FINANCIAL MARKET ANALYSIS

The aim of this course is to study financial markets and develop the instruments to build a financial portfolio and to manage it. On completing this course students will be able to know: A) Types of markets and trading mechanisms B) Asset classes and financial Instruments C) Bond portfolios C) Portfolio theory and practice D) Financial derivatives: options, futures, bonds and swap (introduction) E) Portfolio Performance Evaluation F) Sustainable Finance

Good knowledge in Financial Math and basic Statistics and probability. Excel. Coding is a plus.

Knowledge and understanding: At the end of this course, students are able to value the tradeoff between risk/return in financial markets and to understand portfolio theory. Applying knowledge and understanding: The students, acquiring the correct tools, will have the skills to build and manage a financial portfolio using real-world data and Excel applications. Making judgements: The students, through the methodologies learnt in the class, will have the skills and ability to collect the required information in order to build and manage a financial portfolio. Communication skills: Through the various activities that will take place during the course, the students will acquire the technical lingo required to work on financial markets. Learning skills: The students will develop quantitative skills that are required to manage financial portfolios, understand risk, understand complex financial products.

Asset Classes and Financial Instruments Securities Markets Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies Options Markets Bond Prices and Yields Managing Bond Portfolios Futures Markets and Risk Management Efficient Diversification Capital Asset Pricing and Multifactor Models The Efficient Market Hypothesis Behavioral Finance and Technical Analysis. Sustainable Finance During the course three Problem Sets will be posted. Students that hand in all the three problem sets you will receive up to 2 extra "bonus points". Two points will be given to complete and good quality problem sets. Lower quality will receive 1 point.

Bodie-Kahn-Marcus. Essentials of Investments. Latest available edition. Mc Graw Hill chapters:2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-15-16.1-17-18

Lectures and practical classes

The evaluation of the students is based on: option with midterm (only if grade in midterm > 18/30): 1) midterm exam: 50% of the final grade 2) second midterm exam: 50% of the final grade option without midterm: final exam 100% of the grade All exams are multiple choice. A bonus of 1/30 points is awarded for students who obtain the Bloomberg BMC certificate with an average grade of 75% or higher (more details on this in class) and pass the exam before the Summer. Other bonus points (up to a maximum of 2) are recognized for the "Problem sets". The examinations have the objective of: 1) test the understanding of the concepts discussed in class 2) show ability in problem solving 3) test ability in applying the theory to practical problems in finance

The student must have a good level in the basic topics in Financial Markets and autonomy to carry out the thesis.