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King Abdulaziz University
Faculty of Economics & Administration
FIN 331
Foundations of Investment Fall Semester - 1436/1437
TRU 01:00 - 01:50 Faculty Building - Lab# 124
Instructor Information
Instructor: Mohammed Almehdar Office: 346
Office Phone: 6400000 ext. 62440
Office Hours: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-12:30pm Email: [email protected]
Course Description
The course is a rigorous, quantitative introduction to financial market structure and financial asset valuation. The main topics of the course are financial markets, arbitrage, portfolio selection, equilibrium asset pricing, fixed income securities and option pricing.
Course Goals and Learning Outcomes 1. Formalize students to financial markets.
2. Identify types of financial markets
3. Familirize students with Asset classes and financial instruments.
4. Identify the different types of security markets.
5. Identify mutual funds and other investment companies.
6. Identify risk and return and the relationship between them.
Scientific Contents :
1. Investments: Background and Issues 2. Asset classes and Financial Instruments 3. Securities Markets
4. Mutual Funds and other Investment Companies
5. Risk and Return: Past and Prologue
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Required Text
Essentials of Investments, by Bodie, Z., Kane, A., and Marcus, A., Published by:
McGraw-Hill, 8th edition, (2010).
Helpful resources:
www.investopedia.com
Course Grading
Your course grade will reflect your performance on midterm exam, final exam, assignments, quizzes, and class participation with weights determined as follows:
Assessment Weighting
Final Exam 30%
Midterm 20%
Quizzes 10%
Assignments 20%
Project 20%
Total 100%
Course Outline
Topic Readings Due
Investments: Background and Issues Cahpter 1
Asset Classes and Financial Instruments Chapter 2
Securities Markets Chapter 3
Mutual Funds and other Investment Companies Chapter 4
Risk and Return: Past and Prologue Chapter 5
Late Work
All assignments should be delivered on time. Every late work will detuct 50% of the assignment mark.
Recommendation letters:
In order for a students to be qualified to receive a “Recommendation Letter” which must be ordered by the student, he/she must demonstrate an outstanding performance during the semester and must earn 85% and above in the final grade.
Attendance Policy
Students should attend at least 75% of the course classes in order to be qualified to attend the final exam.
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Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the King Abdulaziz University are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor or academic advisor.
Note: The above course syllabus is tentative and may be subject to change as class progress.
