module specification

This module is designed to introduce students to the basic theory of finance and to apply the theory to the selection and management of financial investments.   As a prerequisite, students will be introduced to quantitative techniques that are essential for studying finance. 

Professional Skills for Accountants
Legal and Economic Framework
 

 This core module aims to enable students to:

1)   reinforce and extend the knowledge and general understanding of the role and application of quantitative methods in accounting and finance contexts;

2)   understand the basic theory of finance;

3)   develop the skills of valuing investment instruments;

4)   critically evaluate the conceptual frameworks for pricing securities;

5)   undertake a written critical review of contemporary theories in finance.  

The module also aims to help students in the development of the following skills:

.    academic writing;
.    researching
.    analysis of economic financial data;
.    quantitative problem-solving and decision-making;
.    self assessment and reflection.

Quantitative Methods

Correlation and simple linear regression with forecasting

Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing

Expected values and variances with applications to portfolio analysis

Basic calculus: differentiation and integration with applications

Finding and classifying turning points

An introduction to partial differentiation

Discrete compounding – present and future values

Logarithmic and exponential functions and their use in continuous compounding and applications in calculus

Matrix algebra operations: addition, subtraction and multiplication

Principles of Finance

The role, organisation and operation of financial markets; the economic function of financial markets; financial innovation

Fixed income securities: treasury and corporate bonds; bond pricing; duration; term structure of interest rate

The equity market: primary and secondary issues; basic share pricing models

Utility theory and risk aversion

Portfolio theory: risk and return; Markowitz’ portfolio theory 

Asset pricing models: the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the arbitrage pricing theory (APT) 

The efficient markets hypothesis (EMH)

Foreign exchange: spots and forwards markets

Parity conditions in foreign exchange markets

Teaching will take the form of a 2-hour lecture and a 1-hour seminar programme.

Quantitative Methods

The lecture will be used to introduce new topics and themes in quantitative methods.

The seminars will be computer and class based and will require students to practise what has been learned in the lectures.

Principles of Finance

The lecture will be used to introduce basic finance concepts and techniques.

The seminar programme will concentrate on problem solving exercises and interpretive skills. Questions will be pre-distributed to allow students to attempt answers in advance of the seminar.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1)   apply a variety of techniques in quantitative analysis to areas of accounting and finance;

2)   understand the assumptions and limitations of the techniques that are employed;

3)   explain the institutional arrangements relating to the issuance and trading of various capital market securities;

4)   evaluate and apply the various theoretical models for determining the fair value of different types of securities;

5)   advise on how to construct and manage portfolios for institutional and individual investors;

Quantitative Methods

Recommended Reading:

Oakshott L, Essential Quantitative Methods for Business, Management and Finance , 5th edition, 2012, published by Palgrave Macmillan

Swift L and Piff S, Quantitative Methods for Business, Management and Finance , 3rd edition, 2010, published by Palgrave Macmillan

Principles of Finance

Essential Reading:   One of the following:

Pilbeam K, Finance and Financial Markets, 3rd edition, 2010, published by Palgrave Macmillan

Levy H, Fundamentals of Investments, 2nd edition, 2002, published by Pearson Education

Recommended Reading:

Rutterford J, Introduction to Stock Exchange Investment, 3rd edition, 2007, published by                 Palgrave-Macmillan

Sharpe W, Alexander G and Bailey J, Investments , 6th edition, 1999, published by Prentice Hall

Haugen R, Modern Investment Theory, 5th edition, 2001), published by Prentice Hall

Elton, E J, Gruber M, Brown S J and Goetzmann W N, Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis, 8th edition, 2008, published by John Wiley

Bailey R, The Economics of Financial Markets, 1st edition, 2005, published by  Cambridge University Press