Course Title: Empirical Studies in Equity Markets

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Empirical Studies in Equity Markets

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BAFI1046	City Campus	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014
BAFI1048	Kolej Metropolitan	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Offsh 3 09
BAFI2050	Hong Kong Management Associatn	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Offsh1 12

Course Coordinator: Professor Jing Shi

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5802

Course Coordinator Email: jing.shi@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 80.10.51

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Most of the skills developed in this program will be utilized in this course. To understand the current research in certain areas of finance you are expected to have some of the following attributes; good research and communication skills, excellent analytical skills, strong quantitative background, computer proficiency and be a capable researcher. As these qualities are taught across the different subjects in our program, it is advisable to complete most of the previous courses before enrolling in this course. The formal pre-requisite for this course is BAFI1008 Business Finance (or Equivalent).
 

Course Description

This course introduces students to the recent empirical research in finance. In particular, students are exposed to research projects carried out by finance academics at RMIT. Students will learn about the literature in the areas, the methodology used to test these theories and understand the major findings of these research papers. The content is designed to cover several areas of finance. Students are expected to use the tools taught in the subject to solve for academic and practical finance problems. In that sense, this subject coaches students to be creative, innovative and problem solving. Students should be aware that this subject focuses on research, and is thus time consuming.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students are expected to have developed the ten capabilities listed below before enrolling for this course

• Research skills
• Statistics or Econometric skills
• Approach problems with intellectual openness and curiosity
• Distil, scope and critically analyse problems
• Communicate effectively
• Collaborate effectively
• Recognise the uncertainty of business decision-making
• Use the technical tools and language of the field
• Work to the ethical standards of the profession
• Reflect upon their actions as engaged citizens in the context of local diversity and multiculturalism, increasing globalisation, and the university’s commitment to awareness of global sustainability and indigenous issues.

By end of this course, you should have ability to:

1) Elaborate on the key concepts, issues and ideas pertaining to empirical research in finance.
2) Analyse, interpret, conduct and evaluate empirical research in finance.
3) Understand (further) a range of tools and techniques of empirical research that are used in finance.
4) Formulate and apply these tools and techniques in the process of working on a research project.
5) Understand how to apply research techniques to problems encountered in financial decision making.
6) Develop skills and knowledge relating to financial databases.
7) Use a range of statistical tests and measures
8) Use statistical and econometric packages to conduct hypothesis testing, estimate models, generate forecasts and derive inference from historical data.
9) Develop strong writing skills that enable them to illustrate the findings of empirical research in a lucid manner without any misrepresentation.
10) Utilise the finance concepts used/cited in this unit to the market place.

Overview of Learning Activities

To achieve the objectives listed above this course requires you to participate in various learning activities. These activities comprise lectures, tutorials, self study , peer review activity, readings  and  workshops.  

Overview of Learning Resources

There is no prescribed textbook for this course, you are expected to read academic journal articles.

The course is supported online using Blackboard through the myRMIT. The Blackboard gives access to important announcements, staff contacts details, the teaching schedule, assessment timelines and a variety of important teaching and learning materials. Blackboard can be found at http://www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit 

RMIT library offers a range of online resources to support students’ learning.
 

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include presentations, research proposal and project, in-class discussion and participation. Formative feedback may be provided throughout the semester in class discussions, peer reviews and by individual consultation.