Financial Markets
| Type of study | Bachelor |
|---|---|
| Language of instruction | English |
| Code | 154-0511/05 |
| Abbreviation | FMa |
| Course title | Financial Markets |
| Credits | 5 |
| Coordinating department | Department of Finance |
| Course coordinator | Ing. Martina Novotná, Ph.D. |
Subject syllabus
1. Financial system and financial markets – basic functions of the financial system, structure and classification of financial markets, financial market participants and financial intermediaries.
2. Securities and financial instruments – general characteristics of securities, their basic features and classification according to different criteria, and the role of securities in the financial system.
3. Bonds – characteristics and types – nature of debt securities, basic characteristics and classification of bonds, and main types of bonds.
4. Bonds – price, yield and credit risk – basic principles of bond valuation, bond prices and yields, basic calculations, credit risk and bond ratings.
5. Money market and its instruments – characteristics of the money market, selected money market instruments, returns on short-term financial instruments and methods of their calculation, discounting.
6. Shares – characteristics, valuation and market indicators – nature and types of equity securities, shareholders’ rights, share prices and returns, basic valuation principles and selected market indicators.
7. Financial investment – investment process and objectives – nature and stages of the investment process, investment objectives, return, risk and liquidity, historical and expected return.
8. Risk, diversification and investment decision-making – systematic and unsystematic risk, diversification and basic portfolio principles, investor behaviour and selected aspects of investment psychology.
9. Primary securities markets and initial public offerings – role and organization of primary markets, issuance process, initial public offerings (IPOs), securities prospectus and disclosure requirements.
10. Collective investment – principles and participants – individual versus collective investment, advantages and risks of collective investment, key participants and basic principles of collective investment.
11. Investment funds and ETFs – main types of investment funds, mutual funds and ETFs, fund performance, costs and risks, and basic principles of investing in funds.
12. Securities exchanges and global financial markets – organized and over-the-counter markets, securities exchanges and trading mechanisms, major global financial markets and selected market indicators.
13. Regulation, ethics and current trends in financial markets – regulation and supervision of financial markets, investor protection and ethical principles, lessons from financial crises and current trends including FinTech, digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
2. Securities and financial instruments – general characteristics of securities, their basic features and classification according to different criteria, and the role of securities in the financial system.
3. Bonds – characteristics and types – nature of debt securities, basic characteristics and classification of bonds, and main types of bonds.
4. Bonds – price, yield and credit risk – basic principles of bond valuation, bond prices and yields, basic calculations, credit risk and bond ratings.
5. Money market and its instruments – characteristics of the money market, selected money market instruments, returns on short-term financial instruments and methods of their calculation, discounting.
6. Shares – characteristics, valuation and market indicators – nature and types of equity securities, shareholders’ rights, share prices and returns, basic valuation principles and selected market indicators.
7. Financial investment – investment process and objectives – nature and stages of the investment process, investment objectives, return, risk and liquidity, historical and expected return.
8. Risk, diversification and investment decision-making – systematic and unsystematic risk, diversification and basic portfolio principles, investor behaviour and selected aspects of investment psychology.
9. Primary securities markets and initial public offerings – role and organization of primary markets, issuance process, initial public offerings (IPOs), securities prospectus and disclosure requirements.
10. Collective investment – principles and participants – individual versus collective investment, advantages and risks of collective investment, key participants and basic principles of collective investment.
11. Investment funds and ETFs – main types of investment funds, mutual funds and ETFs, fund performance, costs and risks, and basic principles of investing in funds.
12. Securities exchanges and global financial markets – organized and over-the-counter markets, securities exchanges and trading mechanisms, major global financial markets and selected market indicators.
13. Regulation, ethics and current trends in financial markets – regulation and supervision of financial markets, investor protection and ethical principles, lessons from financial crises and current trends including FinTech, digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
E-learning
Materials in LMS Moodle
Literature
BRANDL, Michael W., 2021. Money, Banking, Financial Markets & Institutions. Online. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Cengage. ISBN 978-1-337-90482-7 .
CECCHETTI, Stephen G. a SCHOENHOLTZ, Kermit L., 2024. Money, Banking, and Financial Markets. 2024 release. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-1-266-96695-8
MADURA, Jeff a PASKELIAN, Ohaness, 2025. Financial Markets & Institutions. 14th ed. Mason, OH: Cengage. ISBN 978-0-357-98829-9 .
CECCHETTI, Stephen G. a SCHOENHOLTZ, Kermit L., 2024. Money, Banking, and Financial Markets. 2024 release. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-1-266-96695-8
MADURA, Jeff a PASKELIAN, Ohaness, 2025. Financial Markets & Institutions. 14th ed. Mason, OH: Cengage. ISBN 978-0-357-98829-9 .
Advised literature
MISHKIN, Frederic S. a EAKINS, Stanley G., 2024. Financial Markets and Institutions. 10th ed. Harlow: Pearson. ISBN 978-1-292-45953-0 .
SAUNDERS, Anthony; CORNETT, Marcia Millon a ERHEMJAMTS, Otgontsetseg, 2024. Financial Markets and Institutions. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education. ISBN 978-1-265-06834-9 .
REILLY, Frank K.; BROWN, Keith C. a LEEDS, Sanford J., 2025. Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. 12th ed. Boston, MA: Cengage. ISBN 978-0-357-98817-6
SAUNDERS, Anthony; CORNETT, Marcia Millon a ERHEMJAMTS, Otgontsetseg, 2024. Financial Markets and Institutions. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education. ISBN 978-1-265-06834-9 .
REILLY, Frank K.; BROWN, Keith C. a LEEDS, Sanford J., 2025. Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. 12th ed. Boston, MA: Cengage. ISBN 978-0-357-98817-6