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

The details
2017/18
Economics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 05 October 2017
Friday 15 December 2017
15
-

 

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),
BA L147 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Placement Year),
BA L148 Financial Economics and Accounting,
BA L149 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

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

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

The module starts with an overview of the activities of financial institutions. 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 analysis of the theory and practice of financial regulation, and discusses recent regulatory reforms.

The module provides students with the following employability skills. Academic skills are enhanced through essay-writing, mathematical problem-solving and the use of ICT equipment. Students are encouraged to carry out research and information gathering for term papers and as background reading. External awareness is promoted through discussion of real world issues and learning about financial institutions and regulation. Opportunities to develop professional working skills, including teamwork and presentation skills, are provided through class discussions.

Module aims

No information available.

Module learning outcomes

No information available.

Module information

Compulsory for:
Year 2 students on BA in Financial Economics and BSc in Financial Economics.

Learning and teaching methods

One two-hour lecture per week in one term.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non-essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   EC247 Assignment     
Exam  Main exam: 120 minutes during Summer (Main 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% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Chrisoph Siemroth
For further information, send an email message to ueco@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Prof Aditya Goenka
The University of Birmingham
Chair
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 30 hours, 30 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Economics

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