Financial Modelling
| Module title | Financial Modelling |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEAM046 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Wei-Ming Lee (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 400 |
|---|
Module description
Summary:
This module equips you with the knowledge and tools to implement financial models using Excel and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The module covers a range of topics in finance drawn from corporate finance, portfolio theory, fixed income analysis, risk management and international finance. The emphasis of the module is on the practical application of finance theory, with lectures on each topic followed by in-depth practical classes, in which you will work through real world problems using Excel and VBA.
Additional information:
Employability
This is an applied module that covers the implementation of quantitative financial models that are widely used in financial institutions such as investment banks, mutual funds and hedge funds, and in non-financial corporations.
Internationalisation
The content of this module is relevant to the finance industry in an international setting, with examples drawn from a number of global financial markets.
Sustainability
The sustainable operation of financial markets relies on the fact that security prices reflect the fair value of the future cash flows that they promise to pay. The fair valuation of security prices is maintained by the actions of investors, who exploit deviations from fair value through the implementation of financial models such as those covered in this module.
Research in Teaching
Some of the material covered in the module draws on research in the area of applied finance undertaken by the module convener, and either published in academic journals or used as a basis for commercial consultancy. Where appropriate, references to this research will be provided.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge and tools to implement financial models using Excel and VBA. The course introduces students to the general principles of building financial models, as well as a number of specific financial modelling tools, including matrix calculations, optimisation, regression analysis, out-of-sample forecasting and simulation. These methods are applied to a range of practical problems in finance, including passive and active portfolio management, risk management and currency valuation. The emphasis of the course is on practical application of the theory, with lectures on each topic followed by in-depth practical classes, in which students work through real world problems using Excel and VBA.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. explain the objectives of financial modelling and the characteristics of financial data
- 2. download financial data from the internet for a range of securities, including stocks, bonds, derivatives and currencies
- 3. undertake a range of financial and statistical calculations in Excel
- 4. estimate the cost of capital for a company
- 5. estimate the variance-covariance matrix of returns using several approaches
- 6. estimate the optimal passive portfolio of securities, with and without investment constraints
- 7. derive the optimal actively managed portfolio of securities
- 8. evaluate the risk of an investment portfolio
- 9. forecast the volatility of financial assets
- 10. estimate a model of the term structure of interest rates
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 11. evaluate the characteristics of financial data and their statistical properties
- 12. explain the principles of passive and active portfolio management
- 13. estimate corporate and Treasury bond yields and yield curves
- 14. use simulation to model the unknown distribution of financial security returns
- 15. evaluate the characteristics and dynamic properties of the volatility of financial assets
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 16. solve applied problems using Excel
- 17. download and manipulate complex data
- 18. plan and undertake independent research
- 19. present your research in a professional manner
- 20. work effectively in teams
Syllabus plan
- Introduction
- Portfolio Optimisation
- Portfolio Management
- Risk Management
- Volatility Forecasting
- Modelling the Yield Curve
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 126 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 12 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 12 | Practical classes |
| Guided independent study | 126 | Reading, preparation for classes and assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly practice questions | Taking about 20 minutes each week | 1-17 | Correct answers provided on ELE |
| Weekly guided case studies | Six weekly supervised practical case studies, each lasting two hours | 1-17 | Feedback during practical classes and suggested solutions provided on ELE |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual assignment | 70 | 1,500 words, excluding tables, figures and references | 1-15, 19 | Standard feedback form |
| Group assignment | 30 | 3,000 words, excluding tables, figures and references. | 1-20 | Standard feedback form |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual assignment | Individual assignment (2000 words) | 1-15, 19 | July/August |
| Group assignment | Individual assignment (1000 words) | 1-19 | July/August |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Benninga, S. (2014) Financial Modeling, 4th edition, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
To be advised during the course.
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
To be advised during the course.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | BEAM047 (or BEAM047A) Fundamentals of Financial Managementor or BEAM072 Principles of Finance |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 16/07/2014 |
| Last revision date | 23/01/2023 |
