Module Code: 6CIIFS
Long Title Contemporary Issues in International Financial Services 
Title Contemporary Issues in International Financial Services 
Module Level: LEVEL 6
EQF Level: 5
EHEA Level: Short Cycle
Credits: 10
Module Coordinator: JONATHAN BRITTAIN
Module Author: Eileen Long
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 Discuss the nature and scope of global financial markets and their interdependence.
LO2 Differentiate between different market terms and clearly define many of the key market relationships that exist
LO3 Explain the basic roles of asset allocation when it comes to portfolio management as well as an overview of what it means to invest.
LO4 Examine the behaviours involved in the professional financial marketplace, including issues of rationality and predictability
LO5 Explain the role and the regulation of Digital Financial Assets in the marketplace, including cryptocurrencies, sustainable finance, the evolution of money, ethical behaviour, and ESG investing.
LO6 Discuss the role of Technology and Artificial Technology in marketplace, together with its possible future role in personal asset allocation, risk profiling, and client understanding.
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
Introduction to Financial Matters
Why Financial Markets Matter The Evolution of Markets and Investing The World Interconnected – M&A activity
Market Terms and Key Relationships
Key Market Terms: Buyer V Seller, Long Vs Short, Short Squeeze, Bid-Offer Spread, market Depth, Common Market Orders, Liquid V Illiquid Markets, Market Makers V Price Takers, Arbitrage, P/E Ratios, Dividends, Debt Vs Equity Instruments, Trader Vs Broker, Buy Side Vs Sell Side, Portfolio Allocation Inflation and Interest Rate Relationship Put-Call Parity Relationship Trading Vs Investing Credit Card Debt V Mortgage Debt Information and Efficient Market Hypotheses (EMH) ETFs V Mutual Funds Assets Vs Liabilities Passive Vs Managed Investments
Introduction to Investing
Debt, Equity, Commodity, FX Asset Classes Simple Rules Fractional Dealing Risk Appetite and Time Horizon Investing & Trading Platforms
Portfolio Building and Asset Allocation
Introduction to the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) The Efficient Frontier Risk Free Return Conservative Vs Aggressive Asset Allocation Financial Lifecycle
Introduction to Derivatives and Options
Calls and Puts Simple Structures Exercise Vs Lapse Outcomes Multiple Structures
Behavioural Finance in Markets
How we learn and assimilate information Groups are predictable, Individuals are not Investors are Irrational Trading – a kind of personality trait Herding and Pathfinding
A Mortgage is a Debt Instrument
Household Budgets Fixed V Floating Mortgages First Time Buyers Vs Buy to Let (BTL) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) Rental Income – Slow Burn Accessing Equity and Re-mortgaging Basic Mortgage Terms
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Markets
AI determining your risk appetite, your investment time horizon, your access to funds AI and pattern recognition in markets - allocating funds to tailor suit individuals
Digital Assets in Finance
The Evolution of Money The Rise and Future of Cryptocurrencies Blockchain Technology Financial Apps Digital Assets as Tokens (NFTs)
More Contemporary Issues
Islamic Banking & Finance Sustainable Finance (ESG) Ethics in Capital Markets Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing The Next Banking Crisis – Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Credit Suisse The Future of the European Single Market Current Issues and trends
Assessment Breakdown%
End of Module Assessment50.00%
Workplace Assessment50.00%

Assessments

Full Time

No Coursework
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 50
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 3,4,5,6
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Open Book Time Constrained Exam The method of assessment for this module is a minimum three-hour exam. The end of term exam paper consists of five questions on the material covered in lectures, tutorials, group exercises and presentations carried out by learners during the course, answer 3.
Workplace Assessment
Assessment Type: Assignment (0350) % of total: 50
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Essay format on a choice of subjects covered to date in the module. Learners will have the opportunity to investigate a contemporary issue relating to the curriculum, at their own workplace. Indicative in the investigation will be gaining research from management about experiences during times of economic stress, as well as outcomes and changes made in the marketplace.

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 No Description 36 Per Semester 3.00
Tutorial No Description 20 Per Semester 1.67
Directed E-Learning No Description 20 Per Semester 1.67
Independent Learning No Description 144 Per Semester 12.00
Workbased learning No Description 30 Per Semester 2.50
Total Weekly Contact Hours 8.83
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Hull, John (2021) Options, futures and other derivatives. 11th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: Pearson..
  • Langlois, H. and Lussier J., (2017), Rational Investing: The Subtleties of Asset Management, Columbia Business School Publishing.
  • Manos, R., Parker, K. et al. (2022), Corporate Finance for Business: The Essential Concepts, 2nd Ed. Palgrave Macmillian, London..
  • Ozili, P.K., (2021), Making Sustainable Finance Sustainable, Financial Internet Quarterly, Business Source Ultimate.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Bouri, E., Gupta, R. and Roubaud, D., (2019). Herding Behaviour in Cryptocurrencies. Finance Research Letters, 29, pp.216-221..
  • Chen, Y., She, C., Wu, Q. and Wang, H., (2022)., The Ineffectiveness of Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and its possible solutions. 7th International Conference on Financial Innovation and Economic Development pp. 105-111. Atlantis Press..
  • Eun, C.S. and Resnick, B.G. (2020), International Financial Management, International Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York..
  • Gurinovich, A.G., Lapina, M.A., Tolstopyatenkop, G.P. and Patrikeev, P.A., (2022), About Approaches to the Definition of Concept and Problems of Legal Regulation of Digital Financial Asset, Public Organisation Review.
  • Madura, J. (2017), International Corporate Finance, 13th Ed. Thomson South Western, London..
  • Mhlanga, D., (2020). Industry 4.0 in finance: the impact of artificial intelligence (ai) on digital financial inclusion. International Journal of Financial Studies, 8(3), p.45..
  • Oseni, U.A. and Ali, S.N. eds., (2019). Fintech in Islamic finance: Theory and practice. Routledge..
  • Vlahovic, N., Brozovic, V., and Shavic, F., (2021), Investor Classification Model based on Behavioural Finance Studies, Croatian Society MIPRO.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • https://www.tradingview.com/.
  • https://www.cso.ie/en/index.html.
  • https://data.oecd.org/ireland.htm.
  • https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/.
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/.
  • https://www.reuters.com/.
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/markets.
  • https://www.marketwatch.com/.
Discussion Note: