Finance (FINA)

A basic course in business finance introducing the student to the discipline and presenting financial analysis, working capital management, capital budgeting, the tax environment and the role of financial intermediaries.

A continuation from FINA 2360 covering cost of capital, capital mix, capital and money markets, dividend policy, financial instruments and mergers, consolidations and bankruptcy. Microcomputers will be used to perform analyses.

An introduction to the study of real estate investment analysis and valuation. The course relates financial and economic principles to the examination of investment and financing decisions in real estate and mortgage markets. Topics include a discussion of the unique characteristics of real estate assets and markets, the investment process, appraisal, financing and market analysis.

The topics covered in this course include an overview of capital markets and the financial services industry; financial statement analysis; an overview of the Canadian economy; fixed income securities; equity securities; investment funds; derivatives; security analysis; financing, listing and regulation; financial planning and taxation issues; and portfolio management. These topics are based on the curriculum of the Canadian Securities CourseTM (CSC). Substantial additional fees are required for this course.

Students in this course explore the intersection of sustainability and finance, focusing on investment mandates and fundamental financial concepts across traditional asset classes. Environmental, Social and Governance standards and their applications in shaping financial decisions are examined. The course includes a review of the literature on the roles of corporate stakeholders, financial markets and regulators in influencing ESG performance.

This course expands on the three basic corporate finance decisions: capital investment, capital structure and dividend policy. It also examines current practices in short and long-term financing as well as financial planning. Finally, the course examines issues in topics such as lease financing, mergers and acquisitions and hedging risk. Case studies may be utilized to apply different concepts and techniques learned in the class to real world problems.

This course presents an overview of the Canadian investment environment. A framework is developed for assessing the merits of various securities that trade in the money and capital markets. Topics covered in this course include sources of financial information, Canadian market indicators, risk and return and market efficiency, the analysis of fixed income and equity securities, derivatives and margin trading on securities. A brief introduction to portfolio management is given.

A comprehensive analysis of the decision-making process of portfolio management. Major subject areas include the different types of funds, their objectives and performance evaluation; an analysis of the aggregate stock market, industry, and company; bond portfolio analysis and interest rate risk management.

This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the types of financial innovations taking place in the marketplace, focusing on derivative securities such as the futures, options, and swap markets. Topics covered include stock and index option strategies, currency options, and interest rate options; commodity futures; currency, interest rate, and commodity swaps. Applications to hedging strategies will be emphasized.

This course provides a detailed analysis of the bond market and the instruments available therein. Although the emphasis is on North American securities, global portfolios are also examined. Bond valuation and bond portfolio strategies are covered in depth. Treasury securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, mortgages, mortgage backed securities, CMO’s and interest rate options are addressed.

This course will deal with the structure and function of Canadian financial institutions such as: banks, brokers and investment banks, insurance companies and mutual funds. The role of each type of institution in the economy will be discussed as well as regulation of the industry. The main emphasis of the course will be on the institutions as businesses; their profit and risk structure.

This course will provide students with exposure to the use of various software packages in analyzing and tracking investment decisions. Emphasis will be on the gathering of financial and economic data, analysis of data in making investment decisions, and tracking and analyzing investment performance. In addition to common tools such as spreadsheets, the course will make use of state-of-the art software currently used in the financial services industry.

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad overview of the various financial instruments available and their role within investment strategies, as well as to examine current trends in the global capital markets. While some time will be allocated to the traditional asset classes (equities, bonds), the emphasis of the course is on the non-traditional, or alternative, assets classes that have recently been developed or gained popularity, such as mortgages backed securities and other fixed income securities, the myriad forms of swaps, other derivatives, real estate, private equity, etc. The emphasis is on the structure of these instruments and their risk-return characteristics. The usual context will be that of a large institutional investor such as a pension plan, insurance company or hedge fund. Also the linkages amongst the various markets in a global context will be discussed.

This course is divided into three major parts. The first part provides a basic understanding of the forces that determine the relative values of currencies in the foreign exchange markets. Parts two and three focus on the firm with the financing of international operations and capital budgeting decisions.

This course deals with selected topics in finance. It is offered when in sufficient demand, and specific topics covered may vary depending on the interests of students and instructor.

This is an introductory course in applied investment management. The course is the first of two courses that support the investment management of the Sobey School of Business’s IMPACT Fund. Students who are admitted to the program will undertake a comprehensive economic analysis of the Canadian economy and use this to generate top-down portfolio allocation decisions. In addition, students will learn how to generate financial research reports using state-of-the-art financial tools. Emphasis will be placed on generating, interpreting and applying comparative company analysis reports.

This is an advanced course in applied investment management. The course is the second of two courses that support the investment management of the Sobey School of Business’s IMPACT Fund. Students who are admitted to this program will be responsible for making portfolio allocation decisions for the fund. Students will use comparable company analysis in conjunction with more advanced financial models, such as cash flow and real options models, in making bottom-up active portfolio management decisions.