Module ECON40215: Security Analysis

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Economics and Finance)

ECON40215: Security Analysis

Prerequisites

• One module at a level equivalent to a second year British Honours Degree standard, covering statistics and in particular covering at least probability theory and distributions as well as hypothesis testing.

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop students' knowledge and understanding of key issues in security analysis at an advanced level;
• provide students with the opportunity to develop the ability to critically understand current theoretical and empirical research in the complex field of security analysis and selection;
• provide students with the ability to critically review this specialised complex area of knowledge with a view to undertaking a dissertation in field of security analysis and potentially future research work in this area.

Content

• Overview of Financial Markets and Instruments;
• Investment Banking and Investment Companies;
• Common Stocks: Technical analysis, Fundamental analysis and relative valuation investment strategies;
• Accounting Information and Stock Prices;
• Earnings Estimation and Forecasts;
• Analysts’ Forecasts and Security Returns.

Learning Outcomes

• have an advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the principles and practice of some of the models of evaluating common stocks;
• have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current academic literature and its implications for professional practice, and be able to identify open questions for their own research;
• have demonstrated ability to learn and work independently in this area, exercising critical judgement and discrimination in the resolution of complex problematic situations.

• have highly specialised and advanced technical, professional and academic skills in the analysis of securities for investment purposes;
• have problem solving and analytical skills in a complex specialised context.

• Written Communication;
• Planning, Organising and Time Management;
• Problem solving and initiative;
• Adaptability;
• Numeracy;
• Computer Literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• A combination of lectures, seminars and guided reading will contribute to achieving the aims and learning outcomes of this module. Summative assessment by written examination will text students' knowledge and understanding of the subject-matter, their critical judgement and problem-solving skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will receive written comments on a formative written assignment. Additional formative assessment, and feedback, may take a number of forms such as oral feedback on work prepared by students for seminars; answers to questions either discussed during a seminar or posted on DUO; discussions with teaching staff during consultation hours, or via e-mail.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University