Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE BKF4121

 
TITLE Financial Economics

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Banking and Finance

 
DESCRIPTION Objectives:

The course principally seeks to integrate the theory of finance and financial institutions into the main body of economic theory. It also concerns the role of the economist as a financial decision-maker, covering financial decision making under conditions of uncertainty. Asset Pricing Models and the role of the market portfolio are central to financial economics, and the concentration here will be on the capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Arbitrage Pricing Theory. The efficiency of capital markets is also thoroughly covered.

Content:

- Decision Making under Uncertainty
- The nature of Financial Economics
- Valuation Models for Financial Assets
- Stochastic Dominance and Attitudes towards Risk
- Expected Utility Theory
- Asset Pricing Models
- The Efficiency of Financial Markets
- Risk Management

Reading List:

- Bodie Z, Kane, A., & Marcus A. Investments - Richard Irwin Inc 1994 (or latest edition).
- Eichberger, J. & Harper, I. Financial Economics - Oxford University Press, 1997

Students will be expected to read all relevant textbook chapters covered in lectures in addition to notes and any hand-outs issued.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 20%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Andrew Neal Farrugia

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit