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Finance (FNCE) 401
Investments (Revision 3)

Revision 3 closed, replaced by current version.

View previous syllabus.

Delivery mode: Individualized study online or
grouped study**

Credits: 3 - Applied Studies

Prerequisite: FNCE 370. MATH 265 or equivalent is recommended.

Precluded course: FNCE 349 (FNCE 401 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for FNCE 349).

Centre: School of Business

FNCE 401 has a Challenge for Credit option

**Note: Students registering in grouped study, or grouped study international mode are advised that there may be some differences in the evaluation and course materials information indicated below. To obtain the most up-to-date information, contact the School of Business Call Centre at 1-800-468-6531.

Overview

FNCE 401 will examine financial instruments and their analysis in detail. The course comprises seven units: Units 1 to 3, which describe markets and review various portfolio theories; Units 4 to 6, which discuss investment vehicles; and Unit 7, which addresses portfolio management techniques, evaluation, and investing.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction to Investments

  • Lesson 1: The Investment Objective
  • Lesson 2: Markets and Instruments
  • Lesson 3: How Securities are Traded
  • Lesson 4: Mutual Funds and The Institutional Environment

Unit 2: Portfolio Theory

  • Lesson 5: Concepts and Issues: Return, Risk, and Risk Aversion
  • Lesson 6: Portfolio Selection

Unit 3: Equilibrium in Capital Markets

  • Lesson 7: CAPM, Index Models, and Arbitrage Theory
  • Lesson 8: Market Efficiency and Empirical Evidence

Unit 4: Fixed Income Securities

  • Lesson 9: Bond Prices and Yields
  • Lesson 10: The Term Structure of Interest Rates
  • Lesson 11: Managing Bond Portfolios

Unit 5: Equities

  • Lesson 12: Security Analysis
  • Lesson 13: Financial Statement Analysis
  • Lesson 14: Technical Analysis

Unit 6: Derivative Assets

  • Lesson 15: Options and Other Derivatives
  • Lesson 16: Option Valuation
  • Lesson 17: Futures and Forward Markets

Unit 7: Active Portfolio Management and International Investing

  • Lesson 18: Active Management and Performance Measurement
  • Lesson 19: International Investing
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Evaluation

Your final mark for FNCE 401 will be calculated based on your performance on four assignments and a final examination. To receive credit for FNCE 401, you must achieve a minimum grade of 50 percent on Assignment 4, 50 percent on the final examination, and a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). You are strongly encouraged to complete all four assignments—you will receive a zero (0) for any missed assignment. The weighting of each assessment activity is indicated in the chart below.

Assign. 1 Assign. 2 Assign. 3 Assign. 4 Final Exam Total
10% 15% 15% 15% 45% 100%

If you score below 50 percent on Assignment 4, you must revise and resubmit it no later than two weeks after your contract end date. If you score below 50 percent on the final examination, you must write a supplemental examination. However, before writing a supplemental examination, you should thoroughly review the material covered. You may contact the Call Centre for information on the areas where you lost marks on your first attempt. 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.

Course Materials

Textbook

Bodie, Z., Kane, A., Marcus, A. J., Perrakis, S., & Ryan, P. J. (2005). Investments (5th Cdn. ed.). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN-13: 9780070895034 (ISBN-10: 0070895031)

Other materials

Students will access all other course materials online.

Special Course Features

The course materials for this course are shipped as a shrink-wrapped package. If the shrink wrap is broken, the materials are not returnable.

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