Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Fall 2018
Instructor: Professor Coleen Pantalone, Ph.D.
Email: c.pantalone@neu.edu
Telephone:
(617) 3732172
Office: 419 HA
Office hours: Monday 1:303:00 and by appointment.
Course description: This is a course about financial assets. We will review the
fundamentals of their valuation and examine the marketplaces in which they trade. This
will set the stage to investigate the characteristics and measurement of risk and return.
We will expand this investigation to portfolios, including methods for decomposing and
assessing their performance. We will briefly discuss a number of investment categories:
stocks, money market instruments, government and corporate bonds, options and futures.
We will focus on domestic (U.S.) instruments. There are other finance courses that cover
bonds and international markets in some detail, so we will spend much of our time
focusing on the U.S. stock markets.
The investments literature, both academic and practitioner, contains much jargon so part
of your study will include learning a new vocabulary. You will also be introduced to the
key players and professions in our financial markets: brokers, dealers, investment
bankers, analysts, arbitrageurs, and portfolio managers of all varieties (e.g. hedge funds,
electronically traded funds, closed and openend funds).
Additionally, we will examine the characteristics of the stock market that are interesting
to investors and academics studying investments. This will include: Are stock prices
random or predictable? Can past information be used to predict the future performance of
stocks or portfolios of stocks? Do actively managed portfolios outperform passively
managed portfolios (i.e. index funds)? Are there psychological and/or behavioral
influences on investments and/or investing? Are investors rational?
Course objectives
• Evaluate and explain the risks and returns of various types of investments,
• Value equities and bonds,
• Explain the concepts of efficient markets and how they affect investor portfolio
decisions,
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• Explain the theoretical concepts that underlie security valuation and portfolio
management.
Required materials:
1. Bodie, Kane, and Marcus, Essentials of Investments, McGrawHill/Irwin, 2017. You
may purchase the 8th or 9th edition rather than this 10th edition if you choose.
2. Regular reading of the business press, such as Wall Street Journal, Financial Times,
Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, etc.
3. Financial calculator or a calculator capable of doing roots and powers (Bring to class!)
4. Students who are interested may purchase McGrawHill’s Connect software if they
choose. Contact me for more information.
Blackboard: Course materials will be posted on Blackboard.
Information you should know or refamiliarize yourself with:
Statistical concepts: mean, median, variance, standard deviation, correlation
Financial concepts: discounted cash flow analysis, NPV, IRR, riskadjusted return, bond
valuation, dividend discount models, financial statement analysis, nominal vs. real
interest rates
Cellphone and Computer Policy: Turn cellphones off. Keep them off! No text
messaging during class. You may use your computer to take notes. However, if I see you
doing other work or messaging/emailing during class, I will ask you to leave it off for the
remainder of the semester. When you are in class, I expect you to be engaged in what is
happening in the classroom.
Homework: We will do in class problems and homework from the text periodically.
Remember, problems look easy when we do them in class. You need to work on the
material on your own without me and without the answers to make sure you really
understand the concepts. As with every finance class, practice is the best way to truly
learn the material, so seriously attempt any assigned problems and ask questions.
Attendance and Participation Policy: Class attendance is very important. Please make
every effort to be on time for class. Be prepared for class. I will often ask questions
during class that I expect to be answered by every one of you. I will keep track of
attendance and participation, and expect each of you to participate frequently during the
semester. Participation includes: asking clarifying questions, bringing up
counterarguments, or simply answering questions that I ask. Participation and active
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discussion keep this class interesting. At the beginning of each class, we will often
discuss a current event – so be sure to stay on top of important financerelated topics, like
interest rate changes and announcements, the general direction of the stock and bond
markets, significant events for particular companies and any interesting news (like new
IPOs) that directly affect investors. Additionally, as a part of the class, you will each be
following a stock portfolio. As such, I may begin class by asking you about your
portfolio – how your stocks are doing, current news, etc. Be prepared to talk about your
portfolio for each and every class. This is a large class! It is critical that you display
your name card!
Exam Policy: EVERYONE will take the exams on the given dates. There are no make
ups for the midterm exams. If you miss either of the midterm exams, your grade will be
calculated under alternative 2. If you miss both midterms, then the final exam will
constitute 72% of your grade. You must speak with me before missing an exam. If you do
not take the final, you will get zero points for the final exam. There is no weight shift for
the final exam.
Examinations are closed book, closed notes affairs. I will provide a formula sheet for
each exam.
Grading policy:
Your grade will be based on the better of the following two alternatives:
Alternative 1 Alternative 2
Midterm 1 22% better of Midterm 1
Midterm 2 22% or Midterm 2 32%
Final Exam 30% Final Exam 42%
Stock Assignment 20% Stock Assignment 20%
Participation/attendance 6% Participation/attendance 6%
Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy:
There are a substantial number of ways that one can commit an academically dishonest
offense. Northeastern University, the School of Business and I consider these acts to be
amongst the most serious offenses that one can commit while a student. As such,
violations of NU’s Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy allow the imposition of
punitive sanctions. Please review the University’s policies to obtain a full description of
the following types of offenses: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, participation in academically dishonest activities, facilitating academic
dishonesty. I will seek and impose the maximum penalty provided by our policies.
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Reading assignments and topics schedule: Below is the schedule of topics to be
discussed in each lecture. Note that if you are using an earlier edition of the text, the
sections may not correspond directly to the schedule below. Exam and paper due dates
are fixed.
You should do an initial reading of the assigned textbook materials prior to class. An
“initial reading” means something more rigorous than a “skim”, but less onerous than
“studying” the material. Strive for a basic understanding of all topics in your initial
reading. The class will help you to focus on what is relatively important or unimportant.
You can then review the material in greater depth and work with the suggested problems.
You will notice that some topics that I consider to be very important will be covered in
great detail. You are responsible for all the material covered in the assigned readings
even if it is not directly covered in class. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to keep
up with current events in the business world. I recommend that you get into the habit of
reading one of the following optional publications: (i) The Wall Street Journal (ii) The
Economist (iii) Bloomberg News.
Chap. 2 continued,
Sept. 19 Securities markets Problems 1, 8, 9, 11, 16,
17, 18, 30
Sept. 20 Securities markets continued – Video, no Chap. 3
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class session Problems 12, 14, 16, 19,
Email information about your portfolio 21, 25
Sept. 24 Investment companies/Mutual funds Chap. 4
Chap. 4 continued
Sept. 26 Exchange traded funds & taxes Problems 5, 810, 1314,
19, 21
Sept. 27 Review for exam 1
Oct. 1 Exam 1
Oct. 3 Risk and return Chap. 5
Chap. 5 continued
Oct. 4 Risk and return continued Problems 5, 11, 1214, 18
19, CFA 1, 46
Oct. 8 No class – Columbus Day
Oct. 10 Efficient diversification Chap. 6
Oct. 11 Efficient diversification continued Chap. 6 continued
Chap. 6 continued
Efficient diversification continued Problems 2, 5, 812, 14,
Oct. 15 1719
Oct. 17 Build efficient frontier Bring computer to class
Oct. 18 CAPM and single index models Chap. 7
Chap. 7 continued
APT and multifactor models Problems 1011, 1317, 24,
Oct. 22 2627, 32
Oct. 24 Are markets efficient? Chap. 8
Problems 1314, 1617, 22,
Oct. 25 Market Efficiency continued 2425, CFA 11
Oct. 29 Behavioral models & technical analysis Chap. 9
Problems 17, 21, CFA 1, 3
Oct. 31 Review for exam 2
Nov. 1 Exam 2
Nov. 5 Portfolio performance measures Chap. 18
Style analysis, performance attribution, Chap. 18 continued
Nov. 7 market timing Problems 12, 17, CFA 2
Nov. 8 Hedge funds & their strategies Chap. 20
Nov. 12 Veteran’s Day observed – no class
Nov. 14 Hedge funds: performance & fees Chap. 20 continued
Last day of stock game Problems 3, 7, 11, 19
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Nov. 15 No class, work on stock project
Nov. 19 Options markets Chap. 15
Nov. 21 No Class – Thanksgiving vacation begins
Chap. 15 continued
Nov. 26 Options valuation Problems 4, 6, 8, 15, 17,
20, 22
Nov. 28 Optionlike securities /Option valuation Chap. 16.1, Problem 1
Nov. 29 Futures markets Chap. 17
Speculating with futures/Hedging with Chap. 17 continued
Dec. 3 futures Problems 34, 7, 9, 11, 13,
2425, CFA 8
Review for final exam
Dec. 5 Portfolio project due
Dec. 6 Reading day
Dec. 714 Final exam week
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Stock Portfolio Project
The goals of this project are to provide experience in
1. Developing an investment strategy
2. Selecting a portfolio of stocks to match your strategy
3. Monitoring and trading your portfolio as market and individual stock conditions
change.
You will form a group that consists of three to four members. Each group will pick a
portfolio of stocks and prepare a paper as part of this project (described below). I expect
individuals to make equitable contributions to the performance of the group that they
serve on. Shirking or freeriding behavior should be reported to me so that I can speak to
the individual(s) involved. You will also all complete a team evaluation form at the end
of the project.
To select a portfolio of stocks you may use any method that you like. The only rules are
as follow:
1. You must pick at least 5 stocks for your initial portfolio. Note, you must pick
individual stocks, not mutual funds or ETFs.
2. You must be registered and have selected your initial portfolio by September 14.
3. You must trade at least one time per month (you can trade as much as you like).
4. The game closes at the end of trading on November 15.
Because you will be writing a final report where you are acting as the financial advisor to
a client (me), you should consider the following:
1. What is your objective?
2. How much risk will you assume and how will you measure the risk?
3. How will you screen to find stocks that meet your portfolio objectives?
4. What are your trading rules?
5. What benchmark(s) will you use to judge your performance and why?
Your group will be using the Virtual Stock Exchange to track your portfolios. You will
start with $1,000,000. You are permitted to sell short and use margin. You can’t buy
stocks with a price less than $2 per share, but you can continue to hold such a stock,
should its value fall below $2. You will not be able to buy more than 10% of a stock’s
total trading volume per day. You cannot buy ETFs. A major goal of the project is to
learn about individual stock selection based on your portfolio objectives.
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You may want to review different mutual funds in Morningstar as you think about
establishing portfolio objectives.
Warning: keep track of the daily market value of your portfolio. It will be helpful when
you write your final report!
The link to the project/game is:
https://www.marketwatch.com/game/pantalonefall18/
A. Register for the game by clicking the “Please Register” link. ONLY ONE TEAM
MEMBER SHOULD SIGN UP FOR THE GROUP! Choose a team name before
signing on for the first time!
B. Once you have registered, on the left, click on “Find a Game to Join”. Then enter the
Game ID: PantaloneFall18. The password is abazek2018. You must enter the
password to join the game. Then click “Join Game” at the bottom of the page.
Initial Portfolio Information (due September 20)
Send an email to me at: c.pantalone@neu.edu with your initial portfolio information,
including:
1. Game name and group members
2. Initial stock holdings
3. Initial investment objectives
4. Initial trading (buy/sell) rules
Please be brief.
Portfolio Project Paper: (due December 5)
Be sure to fully disclose the members of your group (and your identification in the game).
At the end of your written paper, attach: [1] an exhibit that discloses your ending
portfolio, [2] an exhibit that summarizes your gains/losses during the game, and [3] an
exhibit that computes the average systematic risk of your portfolio, and [4] an exhibit that
computes your riskadjusted return. Do not just turn in marketwatch tables. Create your
own.
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In no more than 6 doublespaced pages, address the following questions in a wellwritten
and organized report. Do not simply answer the questions. Remember you are
reporting to a client.
2.1 Did you achieve the objective(s) that you set out at the onset of the project? Make
sure you reiterate what your objectives were.
2.2 Did your portfolio outperform or underperform the benchmark for a portfolio with
your objectives and risk characteristics?
2.3 What was your ‘best’ investment during project and what was your ‘worst’
investment? Keep this succinct – remember you are reporting to a client.
2.4 What is the biggest lesson(s) that you learned from this project?
Note: Your grade on this project will be determined by the quality of your
explanations from a finance standpoint, the quality of your exhibits and the
grammar/quality of your writing. Simply answering the questions or turning
in exhibits downloaded from the game will result in a C grade at best.