FM409      Half Unit
Risk Management for Financial Institutions

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Philippe Mueller OLD M2.16

Dr Andrea Vedolin OLD M2.04

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Finance (full-time), MSc in Finance (part-time), MSc in Finance and Economics, MSc in Finance and Economics (Research) and MSc in Finance and Private Equity. This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Asset Markets (FM423) and Corporate Finance (FM422).

Course content

The aim of this course is to give an introduction to the analysis and management of risk within financial institutions. The objective of the course is to develop a conceptual framework for thinking about financial risk and to show how these concepts are implemented in practice in a variety of contexts. First, the course gives an overview of risk management in the context of portfolios of fixed income securities and derivatives. Next, will discuss the implementation and the merits of Value at Risk measures. We will spend some time on endogenous risk and limits to arbitrage. In the context of credit risk we will cover ratings based and structural models, as well as credit risk on portfolios and credit derivatives. A final topic covers regulation and the recent credit crisis. Throughout, the course spends a significant amount of time on practical applications of the theories that are introduced. Some limitations of current approaches are also discussed.

Teaching

35 hours of seminars in the MT. 30 hours of seminars in the LT. 7 hours of seminars in the ST.

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes. MSc Finance (part-time): taught MT (evenings). MSc Finance (full-time): taught LT (daytime).

Formative coursework

Problem sets. In addition, students will have the opportunity to present the results of a case study to the class. Indicative reading

Indicative reading

Course readings will vary from year to year depending upon the topics covered. The main reference is: John C. Hull, Risk Management and Financial Institutions, Prentice Hall, 2012, 3rd edition.

Additional useful references are: Michel Crouhy, Dan Galai and Robert Mark, Risk Management, McGraw-Hill, 2001. Philippe Jorion, Value at Risk, McGraw-Hill, 2007, 3rd edition. Jon Danielsson, Financial Risk Forecasting, Wiley, 2011. John C. Hull, Options, Futures and Other Derivatives, Pearson, 2012, 8th edition. Darrell Duffie and Ken Singleton, Credit Risk, Princeton University Press, 2003.

Assessment

Exam (90%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Coursework (5%) and presentation (5%) in the MT and LT.

Key facts

Department: Finance

Total students 2012/13: 103

Average class size 2012/13: 25

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills