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25741 Capital Markets

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2018 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Finance
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject examines the structure and behaviour of Australia's financial system and its main components. Its principal topics are the instruments and processes through which financing is arranged, the pricing of instruments and the associated risks and their management with derivatives. The subject forms part of the finance specialisation in the MBA and Master of Business degree programs where it provides a preparation for more specialised subjects in investment management, international finance and the various subjects that deal with financial institutions and risk management.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. explain the major functions performed by a developed financial system, their inter-relationships and official supervision of the Australian financial system by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
2. discuss the operations of the main financial instruments and financial markets that comprise the Australian financial system and calculate prices and investment yields for debt securities
3. evaluate the main risks involved in global financial markets and how they are managed with derivative products in Australia, and evaluate the use of derivatives for hedging purposes
4. explain the potential for financial markets to impose financial discipline on the management of financial institutions and borrowers.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:

  • Demonstrate effective oral presentation skills suitable for academic or professional audiences (3.2)
  • Be able to interact effectively with others in order to work towards a common outcome (3.3)
  • Demonstrate detailed understanding of ethical and social responsibility in professional practice (4.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject provides finance students with an understanding of the operations of a financial system and its major components. It provides a knowledge and competency basis for subsequent specialised subjects, such as Investment Management and International Finance.

This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Attitudes and values

This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objectives for the Master of Finance and Master of Financial Analysis:

  • 3.1: Convey information clearly and fluently, in high quality written form appropriate for their audience

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be taught using a combination of in-class and on-line learning activities. In-class activities include lectures and interactive exercises that provide opportunities to discuss and apply theory to practice. For example, problem solving exercises done in a team with other students. On-line and off-line learning opportunities provide students with access to a number of current videos and case studies on topics covered in the subject that they can view before coming to class. The UTS web-based communication tool (UTSOnline) will be used to share information and encourage interaction between staff and students. Student will also use appropriate computer software such as word processors and presentation tools to complete assigned tasks.

In preparation for class students are expected to do the following to prepare them for participation in class discussion and activities:

  1. Review of lectures - Before coming to class students are required to read and review the lecture powerpoint slides for the topic(s) being covered. This will allow them to participate in the class discussion organised by the lecturer each week.
  2. Review case studies and digital resources - Before coming to class students are required to read and review case studies and watch online videos when they are provided for a topic. Lecturers will ask students to discuss in groups the main points in these case studies and online videos.

After each topic is finished students are expected to:

  1. Review of lectures - After each lecture students should go over the material covered and read material from the textbook that covers the topic in the lecture. Students should post questions on the UTSOnline Discussion Board to discuss the material being covered. These questions will be answered by other students and the lecturers.
  2. Self-learning revision questions - A few days after a topic is covered in lectures students are required to complete the revision questions for the topic. While answers will be provided on UTSOnline students might want to post questions on the discussion board on UTSOnline to discuss the questions and answers.
  3. Self-learning on-line non-assessable) multiple choice - Multiple choice quizzes are available on UTSOnline for students to complete on the topics.

Particular emphasis is placed on creating opportunities throughout the session for students to gain feedback on their learning. In addition to informal feedback gained from peers and tutors while participating in interactive exercises, students will receive formative feedback in the following ways:

  1. through class quizzes where all students receive feedback in class on whether each question was well answered or poorly answered by the majority of students in the subject in addition to where the correct answer was covered in the lecture notes;
  2. students are asked to meet with their lecturer to review their presentation slides before they do their class presentation;
  3. written feedback from the lecturer provided on the grade sheet of the written assignment.

Content (topics)

  1. The major functions performed by the financial system
  2. The processes of financing the risks and their management
  3. Financial products and services and their financial characteristics
  4. The roles played by financial institutions and their supervision
  5. The operations of the main markets for securities and foreign exchange
  6. The behaviour of financial variables
  7. The pricing of financial market securities
  8. The nature, purposes and risk-management uses of derivatives

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Presentation and Written Assignment/Reflection (Group/Individual)

Intent:

This subject contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives for the courses C04038 Master of Financial Analysis and C04048 Master of Finance:

  • demonstrate effective oral presentation skills suitable for academic or professional audiences (PLO 3.2)
  • interact effectively with others in order to work towards a common outcome (PLO 3.3)
  • demonstrate understanding of ethical and social responsibility in professional practice (PLO 4.1)
Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

This addresses program learning objectives(s):

3.2 and 3.3

Weight: 20%
Length:

Written Assignment - The maximum number of words is 1,500.

Written Reflection - The maximum number of words is 500.

Assessment task 2: In-Class Exams (Individual)

Intent:

This subject contributes specifically to the following program learning objective for the courses C04038 Master of Financial Analysis and C04048 Master of Finance:

  • demonstrate understanding of ethical and social responsibility in professional practice (4.1)
Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

This addresses program learning objectives(s):

4.1

Weight: 30%

Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

Weight: 50%

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Recommended texts

The subject does not follow a particular textbook. Students are provided with lecture notes that include material from several texts and publications. The source of the text or publication is cited when this material is used. There are three Australian textbooks that cover the topics studied in the subject. These textbooks are listed below under ‘Reference Texts’. Students can use any one of these two textbooks as their reference text. In the ‘Class Schedule’ on page 4 reference pages are written for the textbook by Viney. However, the same material is also included in the other two textbooks. In the lecture notes students are advised to complete questions from the textbook by Viney. These questions and brief answers to them are provided on UTSOnline.

References

  • Viney, C. (2015) Financial Institutions, Instruments and Markets, 8th edition, McGraw-Hill, Australia.
  • Hunt, B. and Terry, C. (2014) Financial Institutions and Markets, 7th edition, Cengage Learning (NZ) Limited.
  • Articles in Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletins available on www.rba.gov.au
  • Articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review Booklets from www.asx.com.au called 'Understanding Options Trading' and 'Understanding Options Strategies'
  • Faculty of Business (2014), Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney. This can be downloaded from: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/business/study-and-assessment-resources.
  • Faculty of Business (2014) Developing you academic writing, Study and Assessment Resources, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney. This can be downloaded from: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/business/study-and-assessment-resources/developing-your-academic-writing

Teaching resources

The web learning resources made available by the University can be accessed on:

Some useful web addresses