Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Topics include the Australian managed funds industry, fund managers, their products and prices, investor behaviour in theory and in practice, portfolio theory and practice, characteristics and comparative performance of major asset classes with major emphasis on shares, economic weighting determinants, impact of other markets, asset allocation and stock selection, risk management for portfolios and securities, survey of 'styles' of prominent Australian fund managers.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. analyse and select investments from various asset classes with particular emphasis on equities
2. examine the nature of different asset classes, the ways in which professional managers incorporate and manage asset classes into balanced or specialist funds
3. describe skills and techniques used by professionals who are involved in investments, funds management, financial planning, superannuation, and wealth creation
4. understand the importance of professional investment in wealth creation
5. understand the importance of ethical practices by investment professionals and the CFA Institute code of ethics and standards of professional conduct
6. apply critical thinking, problem solving and presentation skills to individual and/or group activities dealing with equities and investment analysis and demonstrate in an individual summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered by AFC2240.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 20%
Examination (3 hours): 80%

Chief examiner(s)

Manapon Limkriangkrai

Contact hours

Two 1-hour lectures and one 1-hour tutorial per week

Prerequisites

One of AFC2000, AFC2140, AFC1110 (pre 2009) and AFC2100 (pre 2009)