Training Courses

Financial Markets Demystified

Category: Capital Markets

Course level: Introductory

In house

This one-day course provides a broad-based understanding of financial markets. No prior knowledge is assumed and all terms are clearly explained.

Case studies form an integral part of the course, to allow the delegates to consolidate the information and provide the basis for group discussions.

Objectives

By the end of the course, delegates will have a better understanding of:

  • capital flows between corporates, governments and investment firms
  • the equity and fixed income markets – risks and rewards
  • cash and money markets
  • derivatives and their uses

Length

1 day

Course Content

Economic fundamentals

How money circulates round the economy
Who issues equities and bonds and what do they do with the capital?
Who buys equities and bonds and what do they get in return?

Investment management

Institutional funds
    Pension funds, charities, trusts
Retail funds
    Unit trusts, SICAVs, OEICs, investment trusts, ISAs
Client objectives and asset classes
Investment styles
    Active vs passive, growth vs income, contrarian, etc.

Fixed income

Government bonds, corporate bonds, eurobonds
Convertible bonds and bonds with warrants
Quiz on bonds

Equities

Ordinary shares, preference shares, ADRs
Stock markets, dealing, settlement, safe custody
Quiz on shares

Cash and foreign exchange

Deposits
Money market instruments
    Treasury bills, commercial paper, CDs, repos
Foreign exchange
    Hedging vs speculation
 

Derivatives

Understanding forwards and futures
Derivatives trading – exchanges, buying and selling, settlement and margin
Case study: Margining an index future
Using futures and forwards – hedging, speculation, asset allocation
Case study: Hedging a portfolio using index futures
Options – calls, puts, buying insurance, writing options to produce income
Case study: Options strategies

This course would be suitable for:

  • Client services and call centres
  • HR and training
  • Investment administration and operations
  • IT and software developers
  • Legal & Compliance
  • New entrants
  • PR and recruitment firms
  • Sales and marketing

This course would be suitable for these exams:

  • IMC
  • SII Certificate - Securities
  • SII IAQ - Introduction to Securities & Investments
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