Fundamentals of Portfolio Management

Subject 333-815 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: One 3-hour seminar per week (Semester 2).
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: This subject is only available to those students that would satisfy the entry criteria for the Master of Financial Management and Postgraduate Diploma in Finance.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability
Subject Overview: Investment principles, philosophies and processes. Application of modern portfolio theory; capital asset pricing models; equity valuation models and interest rate theory in managing various types of investment portfolios containing cash; and fixed interest securities and equities both domestic and international. Students use investment software to solve practical problems.
Assessment: One 2-hour examination (70%) and a major project not exceeding 3000 words (30%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  • describe an investment process that is consistent with a given set of beliefs about the efficiency or inefficiency of financial markets
  • use advanced applications of modern portfolio theory to design portfolios that are well aligned with investors' objectives
  • apply different types of commercially available factor models to structure portfolios with desirable risk characteristics.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

  • Oral communication
  • Written communication
  • Collaborative learning
  • Problem solving
  • Team work
  • Statistical reasoning
  • Application of theory to practice
  • Interpretation and analysis
  • Critical thinking
  • Synthesis of data and other information
  • Evaluation of data and other information
  • Using computer software
  • Accessing data and other information from a range of sources.
Related Course(s): Master of Financial Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Finance

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