Online Quizzes (11 in total)

Due: Throughout semester, see iLearn for details Weighting: 28%

Ten (10) online quizzes (open-book) will be held weekly throughout the semester. Nine (9) of these quizzes will each be worth 2% of the final mark for this unit, and a tenth one will be worth 5%. These quizzes will involve a mixture of multiple choice questions and numeric response questions. Full details will be provided on iLearn.

Additionally, a mid-semester online quiz worth 5% will will be held around the time of the semester break (see iLearn for details). Here, students will need to submit scanned copies of their work and submit it via iLearn. See iLearn for more details.

Students are given a single attempt at each quiz. Students should not delay completion of any quiz until the last day. No extensions will be granted.

Students who do not complete the quiz prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of zero (0) for the task except for cases in which an application for Special Consideration (SC) is made and approved. Any approved SC application in relation to an online quiz will normally only be considered for special consideration where the disruption lasted for at least three days of the assessment period. Where the SC is granted, the student may be offered an alternative assessment or may receive a mark based on the percentage mark achieved by the student in one or more other assessment tasks, at the Unit Convenor’s discretion.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify major functions, risks and regulation of financial markets.
• Explain key fundamental concepts in finance including determinants of the time value of money.
• Value cash flows including single and multiple amounts, annuities, company bonds and shares.
• Explain the relationship between risk and return.
• Evaluate financial information using a spreadsheet.

Excel Assignment

Due: 2 October 2pm Weighting: 12%

The Excel Assignment requires preparation of an excel spreadsheet. The assignment will be available at 2pm on 30 September 2020 and is to be completed individually and submitted within a 48-hour window, i.e., it is due at 2pm on 2 October 2020. Details of the assignment and the submission procedure will be posted on iLearn prior to the assignment becoming available.

No extensions will be granted. Students who do not complete the assignment prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task except for cases in which an application for Special Consideration (SC) is made and approved. The Unit Convenor has no discretion to award a supplementary assessment outside of the SC policy. Those who are granted a Supplementary Assignment will be issued instructions during the mid-term break.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Value cash flows including single and multiple cash flows.
• Evaluate financial information using a spreadsheet.

Final Exam

Due: University Examination Period Weighting: 60%

Final Examination (open book) will cover all Week 1 through Week 13 topics. It will be a two hour exam, with 10 minutes added for reading time, and is to be completed individually and submitted within the allotted time. Details will become available on iLearn closer to the date.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify major functions, risks and regulation of financial markets.
• Explain key fundamental concepts in finance including determinants of the time value of money.
• Value cash flows including single and multiple amounts, annuities, company bonds and shares.
• Explain the relationship between risk and return.

Learning and Teaching Activities

The content for each week will comprise of a lecture recording and a set of tutorial questions (Problem Sets). Students will be able to choose whether they wish to attend on-campus or online (via Zoom) tutorials. Please note that tutorials will only be offered in selected weeks throughout the semester. The schedule of lecture and tutorial class times is available at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. More details will be available on iLearn. It is the responsibility of individual students to stay up to date with the material.

Lectures

A lecture recording will be uploaded to ECHO at the start of each week. Lecture notes will be available in the week of the lecture, in the iLearn weekly tabs.

Tutorials

Students will need to register to either an on-campus tutorial, or an online (Zoom) tutorial. Tutorials are considered compulsory but no marks are allocated. Tutorials will be avaiable for most, but not all weeks of the semester. In weeks where there aren't any live (on-campus or online) tutorials, a recording will be provided to cover the relevant material.

The tutorial schedule will be made available on iLearn.

Tutorial enrolment or change of tutorial can be made through eStudent in the first two weeks of the semester. No tutorial changes are allowed after Week 2.  Students should attend their allocated tutorial, but exceptions may occur on a one-off basis. That is, where circumstances prevent you attending your own tutorial in a given week, you may attend an alternative tutorial if room available.

Students are expected to complete the ‘Tutorial Questions’ as a self-directed study activity before attending a tutorial. Solutions will be posted after the week in which the questions are discussed. Additional learning support will be available in tutor consultation times, and in PAL sessions.

Recommended Text

Parino, R. et al. 2018. Fundamentals of Corporate Finance (Australian 3rd Ed.). Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 

e-text version (cheapest): ISBN 978-0-7303-5517-5 https://www.wileydirect.com.au/buy/fundamentals-of-corporate-finance-3rd-edition/

Hardcopy alternative: ISBN 978-0-7303-6346-0

Note: The university library has licences that enable FREE online access to the text (with limited page printing allowance per logon). See iLearn for details.

Technology Used and Required

Calculator

A calculator will be required for the various calculations throughout the semester, and for the Final Examination. Note: As a general rule, students are expected to clearly show all steps/working in their solutions to 'calculation' questions.

Calculators need the following minimum functionality: x^y or ^, 1/x and log or ln functions, and a memory. Non-programmable financial calculators are permitted but it is not a requirement to use a financial calculator.

Students are expected to by Week 1 be familiar at least with the basic operation of their calculator. 

Computing

Students are expected to by Week 1 be familiar at least with the basic operation of their computing device, ensuring the device is Wi-Fi enabled to access lecture activities in 'real-time'.

Software

Students should have access to Excel software (version 2013 or more recent), and are expected to in Week 1 have viewed the 'Excel Tutorials' in iLearn 'Kick-Start'. Excel will be used in lectures and tutorials from Week 1. An excel assignment is part of the assessment. A review of Excel fundamentals and time value of money functionality is scheduled for the Week 4 lecture. We strongly recommend students to engage with Excel from Week 1.

See https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk/office-365 for instructions on how to get your free copy of Microsoft Office.

Knowledge of Maths

A background of at least HSC General Mathematics or equivalent numerical competency is assumed. A small self-diagnostic online Maths Revision exercise is available on iLearn. The self-diagnostic exercise is not assessable, but may assist in providing an indication of your understanding of the type of mathematics functions we will use in the unit. Students requiring assistance with the unit's mathematical elements throughout the term may consult with the Numeracy Centre team during appointed hours (no appointment needed). Students without HSC General Mathematics or equivalent,  are best advised to not undertake ACST101 until completing a math unit (MATH123 or ECON131).