EC4430 Financial Economics: Portfolio Management

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr R Tuneshev

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Ruslan Tuneshev

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of key issues in asset allocation and portfolio composition/management at an intermediate level. The tradeoff between risk and return is defined, a clear distinction between passive and active portfolio management is established and key market equilibrium models of how risks and returns are determined at individual and portfolio levels are carefully analyzed. Moreover, this module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their ability to critically understand current theoretical and empirical research in the field of portfolio management and the implications of such research for alternative portfolio composition and management techniques. Various trading strategies involving multiple asset classes such as equities and bonds implemented by professional asset managers are introduced.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE EC4417

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE EC4204

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour tutorial (x 5 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

175

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

Develop students' knowledge and understanding of key issues in asset allocation and portfolio composition/management at an intermediate level.
Provide students with the opportunity to develop their ability to critically understand current theoretical and empirical research in the field of portfolio management.
Help students derive the implications of financial research for alternative portfolio composition and portfolio management strategies.
Students are introduced with several techniques available in the field of portfolio management within the context of risk management and portfolio performance maximisation.