ECO6052 - Financial Markets and Institutions

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Evaluate the structure and interdependence of international financial systems, and the interplay of monetary policies and financial regulations at international level.
Critically appraise a range of financial instruments, in considering and contrasting their returns, and the operations of global financial institutions.
Critically analyse the impact of increasingly complex financial markets on economic activities, the role of government policy, and the production of law.
Design and measure policy responses to a rapidly changing international financial landscape in light of recent financial crises.

Content:

This module will introduce students to a range of financial economics theories and polices, including the global financial system, the operation of banks and investment funds, portfolio theory, interest rate equalization, behavioural finance, and the operation of bond and equity markets. Students will also study the development of the foreign exchange markets, and financial instruments such as derivatives, options, futures, and swaps, and critically explore current issues in restructuring and regulating financial operations in light of the modern financial crises.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered via a series of weekly 3-hour teaching blocks, comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by in-depth applied workshops.

This module will present students with selected scenarios for basic analysis in order to develop both analytical competence and the ability to identify and apply appropriate techniques in a range of typical situations. Students will be provided case studies that will revolve around discussions of financial markets, including a range of calculations and portfolio analyses, and specific concepts related to expected returns and market efficiency, portfolio selection and portfolio management, insurance, risk, and trading strategies, and the operations of financial regulators and institutions.

The module will also make use of current newsworthy case studies and developing business trends and so the nature of the topics and exercises will vary. Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions/exercises to support their progress through the module material.

Lectures / seminars
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Workshops / tutorials
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Cohort or variable-size groups

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Online-based simulation: Students ability to explain the mechanics and the operations of financial markets and financial regulations, particularly the trading and evaluation of securities in equity and bond markets will be assessed in an online based activity simulation.

Financial market report: The second assignment will assess students' ability to collect and interpret data for their discussion, the ability to critically appraise interplay between financial regulations and market financial trends, as well as their ability to identify shortcomings of the current financial system and design appropriate solutions involving key financial organisations.

Formative feedback: Weekly lectures and tutorials are taught in an interactive manner, providing semi-formal discussion and debates, peer critique and feedback, as well as quizzes and individual or group presentations, which offer ample opportunities for ample feedback and feed forward to students before their assignments.

Assessment:

001 Open book quiz 30 minutes 15% Mid-semester 15%
002 Essay 3,400 words end of semester 85%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Carmen Dorobat
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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