Students

AFIN875 – Investing in Emerging Markets

2015 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Mehdi Sadeghi
mehdi.sadeghi@mq.edu.au
Contact via mehdi.sadeghi@mq.edu.au
Tuesday 1-3PM
Angela Chow
angela.chow@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ACST603 or AFIN818
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit begins with an examination of the characteristics of emerging financial markets. The unit then has two parts. The focus of the first part is on portfolio investment management. The focus of the second part is on direct investment in new projects. The geographic focus is in Asian countries.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Learn about the characteristics of emerging financial markets: asset allocation, volatility and linkages in emerging capital markets.
  • Explore the menu of investment opportunities, such as portfolio investment, FDI, and investment in a project in emerging markets.
  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.
  • review liberalisation and integration in emerging market.
  • Investigate financial crises and their contagious effects in emerging markets
  • Evaluate derivatives and hedging instruments in emerging markets.

General Assessment Information

It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within session assessment on iLearn within 20 working days of posting. If there are any discrepancies, students must contact the unit convenor immediately. Failure to do so will mean that queries received after the release of final results regarding assessment marks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.

A Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG) gives you an indication of how you have performed within the band for your descriptive grade. The SNG is not a mark, and you may not be able to work it out based on your raw examination and other assessment marks. Nor are you able to determine you are “one mark away” from a different grade.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Class Test 25% Week 7
Case Study 20% Thoughout the Session
Final Examination 55% Examination period

Class Test

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 25%

The 90-minute class test is designed to help you consolidate your understanding of core concepts through Multiple Choice questions. This test will cover topics from the first 6 weeks of lectures and the associated reading materials. You are expected to present yourself for the test in Lecture 7 at the enrolled time and place of your normal lecture. No extensions will be granted.  Students who have not attended for the class test on due date will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Learn about the characteristics of emerging financial markets: asset allocation, volatility and linkages in emerging capital markets.
  • Explore the menu of investment opportunities, such as portfolio investment, FDI, and investment in a project in emerging markets.
  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.

Case Study

Due: Thoughout the Session
Weighting: 20%

 Project finance case study (20%)

Project finance case study is a weekly group presentation exercise. This study provide students with an opportunity to systematically look at project financing events in emerging markets by collecting data, analysing information, and report the findings. Each student’s group is expected to present a case and submit a written report once only. A list of cases with a short description will be distributed to the class in the first week and students can select the one that they prefer (on the first come first serve basis).

No extensions will be granted.  Students who have not presented their case on due date will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Learn about the characteristics of emerging financial markets: asset allocation, volatility and linkages in emerging capital markets.
  • Explore the menu of investment opportunities, such as portfolio investment, FDI, and investment in a project in emerging markets.
  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.
  • Evaluate derivatives and hedging instruments in emerging markets.

Final Examination

Due: Examination period
Weighting: 55%

The final examination for this unit will be held during the University Examination Period. The exam will cover all of the topics in the syllabus, and will be a closed book exam.To be eligible to pass this unit, a pass is required in the final examination.No extensions will be granted.  Students who have not sat for the final exam will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Learn about the characteristics of emerging financial markets: asset allocation, volatility and linkages in emerging capital markets.
  • Explore the menu of investment opportunities, such as portfolio investment, FDI, and investment in a project in emerging markets.
  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.
  • review liberalisation and integration in emerging market.
  • Investigate financial crises and their contagious effects in emerging markets
  • Evaluate derivatives and hedging instruments in emerging markets.

Delivery and Resources

 

Classes

  • Each week there will be a two hour lecture, and one hour group presentation by students.
  • The timetable for classes can be found of the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
  • It is an assessment requirement of this unit that students attend classes, especially during presentation of case studies.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials Prescribed

  • Text book for the subject is Financial Decisions in Emerging Markets by Jaime Sabal. Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002, ISBN: 0195144597.
  • Reference books include Emerging Financial Markets by David Beim and Charles Calomiris, and Project Finance in Asia Pacific by Richard Tinsley.
  • All other readings will be available in library, or will be distributed in the lecture on weekly basis.
  • The required and recommended texts can be purchased from the Macquarie University Co-op Bookshop.
  • A copy of the recommended text is also available in the Macquarie Library.

Technology Used and Required

  • During the semester you need to access website of several emerging markets stock exchanges, and bond markets in order to do your Major
  • Assignment. You may also need to access website of relevant corporations and financial institutions that are involved in project finance case study.
  • Ability to work with softwares for time series analysis, and portfolio management are desirable requirements for doing your assignment and case study more professionally.
  • A nonprogrammable calculator may be used in any examination in this unit.

Unit Web Page

Course material is available on the learning management system (iLearn)

 

 

Unit Schedule

Date

Week

Lecture Topic

Other Readings

Text Readings

Case Study

 

27th

 

 July

1

Introduction

Lecture Notes

Bein & Calomoris (BC), Ch 1

Week 1 Readings

Allocation in the first week

 

3rd

Aug

2

Investing in Public Equities

Lecture Notes

Week 2 Readings

Case study

 

10th

3

Investing in Private Equities

Lecture Notes

Week 3 Readings

 

 

17th

4

Investing in Direct Debts and Bonds

Lecture Notes

Week 4 Readings

 

 

24th

 

 

5

Measuring Return and Risk, Diversification

Lecture Notes, handouts, BC Ch 1

Week 5 Readings

 

 

31th

  

6

Asset Pricing Models in EMs

Lecture Notes, readings in Library Reserve

Week 6 Readings

 

 

7th

Sep

                                                       In-class Test

 

 
14th-25th

                                                     Mid-Semester Break

  

  28th

 

 

8

FDI

Lecture Notes

Week 8 Readings

 

 

5th

Oct

9

Project Finance

Lecture Notes, readings in Library Reserve

Week 9 Readings

 

 

12th

10

Liberalisation & Integration

Lecture Notes, Ch 3 BC, readings in Library Reserve

Week 10 Readings

 

19th

 

 

11

Financial Crisis &  Risk

Lecture Notes, Ch 8 BC, readings in Library Reserve

Week 11 Readings

 

  26th

 

 

12

Contagion

Lecture Notes, readings in Library Reserve

Week 12 Readings

 

  2nd

Nov

13

Derivatives

Lecture Notes,  readings in Library Reserve

Week 13 Readings

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Supplementary Exam

Further information regarding supplementary exams, including dates, is available here   http://www.businessandeconomics.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/how_do_i/special_consideration

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Learn about the characteristics of emerging financial markets: asset allocation, volatility and linkages in emerging capital markets.
  • Explore the menu of investment opportunities, such as portfolio investment, FDI, and investment in a project in emerging markets.
  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.
  • review liberalisation and integration in emerging market.
  • Investigate financial crises and their contagious effects in emerging markets
  • Evaluate derivatives and hedging instruments in emerging markets.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Test
  • Final Examination

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse systematic risk and alternative CAPM for emerging financial markets.
  • Investigate financial crises and their contagious effects in emerging markets
  • Evaluate derivatives and hedging instruments in emerging markets.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Test
  • Case Study
  • Final Examination

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Investigate financial crises and their contagious effects in emerging markets

Assessment task

  • Case Study

Changes from Previous Offering

No change

Research and Practice

This unit gives you practice in applying research findings in your case study.