Overview
This unit covers the operations and structure of the modern financial system. You will examine and evaluate the opportunities and risks of the financial markets for investors and corporations. You will also research the impact of contemporary issues in the money and capital markets.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluation
High level of satisfaction with a stronger focus on weekly participation exercises and activities.
Utilising the expertise of the teaching team, draw from contemporary issues and debate impacting money and capital markets and embed more opportunities for student engagement in classroom discussion and debate.
Feedback from Student evaluation
High level of satisfaction with real-world element of money and capital markets and relevance to students' future work prospects and career
Embed more opportunities for students to connect the learning objectives with real-world career enhancing tasks and activities.
Feedback from Administration
Academic misconduct
Embed academic misconduct information in Moodle and upload video clips on the matter. Relate first hand accounts of academic misconduct cases to personalise the issue.
- Examine the operations and structure of the financial system
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks inherent in financial markets for the investor and the corporation using basic financial mathematics
- Research contemporary issues impacting on investment decisions and the sustainability of financial markets.
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Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - On-campus Activity - 20% | |||
| 2 - Research Assignment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - On-campus Activity - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Research Assignment - 40% | ||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Financial Institutions, Instruments and Markets
Edition: 8th (2015)
Authors: Christopher Viney & Peter Philips
McGraw-Hill Education (Australia) Pty Ltd
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781743079959
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Copies are available for purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.sun@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
A modern financial system: an overview
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Commercial banks
Chapter
2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Non-bank financial institutions
Chapter
3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Equity markets 1:
The share market and the corporation
Corporations issuing equity in the share market
Chapter
4 and 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Equity markets 2:
Investors in the share market
Forecasting share price movements
Chapter
6 and 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The corporate debt market 1:
Mathematics of finance
Short-term debt
Chapter
8 and 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The corporate debt market 2:
Medium to long-term debt
International debt market
Chapter
10 and 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 - Research Report Due
Research Report Due: Week 7 Friday (4 Jan 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Government debt, monetary policy and the payments system
Interest rate determination and forecasting
Chapter
12 and 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Foreign exchange market:
The structure and operation of the FX market
Factors that Influence the exchange rate
Chapter
15 and 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Derivative markets 1:
Risk management and derivatives
Futures contracts and forward rate agreements
Chapter
18 and 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Derivative markets 2:
Options
Swap contracts
Chapter
20 and 21
Events and Submissions/Topic
Interactive Workshop Participation Due (Week 2 - Week 11)
In-Class Presentation Due (Week 4 - Week 11)
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
All chapters
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Prescribed Textbook
Financial Institutions, Instruments and Markets 8e (2015)
Authors: Christopher Viney & Peter Philips McGraw-Hill Education (Australia) Pty Ltd Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ISBN 9781743079959
1 On-campus Activity
For On Campus students, from Week 2 to Week 11 inclusive, each lecture will include practical exercises and discussion. Your responses will be used by your lecturer / tutor to assess your in-class participation.
For Distance Learning students, the practical exercises and discussion questions, covering content delivered in Weeks 2 to 11, will be available under Assessment on Moodle.
In-class Participation: Weeks 2 to Week 11 due in class
In-class participation feedback will be returned progressively during the term.
This assessment is designed to reinforce progressive learning throughout the term.
On Campus Students ONLY: Workshop exercises will be integrated into the unit content in weeks 2 to 11. Student participation will be graded based on responses to exercises conducted in class. Activities will include discussion questions, calculations and mini projects. Exercises may be completed individually or in groups of 2. Attendance is required to be eligible for a possible grade of 2% each week. The total grade is 20%.
Distance Learning [FLEX] students ONLY: FLEX STUDENT Workshop Exercises covering content delivered in Weeks 2 to 11 will be available under Assessment on Moodle. Refer to Moodle for the customised assessment instructions for FLEX submission and feedback guidelines.
Referencing Style: American Psychological Association (APA)
- Examine the operations and structure of the financial system
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks inherent in financial markets for the investor and the corporation using basic financial mathematics
- Research contemporary issues impacting on investment decisions and the sustainability of financial markets.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
2 Research Assignment
For On Campus students this assignment is a group research assignment. Groups can be 1 or 2 persons ONLY.
For Distance Learning students [FLEX] students, if practical, you also have the option of collaborating in groups of 2.
The research is about contemporary issues in the banking and financial markets, the research topic along with specific instructions, including marking criterion and word count will be available under Assessment on Moodle.
In summary you are required to draw from a range of credible sources and explore issues related to contemporary banking and financial sector challenges and present your findings in a report format. Some source material will be provided to kick-start your exploration, however it is expected your research extends beyond these materials to relevant academic journal articles, professional publications, media reports and/or podcasts. This assignment is worth 40% of the total mark for this course.
Week 7 Friday (4 Jan 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Only 1 submission per group
Week 9 Friday (18 Jan 2019)
Feedback provided via Moodle
This assignment will assess your ability to research, reference and document your findings in a report format. Specific assessment instructions, a detailed marking criterion and assignment resources will be available under Assessment on Moodle.
Referencing Style: American Psychological Association (APA)
- Examine the operations and structure of the financial system
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks inherent in financial markets for the investor and the corporation using basic financial mathematics
- Research contemporary issues impacting on investment decisions and the sustainability of financial markets.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
3 Presentation
This is an individual assignment with both written and oral components. From a range of questions extracted from the textbook each student will be allocated a topic to research and prepare an 8 minute presentation.
For On-Campus students the presentations will be conducted in-class during weeks 4 to 11. The allocation of topics and delivery dates will be available on Moodle by Week 1.
For Distance Learning students you are required to record your presentation and make available via YouTube. See Making a YouTube clip as part of your assessment resources.
Refer to Allocation of Presentation Topics for Delivery Dates on Moddle Return Date to Students.
Feedback will be available within 2 weeks from your allocated presentation date.
Along with the list of topics and allocations, a comprehensive marking criteria is provided as part of assessment resources. In summary, this assessment enables students to demonstrate their understanding of the unit content as well as their communication skills. To do so, you are required to prepare:
1) a synopsis of your presentation
2) oral workshop-style presentation of no more than 8 minutes and
3) PowerPoint slides should also include a title slide and a slide which lists your references
IMPORTANT
1. Presentations: MUST be well rehearsed. Students who are disorganised and/or unprepared could be asked to cease their presentation.
2. The PowerPoint Slides: must be prepared in two formats: 1) hard copy and 2) student back-up copy on USB stick ready to use in the presentation.
3. Prior to your delivery date: a copy of the synopsis, and the PowerPoint Slides must be submitted on Moodle one day before your presentation date.
This assignment is worth 40% of the total mark for this course.
Referencing Style: American Psychological Association (APA)
- Examine the operations and structure of the financial system
- Evaluate the opportunities and risks inherent in financial markets for the investor and the corporation using basic financial mathematics
- Research contemporary issues impacting on investment decisions and the sustainability of financial markets.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
