FM321      Half Unit
Risk Management and Modelling

This information is for the 2021/22 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Thummim Cho

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Finance. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Principles of Finance (FM213), Mathematical Methods (MA100) and Elementary Statistical Theory (ST102).

Course content

This course is intended for third-year undergraduates and builds upon FM212/FM213 Principles of Finance. The main topics covered are financial risk analysis and financial risk. The course provides students with a thorough understanding of market risk from both a practical and technical point of view. A representative list of topics covered includes:

  • empirical properties of market prices (fat tails, volatility clusters) and forecasting of conditional volatility
  • concepts of financial risk (volatility, Value-at-Risk
  • univariate and multivariate volatility models (ARCH, GARCH)
  • implementation and evaluation of risk forecasts
  • endogenous risk

Students apply the models to real financial data using Matlab, a programming environment widely used in industry and academia. No prior knowledge of programming is assumed: students will learn-by-doing in class. Students will at times use data and software for classwork assignments.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce written work for classes and to make positive contributions to class discussion

Indicative reading

J Danielsson, Financial Risk Forecasting: The Theory and Practice of Forecasting Market Risk will be the required textbook for the course.  Additional readings may be assigned as needed.

Assessment

Coursework (100%) in the MT.

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Finance

Total students 2020/21: 47

Average class size 2020/21: 22

Capped 2020/21: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness