Funds Management

Subject 333-675 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 6.25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 18 hours per semester (Semester 2).
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

333-661 Principles of Finance. This subject is only available to those students that would satisfy the entry criteria for the Master of Applied Finance or who have already completed 100 points in the Master of Financial Management.
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: The investment management process, review of fundamental concepts, market efficiency, capital market characteristics and risk premia, setting investment objectives, strategic and tactical asset allocation, active/passive management, property, bond and equity portfolio management, investment performance measurement, asset allocation modelling and its application to portfolio management.
Objectives: On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
  • Explain the institutional investment process, including setting investment objectives, and its impact on the fund managers role;
  • Consider the limitations of financial data available to a fund manager;
  • Interpret the usefulness of financial data when making investment decisions;
  • Compare and contrast an active versus passive approach to fund management;
  • Discuss strategic versus technical asset allocation decisions, including the impact of capital market characteristics in the long and the short run on these decisions;
  • Critically evaluate behavioural finance implications in fund management decisions;
  • Apply performance measurement methods to managed portfolios.
Assessment: A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (80%), assignments totalling not more than 1000 words (20%).
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 have improved the following generic skills:

  • Oral communication
  • Written communication
  • Collaborative learning
  • Problem solving
  • Team work
  • Statistical reasoning
  • Application of theory to practice
  • Interpretation & 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 Applied Finance
Master of Finance
Master of Financial Management

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