Investment Management Techniques

Curriculum guideline

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Course
FINC 4340
Discontinued
No
Course code
FINC 4340
Descriptive
Investment Management Techniques
Department
Finance
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
202030
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 Weeks X 4 Hours per Week = 60 Hours
Max class size
35
Contact hours
Lecture: 3 Hrs. Seminar: 1 Hr. Total: 4 Hrs.
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

A combination of lectures, supplementary materials & presentations and class presentations.

Course description
This course explores the methods and practice of investment management strategies and techniques. The course highlights the Canadian investment environment, the global securities market, and the risk/return profiles associated with different types of investment vehicles. Emphasis is placed on the key characteristics of mutual funds, ETFs and hedge funds as well as appropriate asset allocation strategies. Topics also include behavioural finance, application of technical analysis, and trading and investment strategies that use derivative securities such as options, futures, forward and swap contracts.
Course content

1. Introduction to the Canadian investment environment.


2. Global capital markets and investment instruments.


3. The structure and evolution of asset management industry.


4. Fundamentals of mutual funds, ETFs and hedge funds.


5. Fund management fees and other fund charges.


6. Value vs. Growth investing and correlation of investment style and risk.


7. Passive vs. Active management and asset allocation strategy.


8. Behavioural finance and technical analysis.


9. Futures, forwards and swap contracts.


10. Application of options trading strategies.


11. Derivatives in portfolio insurance.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1. describe the Canadian investment environment and the global capital markets;


2. explain and evaluate the risk and return profiles associated with different types of securities;


3. describe and evaluate mutual funds and ETFs by categories and subcategories based on security type, investment objective and style;


4. provide an in-depth explanation of expense ratios, loads and other fund charges;


5. determine the role that mutual funds, ETFs and hedge funds should play in individual/institutional investor’s portfolio; outline appropriate asset allocation strategies;


6. build a portfolio of funds that is suitable to investor’s goals and unique situation;


7. describe the concept of behaviour finance and its implications;


8. conduct an actual technical analysis on a given portfolio of securities; and


9. understand the concept of derivative securities and illustrate the way they are used as investment strategies in hedging, trading and portfolio insurance.

Means of assessment
Midterm exam(s):                 30-35%
Project & Presentation   20%-25%
Class Assignments and Participation   10%
Final Exam   35%
Total   100%
Textbook materials

Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (Latest Edition), Frank K. Reilly & Keith C. Brown,
Thomson South-Western. Textbook subject to change with approval of the department. Software purchase may be required.


Only Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration approved calculators may be used.

Prerequisites

(FINC 3350 or FINC 3390) with a grade of “C” or Instructor permission

Corequisites

Nil

Equivalencies

Nil

Which prerequisite

Nil