Python for Finance: Investment Fundamentals & Data Analytics from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn how to code in python
Take your career to the next level
Work with python’s conditional statements, functions, sequences, and loops
Work with scientific packages, like numpy
Understand how to use the data analysis toolkit, pandas
Plot graphs with matplotlib
Use python to solve real-world tasks
Get a job as a data scientist with python
Acquire solid financial acumen
Carry out in-depth investment analysis
Build investment portfolios

Calculate risk and return of individual securities
Calculate risk and return of investment portfolios
Apply best practices when working with financial data
Use univariate and multivariate regression analysis
Understand the capital asset pricing model
Compare securities in terms of their sharpe ratio
Perform monte carlo simulations
Learn how to price options by applying the black scholes formula
Be comfortable applying for a developer job in a financial institution
Show more
Show less

Learn how to code in python
Take your career to the next level
Work with python’s conditional statements, functions, sequences, and loops
Work with scientific packages, like numpy
Understand how to use the data analysis toolkit, pandas
Plot graphs with matplotlib
Use python to solve real-world tasks
Get a job as a data scientist with python
Acquire solid financial acumen
Carry out in-depth investment analysis
Build investment portfolios
Calculate risk and return of individual securities
Calculate risk and return of investment portfolios
Apply best practices when working with financial data
Use univariate and multivariate regression analysis
Understand the capital asset pricing model
Compare securities in terms of their sharpe ratio
Perform monte carlo simulations
Learn how to price options by applying the black scholes formula
Be comfortable applying for a developer job in a financial institution
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Welcome! Course Introduction

In this video, we will discuss:

who are the instructors of the course
what the course is about
who it is for
the wide range of topics covered in this course

Learn how to navigate in the Course Content section and find the resources available for all lectures.

Introduction to programming with Python

In this lesson, we will explain what you must know about programming if you are just getting started.

Python is a programming language characterized as:

open-source
general-purpose
high-level

Why Python?

You must install Python and Jupyter on your computer. If you have them, you can still complete this lecture, because we will say a few interesting things about Jupyter.

Why Jupyter?

There are various ways to install Python on your computer. But especially for new users, it is highly recommended to choose Anaconda. It will install, not only Python, but also the Jupyter Notebook App and many scientific computing and data science packages.

In this lesson, we’ll do a quick tour of the Jupyter dashboard. You’ll see how to:

manipulate files and folders in the Jupyter dashboard
upload and open Python files in Jupyter
create new Python files in Jupyter

Now that we know more about the dashboard, we are ready to examine the shell and see how to code in Jupyter.

Jupyter’s Interface

Python 2 vs Python 3: What's the Difference?

Python Variables and Data Types

In this lesson, we will start coding. We will also introduce you to one of the main concepts in programming – variables.

Variables - Exercise #1

Variables - Exercise #2

Variables - Exercise #3

Variables - Exercise #4

Variables

Two distinct numeric types in Python are:

integers
floating points (floats)

Numbers and Boolean - Exercise #1

Numbers and Boolean - Exercise #2

Numbers and Boolean - Exercise #3

Numbers and Boolean - Exercise #4

Numbers and Boolean - Exercise #5

Numbers and Boolean Values

In this lesson, we’ll learn about another type of value that can be useful when working in Python – strings. Strings are text values composed of a sequence of characters.

Strings - Exercise #1

Strings - Exercise #2

Strings - Exercise #3

Strings - Exercise #4

Strings - Exercise #5

Strings

Basic Python Syntax

We’ll continue to build our Python syntax knowledge. The next topic on our agenda is arithmetic operators:

addition (+)
subtraction (-)
division (/)
multiplication (*)
remainder (%)
exponentiation (**)

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #1

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #2

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #3

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #4

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #5

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #6

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #7

Arithmetic Operators - Exercise #8

Arithmetic Operators

Here, we will explore another useful operator - the double equality sign.

The Double Equality Sign - Exercise #1

The Double Equality Sign

In this video, we will show you how to reassign variables in Python.

Reassign Values - Exercise #1

Reassign Values - Exercise #2

Reassign Values - Exercise #3

Reassign Values - Exercise #4

Reassign values

Learn how to use the hash sign for writing comments in Python.

Add Comments

In this video, we will show you a neat trick that will be extremely valuable when you become an advanced Python programmer and work with large amounts of code – using the forward slash to finish your code on a new line.

Line Continuation - Exercise #1

Let’s look at another important concept that will help us a great deal when working in Python - indexing. This is a technique we’ll use frequently, later in the course, especially when we focus on Python’s application in the world of finance.

Indexing Elements - Exercise #1

Indexing Elements - Exercise #2

Indexing Elements

The next concept for programming in Python that we will see is fundamental – it is called indentation. The way you apply it in practice is important, as this will be the only mechanism to communicate your ideas to the machine properly.

Structure Your Code with Indentation - Exercise #1

Structure Your Code with Indentation

Python Operators Continued

In this section, we will learn more about the operators that will help us in our work in Python. We will start with comparison operators.

Comparison Operators - Exercise #1

Comparison Operators - Exercise #2

Comparison Operators - Exercise #3

Comparison Operators - Exercise #4

Comparison Operators

Briefly, the logical operators in Python are the words “not”, “and”, and “or”. They compare a certain number of statements and return Boolean values – “True” or “False” – hence their second name, Boolean operators.

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #1

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #2

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #3

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #4

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #5

Logical and Identity Operators - Exercise #6

Logical and Identity Operators

Conditional Statements

Values act as the most basic (or primitive) data elements to form not only variables, but expressions. In this video, you will learn about a prominent example of conditional statements in Python – the IF statement.

IF - Exercise #1

IF - Exercise #2

Introduction to the IF statement

Here, we will focus on adding an ELSE statement to a conditional in Python.

ELSE - Exercise #1

We’ll show you an elegant way to add a second IF statement to one of our expressions. This is done with the help of the ELIF keyword.

ELIF Exercise #1

ELIF Exercise #2

You probably noticed we talked about Boolean values a few times. We would like to provide a short video that explains their application.

A Note on Boolean Values

Python Functions

In this section, we’ll step it up a notch. Starting from this lesson, we’ll deal with Python’s functions - an invaluable tool for programmers.

Our next task will be to create a function with a parameter.

Creating a Function - Exercise #1

Creating a Function - Exercise #2

In this lesson, we will explore another way to organize the definition of a function.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches a skill, knowledge, and tool that is highly relevant to industry

Teaches skills that are useful for personal growth and development

Covers a unique perspective or idea that may add color to other topics

Takes a creative approach to established practice

Requires that students come in with extensive background knowledge first

Reviews summary

Python for finance: investment fundamentals & data analytics

learners say, or to highlight key features of the course. Examples of key features include lectures, readings, exams, quizzes, homework assignments, instructors, deadlines, and certificates.

The course is definitely very instructive to start off with. A lot of financial topics are covered, which lay the foundation for more complex programming. Even though, there are a lot of hands on exercises offered during the course, it would have been nice to see more of complete programming exercises throughout.

"The course is definitely very instructive to start off with."

"A lot of financial topics are covered, which lay the foundation for more complex programming."

"Even though, there are a lot of hands on exercises offered during the course, it would have been nice to see more of complete programming exercises throughout."

Not for beginners of finance or python but if you have a solid foundation in finance and a lil exposure to programming this course is a great reinforcer of key quantitative concepts in finance. Simple and short videos, tons of simple code very concisely broken down and exercises which help test your understanding.

"Not for beginners of finance or python but if you have a solid foundation in finance and a lil exposure to programming this course is a great reinforcer of key quantitative concepts in finance."

"Simple and short videos, tons of simple code very concisely broken down and exercises which help test your understanding."

great course. Just that its 2020 and Python 2 is more or less deprecated. Its wise to remove the Python 2 sections which will save valuable time. Secondly, most of the advanced Python section is being done on Python 2. Appreciate if this can be upgraded. Thank you for pulling together this wonderful course. I learnt tons of new skills and finance concepts.

"great course."

"Appreciate if this can be upgraded."

"Thank you for pulling together this wonderful course."

"I learnt tons of new skills and finance concepts."

This course has the most clear explaination for python terminology among the courses I took. It makes a good introductory course for python and finance, although some finance concepts can be elaborated more for better understanding. The content about python application in finance is a bit shorter than I expected, but again it is a good introductory course nontheless.

"This course has the most clear explaination for python terminology among the courses I took."

"It makes a good introductory course for python and finance, although some finance concepts can be elaborated more for better understanding."

"The content about python application in finance is a bit shorter than I expected, but again it is a good introductory course nontheless."

I knew some Python before, but a lot of the early parts of this course was a bit slow for me. I feel as though I have a greater understanding of finance now, which is great, and I am eager to learn more about machine learning to further my growth.

"I knew some Python before, but a lot of the early parts of this course was a bit slow for me."

"I feel as though I have a greater understanding of finance now, which is great, and I am eager to learn more about machine learning to further my growth."

This information in this course is jam-packed. It takes from getting started with Python and learning the basics to sophisticated financial analytics with plotting charts. If you are new to Python and programming, I highly recommend this course. You will not be in over your head. They walk through basics before taking you into the deep water of the data analytics.

"This information in this course is jam-packed."

"It takes from getting started with Python and learning the basics to sophisticated financial analytics with plotting charts."

"If you are new to Python and programming, I highly recommend this course."

"You will not be in over your head."

"They walk through basics before taking you into the deep water of the data analytics."

I am currently a 58 year old high school math teacher. Many years ago I obtained an MBA and took additional classes in financial economics. I am looking forward to getting those brain cells working again and becoming an active investor as a hobby. This course is perfect. I have tried taking python classes before, but I get bored since they never have practical applications.

"I am currently a 58 year old high school math teacher."

"Many years ago I obtained an MBA and took additional classes in financial economics."

"I am looking forward to getting those brain cells working again and becoming an active investor as a hobby."

"This course is perfect."

"I have tried taking python classes before, but I get bored since they never have practical applications."

Certainly covers a lot of material in a short duration. However, I felt that the monte carlo simulation part was slightly rushed...As an introductory course, I feel that eular dicretization can be done away with to allow refocus (more time) on the other sections of monte carlo..but overall very happy with the course..

"Certainly covers a lot of material in a short duration."

"However, I felt that the monte carlo simulation part was slightly rushed...As an introductory course, I feel that eular dicretization can be done away with to allow refocus (more time) on the other sections of monte carlo..but overall very happy with the course.."

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 Python for Finance: Investment Fundamentals & Data Analytics with these activities:

Review basic programming concepts

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Refresh your understanding of programming basics, such as variables, data types, and operators, to strengthen your foundation for this Python course.

Browse courses on Programming Fundamentals

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Review notes or online resources on programming fundamentals
Complete practice exercises or quizzes to test your understanding

Follow online tutorials on Python finance

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Enhance your knowledge of Python in the context of finance by following online tutorials, expanding your understanding of key financial concepts and their implementation in Python.

Browse courses on Finance Fundamentals

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Identify reputable online platforms offering Python finance tutorials
Choose tutorials that align with your interests and learning goals
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, taking notes and practicing exercises

Practice coding exercises

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Regularly practice coding exercises to reinforce your understanding of Python syntax, functions, and loops, improving your coding proficiency.

Browse courses on Python Syntax

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Find online coding challenges or exercises
Allocate dedicated time for practice
Review solutions and identify areas for improvement

Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Python for Finance: Investment Fundamentals & Data Analytics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quant Analyst

Quant Analysts combine financial modeling, mathematical and statistical skills, and computer programming to analyze and solve complex financial problems. This course will help build a foundation in all three of these areas, making it an excellent starting point for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers topics such as Python programming, financial calculations, portfolio optimization, and risk management, all of which are essential to success as a Quant Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quant Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, programming, and machine learning to extract insights from data. This course will help build a foundation in all three of these areas, making it an excellent starting point for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers topics such as Python programming, data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization, all of which are essential to success as a Data Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use their knowledge of finance, economics, and accounting to analyze and make recommendations on investments. This course will help build a foundation in all three of these areas, making it an excellent starting point for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers topics such as financial statement analysis, valuation, and portfolio management, all of which are essential to success as a Financial Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers are responsible for managing and growing investment portfolios for their clients. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial analysis, portfolio management, and risk management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Risk Manager

Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks for their organizations. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial analysis, risk management, and portfolio management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Investment Manager

Investment Managers are responsible for managing and growing investment portfolios for their clients. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial analysis, portfolio management, and risk management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Manager

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan for their financial futures. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial planning, investment advice, and estate planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Actuary

Actuaries use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and economics to assess and manage risk. This course will help build a foundation in all three of these areas, making it an excellent starting point for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers topics such as probability, statistics, and financial mathematics, all of which are essential to success as an Actuary.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Auditor

Auditors are responsible for examining and verifying the financial records of organizations. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including accounting, auditing, and financial analysis.

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Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants are responsible for preparing and filing tax returns for individuals and businesses. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including accounting, taxation, and financial analysis.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and provide financial advice. This course may help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial analysis, valuation, and capital markets. The course covers topics such as mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, and investment banking.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance. This course may help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication. The course covers topics such as business analysis, strategy development, and project management, all of which are relevant to the work of Management Consultants.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors help individuals and families plan for their financial futures. This course may help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including financial planning, investment advice, and estate planning. The course covers topics such as financial markets, investment strategies, and risk management, all of which are relevant to the work of Financial Advisors.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts use their knowledge of statistics, programming, and data analysis to extract insights from data. This course will help build a foundation in all three of these areas, making it an excellent starting point for those who wish to enter this field. The course covers topics such as Python programming, data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization, all of which are essential to success as a Data Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course will help build a foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this field, including programming, software design, and data structures. The course covers topics such as Python programming, object-oriented programming, and software development methodologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer