Investments (MSB205)

This is a first course in investments and capital markets. It introduces a number of key building blocks necessary for the analysis and valuation of financial securities, such as portfolio theory,diversification, arbitrage, equilibrium asset pricing models (CAPM), market efficiency, the term structure of interest rates, performance evaluation and analysis of derivative securities (forward and option contracts).


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MSB205

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

Key topics include

Trading, Markets, Asset classes

Risk, return, market efficiency

Asset pricing, CAPM, APT, factor models

Equity pricing / Valuation

Performance evaluation

Portfolio Management (indexing, active strategies)

Currency, International Issues

Alternative asset classes

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course students will gain knowledge of:

  • Asset Markets, their instruments and how they are traded.
  • Portfolio theory.
  • Asset Allocation.
  • How ESG considerations affect investment decisions.
  • The international nature of financial investments.

Skills

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to

  • Evaluate portfolio expected return and risk, using models such as the CAPM.
  • Perform portfolio evaluations and evaluate performance of funds.
  • Use various methods to price financial assets, such as stocks and bonds.
  • Use software tools like R and Excel in investment settings.
  • Build portfolios (asset allocation) to match the desired goal of an investor.

Required prerequisite knowledge

MSB309 Corporate Finance

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Written exam 1/1 4 Hours Letter grades Valid calculator

Further details about course requirements are given in the syllabus available at the beginning of the teaching semester.

Coursework requirements

Assignments
Further details about course requirements are given in the syllabus available at the beginning of the teaching semester.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Marco Lambrecht

Study Program Director:

Yuko Onozaka

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Investments (MØA205_1) 10

Open for

Admission to Single Courses at UiS Business School
Master of Science in Accounting and Auditing Business Administration - Master of Science
Exchange programmes at UIS Business School

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue should be conducted in all or selected groups of courses offered by the faculty. The purpose is to gather feedback from students for making changes and adjustments to the course during the current semester. In addition, a digital evaluation, students’ course evaluation, must be conducted at least once every three years. Its purpose is to collect students` experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto