Finance (FNCE) 470

Overview

The course examines the theory and practice of investment and portfolio management. Upon successful completion of this course, you should be

• well-versed in the theory and practice of investment and portfolio management.
• equipped to use available information on financial markets (at both macro and micro levels).
• able to construct a sound investment portfolio in terms of investment principles and portfolio performance.

Outline

• Unit 1: Investment Background
  • Lesson 1: The Investment Setting
  • Lesson 2: The Asset Allocation Decision
  • Lesson 3: Organization and Functioning of Securities Markets
  • Lesson 4: Security Market Indexes and Index Funds
• Unit 2: Developments in Investment Theory
  • Lesson 5: Efficient Capital Markets, Behavioural Finance, and Technical Analysis
  • Lesson 6: Introduction to Portfolio Management
  • Lesson 7: Asset Pricing Models
• Unit 3: Valuation and Management of Common Stocks
  • Lesson 8: Equity Valuation
  • Lesson 9: The Top-Down Approach to Market, Industry, and Company Analysis
  • Lesson 10: The Practice of Fundamental Investing
  • Lesson 11: Equity Portfolio Management Strategies
• Unit 4: Valuation and Management of Bonds
  • Lesson 12: Bond Fundamentals and Valuation
  • Lesson 13: Bond Analysis and Portfolio Management
• Unit 5: Derivative Security Analysis
  • Lesson 14: Introduction to Derivative Markets and Securities
  • Lesson 15: Forward, Futures, and Swap Contracts
  • Lesson 16: Option Contracts
• Unit 6: Analysis and Evaluation of Asset Management
  • Lesson 17: Professional Portfolio Management, Alternative Assets, and Industry Ethics
  • Lesson 18: Evaluation of Portfolio Performance

Evaluation

To receive credit for FNCE 470, you must complete an assignment, either a portfolio evaluation or a research paper, and a final examination. You must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the Final Examination, and an overall course grade of D (50 percent). The following chart describes the credit weight associated with each course requirement.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Reilly, F. K., & Brown, K. C., & Leeds, S. J. (2025). Investment analysis and portfolio management (12^th ed.). South-Western, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9798214048543 (eText); 9780357988176 (print).

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the FNCE 470 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

• Online Exam (3 hours)

Important links

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• Program planning
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