ECONOMICS OF FINANCIAL MARKETS AND INVESTMENTS - 1

This is the first part of a compulsory 12-ECTS course. This is one of the main courses that characterize the Master's Degree in Economics and Finance. The 12-ECTS course on the whole has common objectives, learning outcomes, contents and teaching methods that are described as follows. The course aims to provide financial and economic skills related to the economy of markets and financial investments. Particular attention is paid to the functioning of the financial markets, to the theory of the portfolio and to the formation of the prices of the basic financial instruments and to the management of financial investments. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part of this course taught in the third period (which accounts for the first 6-ECTSs), the course focuses on portfolio theory and on the formation of the prices of financial instruments. The second part taught in the fourth period (which accounts for the second 6-ECTSs) focuses on investment management, performance measures and innovative finance. The discussion of the various topics will be addressed to the understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the determination of the general equilibrium in the financial markets and to the application problems in the choice of financial investments. Particular attention will be given to the use of finance theory for the resolution of operational problems. For this reason during the course will be discussed simple case studies in order to apply the acquired knowledge.

The instructional goal of the 12-ECTS course is acquiring the knowledge and competences to understand, manage and evaluate the issues and the quantitative models related to financial markets and valuation of financial assets and portfolio management
In detail:
1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 - understanding of economic / financial phenomena concerning financial markets and investment choices with particular attention to portfolio management
1.2 - Understanding of the mechanisms of price formation and of the returns of the shares starting from the theory of the portfolio through the classical pricing models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Identify the sources of information necessary to support investment choices
2.2 Use and analyze financial databases such as Bloomberg to acquire time series of financial asset prices and then determine the yield, volatility and expected correlation
2.3 Use Excel or other programming languages such as R, Stata, Gretel or Matlab to determine the efficient border
2.4 Use Excel or other programming languages such as R, Stata or Matlab to estimate the beta of shares or equity portfolios

3. Ability to make judgements:
3.1 to interpret the functioning of financial markets in the light of investment choices and macroeconomic variables
3.2 to recognize the implications that portfolio choices have on price formation
3.3 To identify and evaluate risk factors and on potential or presumed arbitrage opportunities.

Possess the basic knowledge indicated in the personal preparation requirements to enroll in the Degree in Economics and Finance: https://www.unive.it/web/fileadmin/user_upload/cdlm/em20/doc/personale-preparazione/EM20_contenuti_della_prova_di_verifica.pdf

It also requires basic knowledge of the use of Excel.

First Part
- Introduction: Financial Instruments and Their Characteristics/Equity Markets: Characteristics and Institutions
- Equity Market Valuation and Return Analysis
- Standard Portfolio Selection Problem and Mean-Variance Approach
- Equity Portfolio Benchmarks
- Single Index Model and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
- CAPM Empirical Evidence and Pitfalls
- The Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT)
- Market Efficiency
- Empirical Tests of Multifactor Models
- Consumption-Based Equilibrium Models

Second Part
- The Investment Policy Statement
- Investment Manager Selection
- Economic Analysis and Setting Capital Market Expectations
- Asset Allocation
- Portfolio Construction and Revision
- Risk Management
- Execution of Portfolio Decision (Trading)
- Performance Evaluation
- Presentation of Performance Results
- Style analysis
- Investment Manager Selection
- Types of Alternative Investments and Their Characteristics
- Hedge Fund Strategies
- Alternative Investment Management Strategies
- ETF and Structured Products
- Fintech: Crowdfunding, P2P Lending and Cryptofinance

- Class notes.

Students can choose between these two textbooks.
- Bodie, Kane and Markus (2014), Investmentes, McGraw-Hill
- Elton Gruber Brown e Goetzmann, Teoria di portafoglio e analisi degli investimenti, APOGEO, 2007,

Selected readings and other material will be made available during the course through the Moodle page of the course.

Assessment consists in a written exam of 90 minutes. The exam consists of multiple choice questions plus two exercises/open questions. The multiple choice items assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the topics included in the program. Alternatively, it is possible to take two partial exams during the course and hand in two group assignments. In order to pass the exam, the final mark should be at least 18/30. The use of books, notes and electronic devices (with the only exception of a calculator) is not allowed during the examination.

a) Teachers’ frontal lectures;
b) Case studies to be done in group

Italian

Course website on Moodle

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