Overview
Welcome to FNCE 405: Empirical Finance. This course examines major methods and findings in empirical studies in finance, with emphasis on the efficient markets hypothesis and its applications. Topics covered include testability of capital asset pricing model (CAPM), arbitrage pricing theory (APT), risk premiums, and environmental impacts on financial assets. We also make forays into topics in economics such as the Uncovered Interest Parity.
FNCE 405 is a core course in the Finance Major in the Bachelor of Commerce program. You studied finance models such as the CAPM and APT in 300-level finance courses; this course relates your knowledge of finance models to work done by researchers to prove or disprove these models. You will read and critically examine empirical research literature in finance and learn how to perform quantitative analysis on financial data series, such as
- classical regression analysis,
- univariate time series modelling, and
- forecasting.
As part of the requirements for this course, you must complete a research project. This research project will allow you to apply the concepts you have learned in the course to real-life data and will perhaps stimulate your interest in various research areas in finance.
Learning outcomes
Students completing this course will:
- Be able to read and critically examine empirical research literature in the finance areas
- Be able to perform quantitative analysis (classical linear regression, univariate time series analysis, and simulations) on a variety of issues in finance such as the validity of the Efficient Market Hypothesis and the Capital Asset Pricing Model
- Apply what they have learned in the course to real-life data, with the hopes that this will stimulate research interests in various research areas in finance.
Evaluation
Your final grade in FNCE 405 is based on three assignments, a final project, and a Final Examination. To receive credit for FNCE 405 you must achieve a minimum grade of 50% on the Final Examination and an overall course grade of “D” (50 percent).
The assignments are designed to help you prepare for the Final Examination. While you are not required to complete the assignments in order to pass the course, students who choose not to complete assignments often experience difficulties with the examinations. Keep in mind that if you do not submit an assignment before your contract end date, you will receive a grade of zero for it.
The following table describes the credit weight associated with each assessment component:
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Assignment 1 | 10% | After completing Lesson 3 and Chapters 1–4 of the textbook |
| Assignment 2 | 10% | After completing Lesson 6 and Chapter 5 of the textbook |
| Assignment 3 | 10% | After completing Lesson 9 and Chapters 6 and 15 of the textbook |
| Final Project | 30% | After completing Lesson 9 and submitting Assignment 3 |
| Final Online Exam | 40% | After completing all three assignments and final project |
| 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.
You must request your examination well in advance of the date on which you plan to write it. See Requesting an Exam for procedures to follow. You are advised not to attempt the final examination until you have received feedback on all of your course work.
All of your course work must be submitted before 12:00 midnight (Mountain Time) on the final day of your contract.
If you are not satisfied with the grade you receive on an examination, or if you receive a grade below 50%, you may write a supplemental examination. If you write a supplemental examination, your final grade will be the higher of the grades received on the supplemental or original exam. There is a fee for supplemental examinations. See the AU Calendar for details.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Brooks, C. (2019). Introductory econometrics for finance (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Other Materials
This course also makes extensive use of the EViews software, which is included in the course package. Please note that EViews does not offer full functionality or support for some versions of the Mac operating system. It is the student’s responsibility to have access to a computer appropriate for EViews. Please contact the Faculty of Business Student Support Centre for more information.
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 405 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.
Challenge for credit course registration form