Module Code: A8FM1
Long Title Financial Markets I
Title Financial Markets I
Module Level: LEVEL 8
EQF Level: 6
EHEA Level: First Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: TONY DELANEY
Module Author: Madita Feldberger
Departments: School of Computing
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff  
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Explain the core principles of money and the payments system
LO2 Explore and critique the role and function of financial markets and financial institutions
LO3 Appraise the characteristics of the principal classes of securities and exchange rate regimes
LO4 Explain and critically analyse the fundamentals of economics and finance as they apply to the financial markets
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements  
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Role & Function of Financial Markets
The contribution of finance to society, Financial Intermediation, Disintermediation
Money & the Payments System
Characteristics of money, Commodity and fiat Monies, Virtual currencies, Monetary aggregates, Price stability
Financial Institutions
Commercial, retail and Investment banking, Shadow banking, Insurance, Pension Funds, Globalisation of finance, The role of central banks, Approaches of the ECB, Fed and Bank of England
Debt, Bond & Money Markets
Characteristics of sovereign bonds, Flat yield and gross redemption yield, The yield curve, Bond issuance, Corporate bonds Credit rating of bonds, Risks associated with investment in bonds, Treasury bills, commercial paper and bills of exchange
Equity Markets
Characteristics of equities, Equity valuation measures, Initial public offerings, Share indices, Role of stock exchanges, Trading in equity markets, Risks associated with investment in equities
Foreign Exchange & Currency Regimes
Theory of purchasing power parity, Trading in FX markets, European monetary integration, Fixed exchange rate regimes
Issues in Financial Economics
Quantity theory of money, Monetary policy, Interest rate determination, Optimum currency area theory & EMU, Exchange rate determination, Concept of efficient capital markets, introduction to behavioural finance
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework40.00%
End of Module Assessment60.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Formative Assessment % of total: Non-Marked
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: Yes
Assessment Description:
Formative assessment will be undertaken utilising exercises and short answer questions during certain tutorials. In class discussions will be undertaken on contemporary topics. Feedback will be provided individually or as a group in oral format.
Assessment Type: Continuous Assessment (0200) % of total: 40
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Learners will be asked to research and evaluate a contemporary issue in financial economics. This will entail a review of relevant academic literature, conduct of appropriate market research and a synthesis and critique of applicable knowledge
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 60
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
The examination will be in the region of two hours in duration and may include a mix of: short answer questions, essay based questions and case study based questions. Marks will be awarded based on clarity, appropriate structure, relevant examples, depth of topic knowledge, and evidence of outside core text reading.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Cecchetti, S. & Schoenholtz, K.. (2014), Money, Banking and Financial Markets Global Edition, 4th. McGraw-Hill International.
  • Chishti, Susanne and Janos Barberis. (2016), The FINTECH Book: The Financial Technology Handbook for Investors, Entrepreneurs and Visionaries, Entrepreneurs and Visionaries. Wiley.
  • Mankiw, N.G. and Taylor, M.. (2017), Economics, 4th. Cengage Learning.
  • O’Loughlin, B. and O’Brien, F.. (2011), Fundamentals of Investment, 2nd. Gill & Macmillan.
  • Valdez. S. and Molyneux. P.. (2015), An Introduction to Global Financial Markets, Palgrave Macmillan.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Burton. M. Nesiba. R. and, Brown B.. (2015), An introduction to financial markets and institutions, Routledge USA.
  • De Fusco R.A., McLeavey D.W.M. Pinto J.E., Podkaminer, E.L., Runkle, D.E. and Sabherwal, S.. (2015), Quantitative Investment Analysis, Wiley.
  • Kay, J.. (2015), Other People’s Money, Profile Books.
  • Thaler, R.. (2015), Misbehaving: the making of behavioural economics, Penguin.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
Discussion Note: