EFB344 Risk Management and Derivatives


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:EFB344
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:EFB201 and EFB210
Equivalent:EFX344
Coordinator:Marco Elia | marco.elia@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit develops knowledge and skills required to identify, measure and hedge the risks associated with an exposure to financial securities. Building on earlier finance units, and with a focus on the risk associated with movements in market prices (market risk), this unit introduces students to specialised knowledge and skills for identifying, measuring, managing and hedging risk. As derivative securities are an important tool in risk management, this unit explores a wide range of derivative securities and examines their pricing and use in managing and hedging risk. Subsequent topics on derivatives include the pricing and use of forwards, futures, swaps and options contracts. Students will develop their self-reflection skills in considering their application of financial knowledge and reasoning, and in exercising responsibility and accountability for their own learning: valuable skills for finance professionals.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of financial derivatives, markets, and pricing methodologies and evaluate their use in risk management. [KS 1.1]
  2. Demonstrate, analyse and apply knowledge of risk management measures and practices. [HO 2.1]
  3. Apply knowledge, judgement, technical and technological skills to solve problems related to the risk management of diverse portfolios. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
  4. Demonstrate the ability to exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice. [TS 4.1]

Content

Initial topics in this unit relate to the practice of risk management, categories of risk, the value of risk management and metrics employed to measure market risk. Subsequent topics focus on developing students' knowledge of forwards, futures, swaps and options by examining their pricing and use for managing and hedging risk.

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.

Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.

Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.

Professional Communication (PC)
3
.1 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
3.2 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.

Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.

Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

This unit consists of a weekly two hour lecture and one hour tutorial, with tutorials providing the opportunity to discuss and apply the materials presented in the lectures. The quantitative focus of the unit (measuring risk and pricing derivatives) means that regular attendance at lectures and tutorials is essential to successfully completing the unit. The unit is taught with actual financial securities and data with a focus on contemporaneous market and economic conditions. The tutorial work and assessment items provide an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you develop in this unit to a range of financial exposures and securities. Tasks within the project will require students to apply their knowledge and skills to analyse and solve complex problems with the aid of current technologies. In doing so, it is envisaged that this assessment item will further develop an in-depth understanding of risk management and derivatives.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the unit learning outcomes and course assurance of learning goals. The assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:

  • receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment);
  • demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Mid-semester exam

Short-answer exam covering Topics 1 to 4.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1)

Weight: 20
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1

Assessment: Project

Part A of the project requires students to apply and analyse measures of risk in the context of financial exposures and to respond to related questions on the practice of risk measurement. Students are then required to select appropriate derivative securities to manage this risk. The task requires students to price a variety of derivative securities and to evaluate the ability of these securities to manage the risks identified in the earlier analysis.

Part B requires students to submit a 500 word reflective piece that considers their application of financial knowledge and financial reasoning skills and the demonstration of responsibility and accountability for their learning. 

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Weight: 40% (30% for Part A, 10% for Part B)

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), HO (2.2), TS (4.1)

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 10
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3, 4

Assessment: Final Exam

Short Answer exam covering Topics 5 to 12.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1, 2.2)

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): During central examination period
Central exam duration: 2:10 - Including 10 minute perusal
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

John C. Hull (2022) Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets, Global Edition, 9th edition

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit.

You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO2, Final Exam

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO3, Project, Final Exam

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Mid-semester exam, Project, Final Exam

KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills

Relates to: ULO3, Project

TS (4.1): Self-Reflection and Accountability

Relates to: ULO4, Project

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, Mid-semester exam, Project, Final Exam
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Final Exam
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project, Final Exam
  5. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO4, Project

BS06 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, Mid-semester exam, Project, Final Exam
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Final Exam
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project, Final Exam
  5. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO4, Project

BS08 Bachelor of Business - International

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, Mid-semester exam, Project, Final Exam
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Final Exam
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Project, Final Exam
  5. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO4, Project