MFIN 8801 02 Syllabus Spring 2015 1 
INVESTMENTS
MFIN 8801 - Section 02
Boston College
Spring 2015
Mon./Wed. 10:45
Fulton Hall 150
Rob James
617-552-0886
jamesrc@bc.edu
Fulton Hall 324A
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to capital markets and financial instruments. It is not a course in personal investing. We will focus on asset valuation, risk measurement and control, and portfolio design for large institutions. We will cover 4 major modules: equity markets, portfolio theory, fixed income markets, and derivative markets.
Course Format:
In class, we will mainly discuss text material and solve problems related to this material. The only way to master this material is through practice. While we will go through a number of examples in class, you should also try the text problems given in this syllabus. Simply looking at the solutions in the solution manual is not sufficient. If you have questions, I strongly encourage you to ask me in class or out of class.
Research Report:
Teams of UP TO FOUR students will prepare a report similar to an analyst’s report in an equity research department. You’ll be gathering data with which to apply equity valuation models discussed in class to see whether the stock of your choice is appropriately priced. Your paper should include a brief overview of the company and the industry in which it operates, supported by relevant data on the macroeconomy. You should conclude with a recommendation for or against the purchase of this stock. The models used must be specified, with all relevant data presented. During the course of this project, I expect that you will examine a variety of professional sources. Please remember that you will be graded on your analysis of the data, including the completeness and clarity of the presentation and that the use of information gleaned from any source without clear attribution is fraudulent. Team members and company chosen for analysis must be made known to me by e-mail by Wednesday, April 1. Please note that each group must
MFIN 8801 - Section 02
Boston College
Spring 2015
Mon./Wed. 10:45
Fulton Hall 150
Rob James
617-552-0886
jamesrc@bc.edu
Fulton Hall 324A
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to capital markets and financial instruments. It is not a course in personal investing. We will focus on asset valuation, risk measurement and control, and portfolio design for large institutions. We will cover 4 major modules: equity markets, portfolio theory, fixed income markets, and derivative markets.
Course Format:
In class, we will mainly discuss text material and solve problems related to this material. The only way to master this material is through practice. While we will go through a number of examples in class, you should also try the text problems given in this syllabus. Simply looking at the solutions in the solution manual is not sufficient. If you have questions, I strongly encourage you to ask me in class or out of class.
Research Report:
Teams of UP TO FOUR students will prepare a report similar to an analyst’s report in an equity research department. You’ll be gathering data with which to apply equity valuation models discussed in class to see whether the stock of your choice is appropriately priced. Your paper should include a brief overview of the company and the industry in which it operates, supported by relevant data on the macroeconomy. You should conclude with a recommendation for or against the purchase of this stock. The models used must be specified, with all relevant data presented. During the course of this project, I expect that you will examine a variety of professional sources. Please remember that you will be graded on your analysis of the data, including the completeness and clarity of the presentation and that the use of information gleaned from any source without clear attribution is fraudulent. Team members and company chosen for analysis must be made known to me by e-mail by Wednesday, April 1. Please note that each group must