BFM5014 - Current issues in international finance - 2019

Traditionally, the areas of international finance include working capital management, capital budgeting and funding decisions (capital structure and cost of capital) that incorporate the identification of foreign exchange risks and their management as well as their financial reporting implications. It also typically includes the foreign exchange transactions, economic and translation exposures and their risk management approaches and techniques.

The changes in the international trade pace including the recent US withdrawal from the Pacific Treaty Partnership and the impact of imposing new tariffs and control over trade deficits with China and other partners signal expected obstacles in the "free trade" concepts and questioning the comparative advantage principles, FDI and MNCs cross country operations. These changes may represent significant current issues in international finance, globalisation and free trade.

This unit will provide students with the latest empowering and practical knowledge in international finance including the recent changes imposed by financial technologies "FinTech" and current changes in the international trade. This is a very practical unit with a heavy emphasis on the latest industry trends and best practices by industry experts and entrepreneurs rather than theoretical concepts.

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. identify issues surrounding the financing of international business including financial technologies and changes in the international free trade pace and treaties
2. apply strategies to manage risks associated with international business
3. analyse motives and determine strategies for foreign direct investment
4. inference independently and with team participation from diverse cultural and social backgrounds international business issues by producing a presentation relating to an international business issue
5. prove in an individual summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered by BFM5014.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment, and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning, and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information