Introduction

Never before have financial issues been so often been the headline news. It is therefore crucial that today’s business professionals expand their financial knowledge to allow them to contribute to daily decisions and debates.

This course is designed specifically for non-financial personnel; this intensive seminar educates and informs delegates of the key financial markets/products/risks and hazards.

Objectives 

The seminar provides delegates with the tools required to find better answers to questions such as:

• What are the major market indices and how are they linked?
• What is meant by a dual listing?
• How is a forward rate determined?
• Can I profit from interest differentials?
• What is the role of correlation in reducing risk?
• How do I judge whether my performance in the market is good or bad?
• What are futures and options?
• How can futures and options be used to protect the value of my portfolio?
• What is meant by spread trading?
• What is the role of bonds in a portfolio?
• The difference between fundamental and technical analysis.

Target Audience

• Non-Financial Managers and Professionals
• Business Executives and Department Heads
• Investment and Portfolio Management Professionals
• Treasury and Finance Department Staff
• Banking and Financial Services Professionals
• Risk Management and Audit Professionals
• Business Analysts and Strategic Planning Professionals
• Professionals involved in investment decision-making and financial markets
• Entrepreneurs and Business Owners seeking stronger financial market understanding
• Individuals interested in financial markets, portfolio management, derivatives, and investment analysis without requiring an advanced finance background

Outlines

Day 1: An Introduction to the Financial Markets

An Introduction to the Equity Markets:

• IPO’s
• Market Indices
• International Equity Market Links
• Dual Listings
• GDR’s and ADR’s

An Introduction to Bond Markets

• Long Term versus Short Term
• Treasury versus Corporate
• Types of Bond

An Introduction to the FX Market

• The spot and forward market
• Exchange Rate trends and linkages
• Carry Trades

Day 2: An Introduction to Portfolio Theory

• The link between risk and return.
• The role of correlation
• The Markowitz model of Portfolio Risk
• The benefits of diversification
• The Capital Asset Pricing Model
• Benchmarking

Day 3: Derivatives Use in Investment Management

An Introduction to the Derivatives Market

• Futures
• Options

The Cost of Carry Model

• Cash and carry arbitrage
• Reverse cash and carry arbitrage

Using Options to provide portfolio insurance

Using Futures to provide portfolio insurance

Using futures to change a portfolios “beta”

Spread trading:

• Intra-commodity spreads
• Intra-commodity spreads

Option trading strategies.

Day 4: Bond Portfolio Management

• Bond pricing
• Bond Duration
• Term structure of interest rates
• The convexity of a bond
• Bond ratings
• Immunizing a bond portfolio
• Structured products
• Money Market Deposits/CD’s/Commercial Paper/Treasury Bills

Day 5: Fundamental and Technical Analysis

• Technical versus fundamental analysis
• Yields and ratios
• Valuation
• Chartism
• Technical Trading Rules