School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Beyond Stocks Investment
  • Unit Code

    ECF3201
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Thach PHAM

Description

This unit provides a comprehensive understanding of fixed-income securities, derivatives, and alternative investments. Students will learn about different types of fixed-income securities and markets, how to determine term structure and yield spreads, and how to value individual fixed-income securities and bonds with embedded options. The unit also covers derivatives, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps, and students will learn how to value these instruments. Additionally, the unit explores alternative investments such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and commodities. The unit challenges students to think critically about investment strategies and construct diversified portfolios that are aligned with their investment objectives and risk preference. By the end of the unit, students will have a solid foundation for making informed investment decisions in complex financial markets.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed ECF2226 to enrol in this unit.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the different types of fixed-income securities and markets to make informed investment decisions.
  2. Explain how term structure and yield spreads are determined, and value individual fixed-income securities and bonds with embedded options.
  3. Analyse the characteristics of derivatives instruments and markets, using valuation techniques to determine the fair value of forwards, futures, options, and swaps.
  4. Evaluate the benefits and risks of alternative investments, such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities, using portfolio construction techniques to achieve diversification and risk management.

Unit Content

  1. Types of fixed-income securities and markets.
  2. Term structure determination and yield spreads.
  3. Valuation of individual fixed-income securities.
  4. Valuing bonds with embedded options.
  5. Structured products.
  6. Types of derivatives instruments and markets.
  7. Valuation of forward and futures contracts.
  8. Valuation of option contracts.
  9. Valuation of swap contracts.
  10. Types of alternative investments & Commodities.
  11. Real estate.
  12. Private Capital & Hedge funds.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students may need to utilise financial market databases such as RefinitivWorkspace to access market data in real-time and/or to conduct appropriate research for assessment tasks.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort answer questions 25%
AssignmentResearch case study paper35%
ExaminationFinal examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort answer questions 25%
AssignmentResearch case study paper35%
ExaminationFinal examination40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ECF3201|1|1

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Beyond Stocks Investment
  • Unit Code

    ECF3201
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Deepa BANNIGIDADMATH

Description

This unit provides a comprehensive understanding of fixed-income securities, derivatives, and alternative investments. Students will learn about different types of fixed-income securities and markets, how to determine term structure and yield spreads, and how to value individual fixed-income securities and bonds with embedded options. The unit also covers derivatives, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps, and students will learn how to value these instruments. Additionally, the unit explores alternative investments such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and commodities. The unit challenges students to think critically about investment strategies and construct diversified portfolios that are aligned with their investment objectives and risk preference. By the end of the unit, students will have a solid foundation for making informed investment decisions in complex financial markets.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed ECF2226 to enrol in this unit.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the different types of fixed-income securities and markets.
  2. Explain how term structure and yield spreads are determined, and value individual fixed-income securities and bonds with embedded options.
  3. Analyse the characteristics of derivatives instruments and markets, using valuation techniques to determine the fair value of forwards, futures, options, and swaps.
  4. Evaluate the benefits and risks of alternative investments, such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities, using portfolio construction techniques to achieve diversification and risk management.
  5. Recommend investment decisions considering innovative and creative ideas to manage the risk/return trade-off.

Unit Content

  1. Types of fixed-income securities and markets.
  2. Term structure determination and yield spreads.
  3. Valuation of individual fixed-income securities.
  4. Valuing bonds with embedded options.
  5. Structured products.
  6. Types of derivatives instruments and markets.
  7. Valuation of forward and futures contracts.
  8. Valuation of option contracts.
  9. Valuation of swap contracts.
  10. Types of alternative investments & Commodities.
  11. Real estate.
  12. Private Capital & Hedge funds.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit immerses students in real-time financial databases, guiding them to analyse data using Microsoft Excel. Global case studies drive critical discussions on investment issues beyond the stock market. Assessments emphasise individual proficiency in constructing financial models, with a focus on numeracy skills development throughout the semester.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort answer questions 25%
AssignmentResearch case study paper35%
ExaminationFinal examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestShort answer questions 25%
AssignmentResearch case study paper35%
ExaminationFinal examination40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ECF3201|2|2