Financial Investments

This course is an introduction to financial investments for students with no prior knowledge of finance. It provides an overview of financial markets and instruments including stocks, bonds, futures, options, and other derivatives. A theory of optimal asset allocation teaches the tradeoff between risk and return and the importance of diversification. A theory of asset pricing, developed under the assumption of no arbitrage, is used to evaluate trading strategies and the performance of mutual funds and other asset managers. Key concepts are illustrated through examples and homework exercises that use financial market data.