Module Code: H6IFM
Long Title Introduction to Financial Markets
Title Introduction to Financial Markets
Module Level: LEVEL 6
EQF Level: 5
EHEA Level: Short Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: COLETTE DARCY
Module Author: JULIA REYNOLDS
Departments: School of Business
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 Demonstrate an enhanced knowledge of the functioning and workings of international financial markets
LO2 Identify the key participants in financial markets, describe the roles of the different institutions in the market and the interrelationships and the differences between them
LO3 Differentiate between different types of asset class and identify different types of risk associated with the different types of assets
LO4 Evaluate existing regulation and current trends in same and how it meets market requirements
LO5 Use and develop spreadsheet-based solutions to financial problems
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

Programme entry requirements 
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Financial Markets
• Risk vs. Return: Computing Returns, Calculating Portfolio Means and Variances, Calculating Efficient Portfolios, Calculating the Efficient Frontier, Finding the Market Portfolio: The Capital Market Line (CML).
Financial Institutions
• Banks: Commercial Banking, Capital Requirements of a Small Commercial Bank, Deposit Insurance, Investment Banking, Securities Trading, Potential Conflicts of Interest, in Banking, Today’s Large Banks, The Risks Facing Banks; • Insurance Companies and Pension Plans: Life Insurance, Annuity Contracts, Mortality Tables, Longevity and Mortality Risk, Property-Casualty Insurance, Health Insurance, Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection, Reinsurance, Capital Requirements, The Risks Facing Insurance Companies, Regulation, Pension Plans; • Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Hedge Funds: Mutual Funds, Exchange-Traded Funds, Active vs. Passive Management, Regulation, Hedge Funds, Hedge Fund Strategies, Hedge Fund Performance.
Regulation
• Basel I, Basel II, and Solvency II: The Reasons for Regulating Banks, Bank Regulation Pre-1988, The 1988 BIS Accord 350, The G-30 Policy Recommendations, Netting, The 1996 Amendment, Basel II, Credit Risk Capital Under Basel II, Operational Risk Capital Under Basel II, Pillar 2: Supervisory Review, Pillar 3:Market Discipline, Solvency II; • Basel II.5, Basel III, and Other Post-Crisis Changes: Basel II.5, Basel III, Contingent Convertible Bonds, Use of Standardized Approaches and SA-CCR, Dodd–Frank Act, Legislation in Other Countries.
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework30.00%
End of Module Assessment70.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Continuous Assessment % of total: 30
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Candidates are required to complete one Excel-based in-class test.
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 70
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Final Examination, which will consist of an Excel-based exam.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat the module
The assessment of this module is inextricably linked to the delivery. The student must reattend the module in its entirety in order to be reassessed.
Reassessment Description
Candidates will attempt the repeat assessment for the module, if they do not successfully pass the module. Learners are required to attempt all assessments attaching to a module. For those modules where all learning outcomes are assessable with a final examination, the student does not have to re-sit failed individual CA components.

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

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Classroom and demonstrations 2 Every Week 2.00
Lecturer Supervised Learning Mentoring and small-group tutoring 1 Every Week 1.00
Directed Learning Directed e-learning 3 Every Week 3.00
Directed Learning Independent learning 8 Every Week 8.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 14.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Hull, J. C. Risk Management and Financial Institutions, 5th Ed. Wiley.
  • Benninga, S. Financial Modeling, 4th Ed. MIT Press.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Hull, J. C. Options Futures and Other Derivatives, 10th Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
This module does not have any other resources
Discussion Note: