Course Code: FIN344
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Synopsis

FIN344 Investment and Portfolio Management offers an introduction to the principles of investing and the practices of portfolio management, combining both quantitative analysis and the advisory perspective of investment decision-making. The course provides students with a strong foundation in the frameworks and tools used by investment professionals to evaluate, construct, and manage portfolios. Key topics include risk and return analysis, diversification strategies, portfolio optimisation, and asset pricing models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). Students will also explore how these models inform investment strategies and client advisory services. This course is especially relevant for those aspiring to careers in asset management, private banking, and wealth advisory, where both analytical rigour and client-centric thinking are essential. At the end of this course, students will be able to apply investment theories and quantitative tools to real-world portfolio decisions, evaluate investment performance, and articulate investment recommendations in a client-oriented context.
Level: 3
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN

Topics

  • Profitability measures
  • Risk measures
  • Portfolio optimisation techniques
  • Portfolio management foundations
  • Portfolio diversification
  • Investment policy statement
  • Portfolio rebalancing
  • Portfolio risk management
  • Asset pricing models
  • Characteristics of asset classes
  • Scenario analysis
  • Excel solver

Learning Outcome

  • Employ various measures of portfolio’s profitability and risk, including their applications in investment decision-making.
  • Analyze portfolio optimisation techniques to determine how they contribute to achieving different investment objectives.
  • Compare the characteristics, risk profiles, and roles of different asset classes in a diversified portfolio.
  • Calculate and interpret the risk-return preferences of an investor.
  • Construct an optimised portfolio using Excel, applying principles of diversification and risk management.
  • Apply scenario analysis to evaluate potential portfolio performance under varying market conditions.