FINANCIAL MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Attending the course is easier for students with basic knowledge of management, micro and macroeconomics, financial maths, private and commercial law.
The final exam will be in presence. The exam is written and composed by 6 questions, and it takes 60 minutes.
The score per each question is expressed over 30 points; the final grade is given by the average of each single score. To pass the exam, the minimum score is 18 points out of 30.
In the case of students that can take the remote exam (exceptions are reported within the University’s guidelines), the final exam will be an online quiz via the e-learning platform. The test will contain 20 “closed-ended questions” to be solved in 30 minutes.
Mid-term exams are scheduled, in the form of written exams. The first mid-term exam, that covers topics referred to Part I of the course program, lasts 40 minutes and includes 4 questions. The second intermediate exam, which can be accessed only if the first exam is not failed (i.e., score at least 18 out of 30 points), consists of a written exam to be completed in 20 minutes and includes 3 questions.
In the case of remote exams, the mid-term exams will be two online quizzes via the e-learning platform. The first mid-term exam will be composed by 15 “closed-ended questions” to be solved in 25 minutes; the second test, at the end of semester, will cover topics included in Part II of the course program. The structure of the quiz will include 10 “closed-ended questions” to be solved in 20 minutes. The final grade will be the average of Part I’s score and Part II’s score.
There is no difference in course and exam program between attending and non-attending students.
No other forms of evaluation can be applied.
The course gives basic elements about the structure and the functioning of markets and financial intermediaries. Specific topics also relate to structure, activities, and operational tools of banking, insurance, and markets intermediaries, and basic elements for securities’ valuation as well. The course gives also basic information about costs and yield of financial instruments, banking and insurance contracts and financial market operations.
After attending the course, the student will be able to:
- describe and analyze different functions of financial markets and intermediaries and linkages among them;
- detect and describe main differences among financial contracts (banking, insurance and pensions, and market instruments) and their linkage to families and firms’ financial needs;
- describe operating activities, revenues and costs for banks, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries (e.g., asset management firms, specialized financial and credit intermediaries);
- describe and analyze objectives and activities of regulation and supervision on financial intermediaries and markets.
Moreover, at the end of the course the student will be able to:
- understand and use main financial technical terms. The student will be able to understand, summarize and critically evaluate specific literature and financial news on fundamental financial topics.
- evaluate risk and return of simple financial securities and understand main topics on the functioning of financial system (risks and performance drivers).
Part I - The financial system: functions, intermediaries, markets, and regulation (40 hours).
1. Main functions of the financial system (8 hours)
2. Financial contracts and risks related to banking and financial intermediation (4 hours)
3. Intermediation function (12 hours)
4. Money and payment systems (2 hours)
5. Transmission mechanism of monetary policy (some remarks) (2 hours)
6. Financial markets: some definitions (3 hours)
7. Financial intermediaries (6 hours)
8. Regulation and supervision (3 hours)
Part II - Financial instruments, products, and financial services (20 hours)
9. The value of the money and the evaluation of financial securities (6 hours)
10. Bond and debt securities and stocks (6 hours)
11. Firms’ and households’ financial needs and choices (4 hours)
12. Financial operations (4 hours)
A detailed timetable for lessons and topics will be published in the course e-learning page (https://elearning3.uninsubria.it).
See the section “Contents".
The course will have face-to-face lessons, given by the official teacher.
In the e-learning page students will also find slides and other online materials. In the final page of each group of slides, a list of main topics and some questions for checking exam preparation are reported.
Seminars and other initiatives on specific topics in the course could be organized. In the e-learning page students will find a simulation of the examination test, for their self -evaluation. These results will not be evaluated by the teacher.
Office hours
The lecturer meets students weekly, except holidays and in August. Please refer to teacher’s web page for timetable.