Postgraduate Course: Foundations of Finance Theory (CMSE11081)
Course Outline
School |
Business School |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
15 |
Home subject area |
Common Courses (Management School) |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None |
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Course description |
The focus of this course is on the financial theory and empirical evidence that are useful for investment decisions. The topics covered in this course can be broadly categorized into thre groups:
&· Corporate Finance and Financial Theories
This includes cost of capital, capital structure, equity issuance and valuation, dividend policy, portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model and the arbitrage pricing theory, all of which have become an integrated part of the decision-making in investments.
&· Empirical Evidence in the Equity and Equity Options Markets
This includes patterns in cross-sections of stock returns, the time-series behavior of stock returns time-varying expected returns, and further empirical evidence from the equity options market.
&· Introduction to Fixed-Income and Derivative Instruments
This includes bonds, derivatives, fixed-income derivatives such as swaps.
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Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites |
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Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
None
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Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
No Classes have been defined for this Course |
First Class |
First class information not currently available |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Skills: On completing the module, students should
&· Understand the concepts of risk and return in financial markets;
&· Be able to construct portfolios that are efficient in the sense that they maximise expected return for a given level of risk, or equivalently, minimise risk for a given expected return;
&· Have a detailed knowledge of asset pricing models, including the capital asset pricing model and the arbitrage pricing theory; be aware of the empirical research that attempts to evaluate the validity of these models;
&· Be able to determine the equilibrium expected return of an investment.
&· Understand the principles of market efficiency; be aware of the empirical evidence on market efficiency.
&· Be able to compute the price off bonds, futures and options.
&· understand arguments and debates concerning the topics covered in the corporate finance area
&· have developed their understanding of certain methods of research in finance, for example analysis of numerical data
&· have a knowledge of theoretical and empirical academic research in corporate finance
Core Academic Skills: This module will develop in students the ability to
&· Rigorously analyse quantitative problems in finance;
&· Interpret financial data in the light of established theories;
&· Access a wide body of empirical research literature and to critically appraise it.
Personal and Key skills: This module will develop in students the ability to
&· Analyse and evaluate quantitative problems;
&· Implement solutions to these problems using a spreadsheet;
&· Work independently and as part of a group.
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Assessment Information
There is one group assignment which counts for 30% of the total mark (written report) and a final two hour exam which counts for 70% of the total mark. |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Maria Michou
Tel: (0131 6)50 8341
Email: Maria.Michou@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Claire Local
Tel: (0131 6)50 3574
Email: Claire.Local@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 5:45 am
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