Investment and Behavioural Finance
Duration
One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
Prerequisites
Concurrent pre-requisites: Units can be completed either before or in the same study period.Aims and objectives
From 2020 unit re-coded to FIN60011 (from FIN60008) - subject to FASEA approval requirements
This unit provides students with knowledge of the financial system, various regulatory bodies, key participants and potential risks in the financial markets. This unit focuses on the understanding and the application of the modern finance theories including various asset pricing models, modern portfolio theory, market efficiency and behavioural finance, and how these theories influence investment planning strategies. Students will learn to construct and defend a multi-asset portfolio that satisfies client’s objectives and constraints based on their financial literary and behavioural biases. Students will apply investment and behavioural finance knowledge to generate financial planning strategies using advice technologies.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
2. Critically analyse investment opportunities in various financial markets and assess the characteristics of traded instruments while considering the ethical principles and code of conducts on these markets
3. Critically analyse modern finance theories such as portfolio theory, efficient market hypothesis and behavioural finance, in order to determine their impact on investment decisions
4. Apply coherent and advanced knowledge of investment to construct a Statement of Advice and recommend strategies and products that meet client’s objectives and constraints using financial advice technologies
5. Communicate proficiently and in a professional context and work effectively as a member of a team
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Face to Face Mode:
Online Mode: SOL
Engaging with online content and discussions
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
To be successful, students should:
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Scheduled hours: Classes (12 x 3 hours)weekly
or
Block Mode
This unit may be delivered in block or intensive mode. Block mode may consist of blended, intensive and immersive teaching, which can include full day teaching and weekend teaching requirements – as specified in the Unit Outline.
Online Mode: SOL
Engaging with online content and discussions
Student workload:
For all teaching and learning structures (both face to face and online), students are expected to spend an average of 150 hours per unit in total over the duration of the study period
This includes all:
• Scheduled teaching and learning events and activities (contact hours timetabled in a face-to-face teaching space) and scheduled online learning events (contact hours scheduled in an online teaching space), and
• Non-scheduled learning events and activities (including directed online learning activities, assessments, independent study, student group meetings, and research)
• Read all prescribed materials and/or view videos in preparation for each class
• Attend and engage in all scheduled classes (face to face or online)
• Start assessment tasks well ahead of the due date, and submit assessments promptly
• Read / listen to all feedback carefully, and consider it for future assessment
• Engage with fellow students and teaching staff (don’t hesitate to ask questions)
Assessment
1. Weekly Activity (Individual) 10-20%
2. Assignment (Group) 30-40%
3. Final Examination (Individual) 40-60%
2. Assignment (Group) 30-40%
3. Final Examination (Individual) 40-60%
General skills outcomes
• Teamwork skills
• Problem solving skills
• Analysis skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
• Problem solving skills
• Analysis skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
- Financial systems and regulatory bodies
- Investment markets
- Equity markets
- Debt markets
- Market efficiency
- Portfolio theory and construction
- Portfolio risk management
- Managed funds
- Regulation of markets
- Investment structures and products
- Financial technologies
- Behavioural finance
- Client Behaviour
- Consumer engagement
- Client decision making
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.