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University of Geneva- Olivier Scaillet, Thomas Wacker, Simon Smiles, University of Geneva- Jonas Demaurex, University of Geneva- Philip Valta, Brian Nick, University of Geneva- Michel Girardin, Chris Wright, University of Geneva- Ines Chaieb, Mike Ryan, Dirk Effenberger, University of Geneva- Rajna Gibson Brandon, Themis Themistocleous, University of Geneva- Martin Hoesli, Mark Haefele, and University of Geneva- Tony Berrada

In this course, you will learn what the main financial markets and their characteristics are as well as how they are linked to the economy.

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In this course, you will learn what the main financial markets and their characteristics are as well as how they are linked to the economy.

Our very diversified team of experts will start by teaching you how the price of stocks and bonds are computed and why they move while you will become increasingly aware of the notion of risk and why it matters when measuring an investment's performance. The focus will then move to less popular markets such as gold, emerging markets, real estate, hedge funds and private markets. These will be analyzed with an emphasis on their particular risks and return opportunities as well as how they can help in building efficient portfolios. Finally, the policies of central banks and their impact on financial markets will be presented to you along with the link between the economy and the price of financial assets.

All along these different steps, experts from UBS, our corporate partner, will show you how the concepts you just acquired are effectively applied in a leading global bank. This focus on practicality means you will not only understand what is going on in global financial markets but also start to figure out how you can use them to achieve financial goals, be it a client's or your own.

Course Director and main teaching contributor: Dr. Michel Girardin, Lecturer in Macro-Finance, University of Geneva

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What's inside

Syllabus

General Introduction and Key Concepts
Major Financial Markets
Other Financial Markets
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Financial Markets and the Economy

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Recommended for anyone who aspires to gain a thorough grasp of the dynamics of global financial markets
Suitable for individuals seeking a general understanding of financial markets, including investors, portfolio managers, and financial professionals
Covers a wide range of financial markets, offering a comprehensive overview for beginners and a valuable refresher for seasoned professionals
Involves practical insights from UBS experts, providing learners with a valuable industry perspective
Emphasizes the interconnections between financial markets and the economy, fostering a holistic understanding

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Reviews summary

Financial markets for beginners

learners say this course provides a well received in-depth introduction to the basics of financial markets. According to students, the engaging assignments and use of real world examples help to demystify the sometimes difficult concepts of macroeconomics, central banking, and emerging financial markets, while covering the fundamentals of investing. There is a focus on the global nature of finance, including discussions of currencies and emerging markets. Overall, students found this course to be largely positive and helpful in understanding the overall investment management landscape.
The course takes a global perspective on financial markets, discussing the impact of central banks, emerging markets, and currencies on investment decisions.
"This course went above and beyond my expectation."
"JUst amazing how well everything is explained the relationship between macro economic concepts and financial products and their valuation, behaviors, hence financial markets and how to asses them in the composition of investment porfolios."
"And adresses assets not always considered in investment courses such as real estate, the effect of currency and inflation and gold."
The instructors are knowledgeable and passionate about the material and present the information in an engaging and interesting way, making the learning process more enjoyable and easier to retain.
"I love this course!! The outline of the course really suit what i wish to learn."
"I enjoyed every single lesson. They're all very well designed, given in small packages and with questions along the videos so you get to think, and follow and not just watch."
"The professors' enthusiasm for their teaching was obvious and including UBS practitioners to discuss 'real world' implications was a brilliant decision."
The course content is very clearly explained, well paced and simple to understand. The instructors use a variety of teaching methods like examples, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate complex financial concepts in an easy to understand manner.
"It was one of the most valuable courses in fundamentals of financial markets and Investment."
"In addition to the techniques to invest better, I learned how to train at home broker and identified my difficulties in speaking fundamentalist analysis."
"The course offered by Unige is of excellent quality and effectiveness."
A few students found the language used in the course to be too technical and difficult to understand.
"The course was really good and I loved to see how passionate teachers were."
"It is a great dive into the financial markets subject however one needs to do a lot of reading outside the course to be able to get the best outcome of what the professor is trying to imply."
"However, the tests are too tricky -- you'll need to tick all the possible answers in a single question correctly before you're awarded a full point."
Some students felt that the course lacked practical examples and exercises to help them apply the concepts they were learning.
"I would only remove 1 star because the subtitles are terrible."
"The curriculum is well-planned and is easily understandable for learners without any financial background."
"The lecturers are very professional, too."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding Financial Markets with these activities:
Review basic probability and statistics
Strengthen your quantitative skills by reviewing the basics of probability and statistics.
Browse courses on Probability
Show steps
  • Revisit your notes or textbooks on probability and statistics.
  • Practice solving problems related to mean, median, standard deviation, and probability distributions.
Organize and review course materials
Enhance your understanding and retention of course materials by organizing and reviewing them effectively.
Show steps
  • Gather all course materials, including lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
  • Create a system for organizing and filing the materials.
  • Review the materials regularly to reinforce your learning.
Read 'Financial Markets and Institutions' by Fabozzi
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure and functioning of various financial markets and institutions.
Show steps
  • Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting key concepts.
  • Summarize each chapter in your own words.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Follow tutorials on technical analysis
Enhance your ability to interpret financial data and identify trading opportunities by learning technical analysis techniques.
Browse courses on Technical Analysis
Show steps
  • Find reputable online courses or tutorials on technical analysis.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
  • Practice applying the techniques on real market data.
Practice financial calculations
Reinforce your understanding of the formulas and calculations used in financial markets by solving practice problems.
Browse courses on Financial Markets
Show steps
  • Review the lecture material on financial calculations.
  • Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
  • Solve the practice problems and check your answers.
Attend a financial markets workshop
Gain practical insights and hands-on experience in financial markets by attending industry workshops.
Browse courses on Financial Markets
Show steps
  • Research and identify relevant workshops offered by financial institutions or educational organizations.
  • Register for the workshop and prepare in advance by reviewing the materials.
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions and exercises.
Join study groups or discussion forums
Enhance your understanding and broaden your perspectives by engaging in discussions and collaborating with your peers.
Show steps
  • Identify or create study groups with other students.
  • Participate in online discussion forums related to the course.
  • Engage in active listening, ask questions, and share your insights.
Create a financial portfolio
Apply your knowledge of financial markets to build a diversified portfolio that aligns with your investment goals.
Browse courses on Investment Strategies
Show steps
  • Research different asset classes and investment vehicles.
  • Determine your risk tolerance and investment horizon.
  • Select individual stocks, bonds, or mutual funds for your portfolio.
  • Monitor your portfolio's performance and make adjustments as needed.
Participate in a financial modeling competition
Challenge yourself and test your financial modeling skills by participating in a competition.
Browse courses on Financial Modeling
Show steps
  • Find financial modeling competitions organized by universities or industry organizations.
  • Team up with other participants or work independently.
  • Develop a financial model that meets the competition requirements.
  • Submit your model for evaluation.

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding Financial Markets will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts combine coursework from majors such as finance, statistics, economics, and mathematics to help companies make sound financial decisions. As a Financial Analyst, you may work for an investment banking division in a firm like UBS and in that role, you would play an instrumental advising clients on financial decisions, including reviewing and analyzing a wide array of financial data, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. The Understanding Financial Markets course would be of great value because it will develop your knowledge of key financial market concepts and their impact on the economy. The course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to apply theoretical constructs to real-world scenarios, which would be very helpful in your day-to-day work as a Financial Analyst.
Investment Banker
Investment Bankers help companies and governments raise money by issuing and selling securities or advising them on mergers and acquisitions. They are also responsible for providing financial advice to clients. As an Investment Banker, the Understanding Financial Markets course may enhance your success by providing you with a solid foundation in how the prices of stocks and bonds are computed and why they change in value. Understanding these concepts is essential for professionals who want to succeed in the fast-paced and competitive field of investment banking.
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Managers oversee the investment portfolios of individuals and institutions, making decisions about what assets to buy and sell to meet their clients' financial goals. They also manage risk by diversifying investments and monitoring market trends. The material covered in Understanding Financial Markets, including the impact of central banks' policies and the link between the economy and the price of financial assets, may be very useful for Portfolio Managers hoping to make informed, data-driven decisions.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks. They develop and implement strategies to protect their organizations from financial losses. The Understanding Financial Markets course can provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to understand and manage financial risk. The course will help you to identify and assess the risks associated with different financial instruments, and develop strategies to mitigate those risks.
Financial Planner
Financial Planners provide individuals and families with financial advice. They help clients to develop and implement financial plans that meet their specific needs and goals. The Understanding Financial Markets course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the financial markets and how they can be used to achieve your clients' financial goals.
Actuary
Actuaries use mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk and uncertainty. They work in a variety of industries, including insurance, finance, and healthcare. The Understanding Financial Markets course can be helpful for Actuaries who need to understand the financial markets in order to assess risk and uncertainty. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about risk.
Economist
Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. They use their knowledge of economics to advise businesses, governments, and individuals on economic policy. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Economists who need to understand the financial markets in order to make informed decisions about economic policy. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the economy.
Statistician
Statisticians collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. They work in a variety of industries, including finance, healthcare, and marketing. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Statisticians who need to understand the financial markets in order to analyze financial data. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to identify trends and patterns. They use their findings to make recommendations to businesses and organizations. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Data Analysts who need to understand the financial markets in order to analyze financial data. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers conduct research to understand the needs and wants of consumers. They use their findings to develop marketing strategies and products. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Market Researchers who need to understand the financial markets in order to make informed decisions about marketing strategies and products. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Financial Advisor
Financial Advisors provide financial advice to individuals and families. They help clients to develop and implement financial plans that meet their specific needs and goals. The Understanding Financial Markets course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to understand the financial markets and how they can be used to achieve your clients' financial goals.
Sales Trader
Sales Traders buy and sell securities for clients. They work in a fast-paced environment and need to have a deep understanding of the financial markets. The Understanding Financial Markets course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a Sales Trader. The course will help you to develop the skills you need to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Trader
Traders buy and sell stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Traders who need to have a deep understanding of the financial markets. The course will help you to develop the skills needed to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Broker
Brokers buy and sell securities for clients. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Brokers who need to have a deep understanding of the financial markets. The course will help you to develop the skills needed to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial data. They use their findings to make recommendations to businesses and organizations. The Understanding Financial Markets course may be helpful for Quantitative Analysts who need to have a deep understanding of the financial markets. The course will help you to develop the skills needed to analyze financial data and make informed decisions about the financial markets.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Understanding Financial Markets.
This report provides a detailed account of the causes of the 2008 financial crisis. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the factors that led to the crisis and the lessons that can be learned from it.
Classic textbook on investments. It covers a wide range of topics, including asset pricing, portfolio theory, and investment analysis. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the fundamentals of investing.
Provides a critique of the global economy and its impact on inequality. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the social and economic consequences of the financial crisis.
Provides a history of financial crises. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the historical patterns and causes of financial crises.
Provides a detailed account of the government's response to the 2008 financial crisis. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the policy decisions that were made during the crisis.
Comprehensive overview of financial markets and institutions. It covers a wide range of topics, including the structure of financial markets, the behavior of financial institutions, and the regulation of financial markets. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the financial system.
Comprehensive resource for corporate finance. It covers a wide range of topics, including financial markets, investment analysis, capital budgeting, and financial planning. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the fundamentals of corporate finance.
Provides a history of the financial crisis of 1929. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the historical parallels to the 2008 financial crisis.
Provides a classic account of the stock market crash of 1929. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the historical parallels to the 2008 financial crisis.
Provides a critical history of the Federal Reserve. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the role of the Fed in the financial system.
Provides a history of debt and its role in human societies. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the historical and social context of financial markets.

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