Asset Management
Code
2214
Academic unit
null
Department
null
Credits
3,5
Teacher in charge
Martijn Boons
Teaching language
English
Objectives
This course examines asset management in theory and practice, covering topics including International diversification (strategic and tactical) asset allocation, (active and passive) portfolio optimization, predictability, performance measurement, benchmarking and risk, hedge funds. The class addresses these issues in the context of stock, bond and alternative asset markets, such as commodities, hereby focusing on issues of market efficiency, risk and return characteristics, and manager strategies and incentives.
Prerequisites
Subject matter
The course will consist of lectures and in‐class discussions of cases and empirical assignments, for which students should prepare carefully. The aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding both of sound theoretical principles of finance and of the practical environment in which financial decisions are made.
Bibliography
Teaching method
Classes are weekly and last for 3 hours. Classes are devoted to the presentation of the material by the instructor and to application of the material in the form of exercises. Also, we will discuss potential applications of the material to real-world problems. The assignments serve to analyze such problems in small groups of students who present their findings.
Evaluation method
Final grades will be determined as follows:
-Assignment 30%
-Final exam 50%
-Attendance & Participation 20%
Exercises. Several short individual and group exercises will be assigned during the term to illustrate and reinforce course concepts. The exercises instructions will be posted on the course website. The due dates are listed on the course schedule. Please note that late submissions will not be accepted, and will result in a zero for that assignment.
Final Exam (mandatory). The final examination will be designed to test your understanding of the topics covered in the lectures, readings, and exercises.
Attendance & Class Contributions: Consistent class attendance is expected and will count toward your class participation grade. Thus even passive (silent) attendance will be evaluated more favorably than no attendance at all.
This component of the grade will also assess how much you enhance the level of class discussions through your classroom involvement and whether you contribute positively to the overall learning of the class. It is naturally the quality of the participation that counts, not the sheer quantity: Are the comments timely and relevant to the ongoing discussion Do the comments provide new insights Are the comments clear and concise Are the comments consistent with a positive and professional learning environment