ECO-30053 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

ECO-20007 Finance 1

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

In this module you will learn the techniques and theoretical underpinnings of financial investment management, including how to measure and interpret the return and risk preferences of an investor; the practical techniques of asset allocation, how this builds on the mean-variance framework studied in Finance 1; the differences between value and growth investing, how to measure the performance of financial asset portfolios, and how to manage fixed income portfolios both for longer-term liability management objectives and shorter-term speculative objectives. The assessments of this module will be an open-book computer-based mid-term test plus an open-book final exam with 28 hours available.
This module integrates the theoretical knowledge of finance with practical skills, helping students bridge the gap between theory and real-world financial decision-making. The skills and knowledge gained from this module will be directly applicable to students who intend to pursue careers in investment banking, financial consulting, or asset management.

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of how financial investment portfolios are established and managed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand how to profile an investment management client: 1,2
Make asset allocation decisions using a range of techniques including indexing, diversification, mean-variance analysis, the Black-Litterman model and market timing: 1,2
Appraise the performance of investment portfolios and individual securities: 1,2
Understand the theoretical weaknesses and technical advantages and disadvantages of alternative performance measurement techniques: 1,2
Make security selection decisions using a range of techniques including mean-variance analysis, and growth and value investing: 1,2
Evaluate and manage fixed income portfolios using techniques of duration, convexity, immunization and active techniques: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures: 20 hours
Tutorials: 4 hours
Computer test: 1.5 hours
Tutorial preparation: 24 hours
Mid-term test preparation: 12 hours
Self-study and final exam revision: 86.5 hours
Final Exam: 2 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment