EFB312 International Finance


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:EFB312
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:EFB201 and EFB210
Equivalent:EFX312
Anti-requisite:EFB240, IBB202
Coordinator:Ruchith Dissanayake | r.dissanayake@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

As international markets become more integrated, knowledge and skills related to international financial management are becoming ever more important. This unit applies and extends the knowledge and skills gained from EFB201 and EFB210 to international settings. Students are introduced to the international aspects of financial management theory and practice, including: international arbitrage and parity conditions, foreign exchange risk management, international equity markets, political risk, and international capital budgeting. This unit will endeavor to prepare students to operate in the multinational world of the financial markets. 

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of markets, products, and theories for problem solving and decision making in response to financial management issues that arise in international settings.
  2. Demonstrate information literacy, written communication and data synthesis skills to explain and justify information, theories, data and thinking relating to exchange rate forecasting.
  3. Apply knowledge of socially responsible financial decisions and actions in analysing and addressing financial issues.

Content

Students will learn about the history of exchange rate regimes and markets. In addition they will develop knowledge and skills required to calculate and understand current and expected foreign exchange rates, the workings of currency derivatives, the effect of changing exchange rates on firm value, the benefits of international investing and international investment risks. Furthermore, students will explore why companies expand internationally and where they get their funding from, and will gain brief introductions to international working capital management and corporate governance.

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

Each session will consist of approximately two hours of lecture and one hour of tutorial/workshop. Lectures will focus on providing core theoretical and conceptual frameworks that are essential in the analysis of international financial issues. The tutorials/workshops provide the opportunity to solve certain practical as well as theoretical questions, which test students' understanding of the theories and concepts addressed during the lecture. The lectures and tutorials/workshops will also provide students with the opportunity to analyse cases that illustrate the application of international finance theories to the real world and to develop problem solving and decision making skills. Resources including copies of overheads for each lecture topic, tutorial questions and solutions are provided on the unit's Canvas site.

COVID-19 restrictions may require changes to the planned Learning Approaches described here.  Students should refer to the unit Canvas site for the latest information.

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).

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Mid-semester exam (open book)

Multiple choice tests covering Topics 1 to 6.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1)

Weight: 40
Length: 1 hour plus 10 minutes perusal
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 8
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1

Assessment: Problem solving task (Timed)

Real world problems presented. Power point slides should be submitted. 

Formative or Summative: Summative

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

Weight: 30
Length: 2 hours
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 12
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Report

Assessment name: Global Investment Report

This report is based on a real world case-study. The students will provide a report on the operations of a major multinational company, including issues with regard to business ethics, social responsibility, hedging foreign exchange risk, and designing optimal business strategy. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Formative or summative: Summative and Formative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.2)

Weight: 30
Length: 2,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 10
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

Prescribed text(s)

Madura, Hoque, and Krishnamurti (2018), International Financial Management, Asia-Pacific Edition 1 

Recommended text(s)

Eun, Resnick, and Chuluun (2020), International Financial Management, 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: ULO3

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO1, Problem solving task (Timed), Report

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Mid-semester exam (open book), Problem solving task (Timed), Report

KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills

Relates to: Report

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO2, Report

SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility

Relates to: ULO3, Report

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 (open book), Problem solving task (Timed), Report
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Report
  3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: Report
  4. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO3
  5. 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: ULO1, Problem solving task (Timed), Report
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, Report