Module: Fund Management

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Fund Management
Module Code	EF508 (ITS) / FBA1014 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	Seyed Aref Mahdavi Ardekani
Module Teachers	John O'Brien, Shane Murphy
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

This course is designed as a complement to the course in portfolio theory with a view to introducing students to the practical aspects of institutional portfolio management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the key portfolio management techniques used within the modern fund management industry.
2. Critically assess the risks and expected rewards associated with different types of institutionally managed portfolios and funds.
3. Appreciate the distinct differences in passive management and active management strategies.
4. Capability to measure and appraise investment performance on a risk-adjusted basis.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	36	Assigned Readings
Independent Study	40	Exam preparation
Independent Study	25	Assignment (report)
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

Passive Management Strategies and Immunizing Portfolios
Methods of immunizing bond portfolios; single and multiple liabilities; convexity; immunisation risk.

Index Funds
Choosing the best method of indexation, problems relating to the compilation and maintenance of index funds; accessing overseas markets through passive strategies.

Active management strategies
Searching for market inefficiency; strategies for adding value over index performance; combining a core fund with satellite active management portfolios, specialty management; using stock index futures and options; options on futures; currency hedging for overseas portfolios; bond switches.

Asset Allocation
Portfolio diversification, methods of evaluating and comparing investment markets; e.g. multi-scenario projections, risk premiums, the reverse yield gap; portfolio insurance, hedging portfolios with capital protection strategies; asset allocation in passive portfolios; considering transactions costs.

Investment performance appraisal
Measures of analysing investment performance, comparison with investment objectives, frequency of appraisal, time horizon over which performance should be judged; analysis of performance.

Property Management
Real property as an investment medium, property in the portfolio context, property portfolio construction and management, international property in the portfolio: opportunities and problems.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Individual / group project	30%	Week 10

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

JL Farrell: 0, Portfolio Management, Theory and Application,
GR Brown: 0, Property Investment and Capital Market,

Other Resources

None