-term swaps; long-term swaps; swap spread boundary conditions; other factors affecting long-term spreads; term structure fitting; forward term structure estimation.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentIndividual / group project25%Week 10
Indicative Reading List

  • Fabozzi, F.J.: 0, Bond Markets Analysis and Strategies Prentice Hall 1993Fabozzi, F.J., and I.M. Pollack, The Handbook of Fixed Income Securities Dow Jones Irwin 1987Francis, J.C. and A. Wolf., The Handbook of Interest Rate Risk Management Irwin 1994,
Other Resources

None

<< Back to Module List