Overview
This course comprehensively examines the theories, methods, and strategies required for successful investments in financial markets. Major topics include financial instruments, portfolio theory, capital asset pricing model, market efficiency, financial securities analysis, derivative securities, and active portfolio management.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Investments
- Lesson 1: The Investment Environment
- Lesson 2: Financial Markets and Instruments
- Lesson 3: Trading on Securities Markets
Unit 2: Portfolio Theory
- Lesson 4: Return and Risk: Analyzing the Historical Record
- Lesson 5: Risk Aversion and Capital Allocation to Risky Assets
- Lesson 6: Optimal Risky Portfolios
Unit 3: Equilibrium in Capital Markets
- Lesson 7: CAPM, Index Models, and Arbitrage Theory
- Lesson 8: Market Efficiency, Behavioural Finance, Technical Analysis, and Empirical Evidence
Unit 4: Fixed Income Securities
- Lesson 9: Bond Prices and Yields
- Lesson 10: The Term Structure of Interest Rates
- Lesson 11: Managing Bond Portfolios
Unit 5: Equities
- Lesson 12: Security Analysis
- Lesson 13: Financial Statement Analysis
Unit 6: Derivative Assets
- Lesson 14: Options and Other Derivatives
- Lesson 15: Option Valuation
- Lesson 16: Futures and Forward Markets
Unit 7: Active Portfolio Management and International Investing
- Lesson 17: Active Management and Performance Measurement, Investment Policy, and the CFA Institute
- Lesson 18: Managed Funds and Hedge Funds
- Lesson 19: International Investing
Objectives
Students who complete this course successfully will
- gain a comprehensive understanding of the theories, methods, and strategies required for successful investments in financial markets;
- develop a good command of financial investment principles and methods; and
- acquire an ability to make sound investment decisions.
Evaluation
Your final mark for FNCE 401 will be calculated based on your performance on four assignments and a final examination. To receive credit for FNCE 401, you must achieve 50 percent on the final examination and a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). You are strongly encouraged to complete all four assignments—you will receive a zero (0) for any missed assignment. The weighting of each assessment activity is indicated in the chart below.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 15% |
| Assignment 4 | 15% |
| Final Online Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Bodie, Z., Kane, A., Marcus, A. J., Switzer, L. N., Boyko, D., Panasian, C., & Stapleton, M. (2019). Investments (9th Cdn. ed.). McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 9781259271939
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the FNCE 401 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Challenge for credit course registration form