Securities
| Module title | Securities |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEF2021DA |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Mr Thomas Sisk (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 100 |
|---|
Module description
This module is intended for Financial Services Professional Degree Apprenticeship students and offers a basic understanding of global market infrastructure, operation and practice. You will study how the financial services industry is structured, different types of markets, asset classes, the administration of securities, basic accounting principles and investment management. You will explore the concepts of equities, bonds, FX, collective investment schemes and structured products. The module will also analyse the difference between primary and secondary markets, clearing and settlement of securities and will introduce you to the basics of accounting (Statements of Financial Position, Cash Flow and Comprehensive Income). You do not require any prior knowledge, skills or experience to complete this module, but it is aimed at students who aspire to work in capital markets. The module prepares you to undertake the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments’ “Securities” exam.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide knowledge about the structure of the financial services sector, different asset classes, securities administration, basic accounting principles and the fundamentals of investment management. The module will focus on providing in-depth knowledge about shares, debt instruments, FX principles and the purpose of collective investment schemes. The course also provides knowledge on how financial instruments are traded and different types of markets. Students will have an opportunity to learn about the full trading life cycle, including the clearing and settlement of securities. In order to better understand what drives the pricing of securities, this module also explores the basic principles of accounting analysis. Participants will learn about the different types of accounting statements and will be able to conduct a financial statement analysis upon completion of this module. The course also aims at providing students with sufficient knowledge to evaluate risk / reward scenarios when investing in different asset classes and how to increase or reduce risk through the use of derivatives.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Present an overview of how the financial services sector is structured and its participants.
- 2. Discuss the uses, advantages and disadvantages of holding assets (including cash, Treasury Bills and Commercial Paper)
- 3. Develop a sound understanding of shares, including different share types and dividends , and markets and exchanges where these can be traded.
- 4. Explain the basics of debt instruments including government debt and corporate debt, and markets and exchanges where these can be traded.
- 5. Perform calculations related to securities pricing including FX forwards, dividend yields and bond yields.
- 6. Perform accounting analysis on different types of financial statements.
- 7. Explain the principles of investment management including risk / reward.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Evidence a sound understanding of the financial services sector and main investment products.
- 9. Apply financial concepts and accounting analysis to investment principles in practical situations.
- 10. Evidence a broad knowledge of specific markets, different asset classes, financial instruments and basic accounting principles related to investment management.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 11. Deliver high quality written communication skills.
- 12. Evaluate information quickly and draw accurate conclusions by assessing problems from multiple angles.
Syllabus plan
Element 1: Financial Services Industry
Element 2: Asset classes
Element 3: Markets
Element 4: Primary Markets
Element 5: Secondary Markets
Element 6: Corporate actions
Element 7: Clearing and settlement.
Element 8: Accounting analysis
Element 9: Investment Management
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 110 | 100 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 25 | Masterclasses (in-person and online) |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 65 | Online guided learning |
| Guided Independent Study | 110 | Research, reading, assessment preparation and web-based activities including external resources if applicable. |
| Work-based Learning | 100 | Apply knowledge to practical situations in the workplace |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly online quizzes | 30 minutes - 5 quizzes | 1-7 | Marks and online answer option feedback |
| Mock Exam | 2 hours - 1 mock exam | 1-7 | Marks and generic written cohort feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice exam | 50 | 100 MCQ questions - 2 hours | 1-7 | Marks and generic written cohort feedback |
| Applied exercise / written assignment | 50 | 2500-word written assignment or equivalent total | 1-12 | Marks and individual feedback (written) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice exam | 100 MCQ questions 2 hours | 1-7 | In line with university regulations |
| Applied exercise / written assignment | 2500-word written assignment or equivalent total | 1-11 | In line with university regulations |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Securities (L3), CISI workbook (most recent edition), the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)
Web-based and electronic resources:
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/auth/saml2/sp/saml2-acs.php/vle.exeter.ac.uk
Other resources:
- CISI Revision Express online learning platform, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Financial Times
- How the stock market works [electronic resource] : a beginner's guide to investment (6th Ed.) / Michael Becket, available online from https://lib.exeter.ac.uk/record=b3542206~S1
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 19/5/23 |
| Last revision date | 22/5/23 |
