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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "FIN 312"
COURSE NAME: "Investment Analysis"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Alessandro Antonelli
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: FIN 301
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course concentrates on the operation and function of securities markets. It emphasizes basic techniques for investing in stocks and bonds. Technical analysis is introduced and portfolio theory discussed.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
* DEVELOPMENTS IN INVESTMENT THEORY.
* VALUATION PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
* MONEY MARKET, CAPITAL MARKET, AND DERIVATIVE SECURITY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT
* PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, AND INDUSTRY ETHICS
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, successful students will have gained a significant knowledge and familiarity with the following topics relating to investment analysis:
* Capital markets and products (bonds, stocks, derivatives, …).
* Theories, techniques, and practices used to evaluate assets and performances.
* Portfolio management and dynamic asset allocation.
* Portfolio strategies of investment banks and hedge funds.
* Ethics and best practices in investment analysis and portfolio management.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT | REILLY, BROWN, LEEDS | CENGAGE | LAST OR PREVIOUS EDITIONS | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| COURSE'S MATERIALS | VARIOUS SOURCES | THE PROFESSOR | | | THESE ARE CLASS MATERIALS, COMING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, PROVIDED BY THE PROFESSOR |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Exam 1, Exam 2, Active Class Participation, including short presentations | The TWO EXAMS (40% + 45%) consist of multiple choice questions and essay-type questions, graphic analysis, as well as some problems that require quantitative analysis, in which the student is asked to explain and/or solve with accuracy and clarity issues of a particular topic covered by the syllabus. Just in case exams cannot be taken in class, the Professor will organize oral exams to be taken through MOODLE ("face-to-face exams"). The CLASS PARTICIPATION grade (15%) will reflect students attendance and their level of involvement in class discussions. Unjustified absences and unauthorized use of computers will negatively affect the class participation grade. The class participation grade will also reflect the students care in illustrating financial news and topics assigned from time to time by the professor. | 40% +45% + 15% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until the first decade of December.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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1 - What is investment analysis?
2 - Main types of investment analysis: top-down vs. bottom-up; fundamental vs. technical; Investors, hedgers, speculators, arbitrageurs
3 - Asset classes and basic principles of investing; Fintech and financial innovation; cryptocurrencies
4 - Measures of return and risk
5 - Determinants of required rates of return
6 - Relationship between risk and return
7 - What is asset allocation?
8 - Correlation and portfolio management; how to invest using the business cycle
9 - Institutional investors, some typical objectives and constraints
10 - More on marketplaces, money market and capital market instruments
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March 10, Thursday, First exam, 40% weight, from 1 to 10
11 - Futures and Forwards
12 - Options
13 - Swaps
14 - Startups; IPOs; private equity funds
15 - Main strategies and operations of investment banks
16 - Main strategies and operations of hedge funds
17 - More on mergers and acquisitions
18 - Alternative investments
19 - Sustainable finance
20 - Ethics in the professional asset management industry
Second Exam(45% weight, from 11 to 20), see JCU final exam schedule for date and time.
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