EC247-5-AU-CO:
Financial Instruments and Capital Markets

The details
2024/25
Economics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
14 October 2024

 

Requisites for this module
IA151 or EC111 or IA153
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA 5A84 Financial Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L111 Financial Economics,
BA L118 Financial Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L195 Financial Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 0Q64 Financial Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L114 Financial Economics,
BSC L117 Financial Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L194 Financial Economics (Including Year Abroad),
MECNL131 Financial Economics,
MECNLB31 Financial Economics (Including Placement Year),
MECNLB32 Financial Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BA L147 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Placement Year),
BA L148 Financial Economics and Accounting,
BA L149 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Year Abroad),
BA LX14 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Foundation Year),
BA LN10 Business Economics,
BA LN11 Business Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BA LN12 Business Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA LX10 Business Economics (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This module studies financial instruments and the markets on which they are traded.


The module starts with an overview over cryptocurrencies as a new asset class. It then describes financial intermediation, and the problem of bank runs, and looks at ways in which these may be limited through government intervention. This is followed by a detailed study of the main financial markets: the money market, bond market, equity market, and various derivatives markets. In relation to each market, the module discusses institutional details such as market making and trading on centralised exchanges, valuation, empirical findings, and recent experience, especially in the context of the 2007-08 financial crisis. The module concludes with an introduction to behavioural finance, which uses insights from psychology and experiments to understand trader biases and market outcomes better.

Module aims

The past three decades have witnessed unprecedented growth in financial and capital markets, especially with the emergence of new financial instruments.


The aim of this module is:



  • To give an overview of these developments by introducing the basic elements in modern finance and providing an understanding of the organisation of financial markets and the role they play in the economy.

Module learning outcomes

Skills for your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)


By the end of this module, students will be expected to have the following employability skills:



  1. Academic skills - enhanced through mathematical problem-solving and the use of ICT equipment.

  2. Research skills - students are encouraged to carry out research and information gathering when revising lectures and as background reading.

  3. External awareness - promoted through discussion of current events, real-world issues and learning about financial institutions and regulation.

  4. Professional working skills, including teamwork and presentation skills are provided through class discussions.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

  • One two-hour lecture per week, in one term.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Mid-term Test IN PERSON VIA MOODLE - Monday 18th November 2024, 4pm-6pm     
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during January 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
50% 50%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
0% 100%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Christoph Siemroth, email: christoph.siemroth@essex.ac.uk.
Lectures: Dr Christoph Siemroth / Classes: Dr Liang Shi
For further information, send an email message to ueco@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Mr Teng Ge
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 26 hours, 20 (76.9%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
6 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Economics

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