Chevron Left
Back to Global Financial Markets and Instruments

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Global Financial Markets and Instruments by Rice University

4.5
stars
2,126 ratings

About the Course

Get a running start in the high-stakes world of financial investment! This first course is designed to help you become an informed investor by providing you with the essential concepts for long-term success in managing money. You’ll start by learning the role of financial markets and financial assets in a well-functioning economy. From there, you’ll learn about the wide range of financial instruments available in major asset classes, their features and valuations. You’ll explore how financial markets actually operate in the real world, focusing on how and where securities are traded and how various market types differ from one another in practice. You will also learn the basics of algorithmic trading, dark pools, buying on margin and short selling. By the end of the course, learners will be able to: • List and distinguish the different financial instruments available to an investor • Compare global financial markets • Explain the features of equity, debt, and derivative instruments • Define traditional and alternative asset classes • Discuss different trading venues and mechanics of securities trading • Discuss the current trends affecting today’s financial markets This course is designed to be accessible for students of all knowledge levels and gives you the actionable foundation needed to manage money in a post-crisis world. ________________________________________ WEEK 1 Module 1: Introduction & Review of Elementary Finance Tools This module introduces the Investment and Portfolio Management Specialization, which is made up of four courses. This module discusses how the first course, Global Financial Markets and Assets, is organized. It outlines the different stages of the investment management process, which guides the focus of the Specialization. It also reviews basic finance concepts and tools such as time value of money, computing returns, discounting and compounding. Topics covered include: • Familiarize with the organization of the class • Meet the professor and your peers • Explain the investment management process • Review elementary concepts in finance • Compute present value or future value of a single cash flow • Compute present value of future value of a stream of cash flows • Define an annuity or perpetuity • Apply time value of money tools to solve basic mortgage, loan or retirement problems ________________________________________ WEEK 2 Module 2: Financial system & financial assets: fixed income securities In this and the next two modules, we cover the key institutional features of financial markets and instruments. We ask the following questions: Why do financial markets exist? What role do they play? What are financial assets and how are they different than real assets? How does it all come together? Basically, this is where I hope you will get to see the big picture of the entire financial system and how it comes together. Module 2 focuses on fixed income securities. We'll get started with a review of basics of bond valuation. You will learn about short-term money market instruments, U.S. Treasury securities as well as corporate bonds. After module 2, you will be able to describe fixed income securities, be familiar with their institutional features, and identify their cash flows. Finally, you will learn how to value fixed income securities such as Treasury bills, zero-coupon or coupon-bonds and compute yields. Topics covered include: • Explain the roles of financial markets • Distinguish between real and financial assets • Define and explain money market instruments, zero-coupon and coupon- bonds and features • Identify the cash flows associated with fixed-income securities • Define and explain bond market features • List the different types of Treasury securities and explain pricing and quoting conventions • List and define other long-term debt instruments such as corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, sovereign debt • Find the value of a zero-coupon or coupon-bonds ________________________________________ WEEK 3 Module 3: Financial system & financial assets: equity securities and derivatives In Module 3, we continue our overview of financial markets and instruments. We next focus on two other major asset classes: equity securities and derivative instruments. You will learn about how equity differs from fixed income securities, the cash flows associated with stock and preferred stock and how to find the value of a share. You will also learn about option strategies. After completing module 3, you will be able to describe all major asset classes, including derivative instruments such as options, forwards and futures. You will be able to explain how these differ from each other and their payoffs. Topics covered include: • Distinguish between equities and fixed income securities • Define and explain the features of equity securities • Identify the cash flows associated with equity securities • Explain dividend discount model • Find the value of a share of common stock or preferred stock • Define and list different types of derivative securities • Explain option payoffs • Distinguish between a forward and futures contract • Explain forward and futures payoffs • Identify traditional and alternative asset classes ________________________________________ WEEK 4 Module 4: Organization of financial markets and securities trading In this module, we discuss how financial markets actually work. We will talk about different trading venues and the mechanics of securities trading. I will emphasize a lot of terminology and the latest trends in securities trading to familiarize you with the institutional workings of financial markets. After this module, you will be able to compare different trading venues, trading mechanisms, and be able to explain different types of orders, including transactions like margin buying and short- selling; you will be familiar with the language and terminology you need in order to become an informed practitioner of investments. Topics covered include • Explain the roles of corporations, households, government, and financial intermediaries in the financial system • Explain price discovery process • Define different type of orders • Distinguish between dealer vs. auction markets; different trading platforms • Explain margin buying and short-selling transactions • Understand the current trading environment such as algorithmic or high frequency trading, dark pools etc....

Top reviews

OY

Apr 17, 2022

The subject was simplified for beginners in the field of financial market instruments. Instructor explained all the details very clearly. Overall I had a very positive experience with the class

AI

Jun 17, 2020

Global Financial Markets and Instruments is a MUST. Excellent instruction! I truly appreciate the opportunity to receive this course from such a prestigious University - Rice University.

Filter by:

51 - 75 of 419 Reviews for Global Financial Markets and Instruments

By Ryan B

•

Dec 4, 2016

I have no background in this subject but am highly motivated to learn. Dr. O was super informative and provided links to additional resources on complicated/controversial material. I have learned a lot, and I am very thankful! If you are interested in learning this subject, I strongly recmomend this course

By Shuwei T

•

Mar 18, 2022

As a corporate banker, I am more familiar with financing side instead of investment side. During work, I come across terms like call option, margin call, short sell etc which I can guess but never certain. After taking this lesson, I am more confident when I see these terms again. Thank you professor O!

By Susan H

•

Jan 28, 2018

It's a useful introductory course to financial markets. The many examples, supplementary reading materials and forum discussions are very helpful to understand the topics at a deeper or more extensive level. Thank you Dr. O and the teaching staff who help to answer the many questions in the forum:)

By Подлипалин Р Ю

•

Mar 4, 2021

This is my third investment oriented course. And the best of all the courses I've taken. The Professor explained all I need to immediate action on the market. No other sources needed. I thank Dr.Arzu Ozoguz for her excellent course and do recommend it to all interested in the subject of investing!

By Kristofer P

•

Feb 2, 2017

Great overview of financial markets and tools. There is some basic investment math in the first part of the class that can become tedious but is good to at least see in action. The more complex investment topics are only defined and summarized, which was exactly what I was looking for.

By Tariq k

•

Jul 13, 2017

I have already achieved an accomplishment through Coursera, and after being enrolled in this course i have switched to new sessions for a nunber of times. Coursera provides flexible and diverging means of obtaining certificates from highly recognised institutes, internationally.

By Doyinsola O

•

Jul 31, 2021

I currently work as a wealth advisor with an asset management firm. I must say that the course offered more insights and broadened my existing knowledge on financial markets and instruments. Would love to see what the next module has to offer.

By Jose M Q

•

Aug 13, 2018

Un muy buen curso, cubre aspectos basicos sobre el mundo de las finanzas y las inversiones. Pero es un inicio muy recomendado para cualquier persona interesada en estos temas y que no tenga una educacion formal directa en la materia.

By Fannie G B

•

Feb 13, 2017

Excellent!

Completely practical and objective, this course provides the mathematical basis for obtaining the data necessary to implement a financial plan or strategy. Understanding the numbers, nothing is clearer and more convincing.

By Prasham

•

Oct 22, 2020

It was a very knowledgeable experience with this course and I'd like to recommend to everyone out there who want to learn about investment instruments. This was a basic and beginners knowledge to investment and financing. Cheers!

By Brian B

•

Jul 26, 2021

Was very interesting to learn the different instruments outside of what I have heard before and it is very informative. I can used this in my career moving forward. It helps to learn the jargon as well and what it means.

By CARLOS N S Q

•

Jun 18, 2021

excelente curso; ya tenia las nociones basicas de ciertos aspectos de las finanzas personales sin embargo, me ayudó bastante a aclarar conceptos, funcionamiento del mercado en general. Muy claro y de excelente nivel.

By Gustavo A L

•

Jan 24, 2021

Great course, very well prepared by Dr. O. A lot of fundamentals and deeper concepts cearly explained. It was always interesting to watch the lecture videos with Dr. O. REally happy to have joined and finished it.

By Kriti S

•

Jan 16, 2020

Very lucid explanation for a beginner. Despite a lot of reading earlier, I wasn't able to understand how a few formulas were arrived at. The Professor has made it exceptionally easy to understand the same.

By Zhuravleva E

•

May 31, 2020

Arzu Ozoguz is an exellent teacher - so nice and calm, I liked her explanations very much! There were some problems with quizzies but with solutiom=ns it becomes clear.

Thank you for the opportunity!

By Omer Y

•

Apr 18, 2022

The subject was simplified for beginners in the field of financial market instruments. Instructor explained all the details very clearly. Overall I had a very positive experience with the class

By Tommaso M

•

Apr 15, 2020

This course is very effective in explaining the basics of the financial markets and the various instruments that are traded here. The lessons are short but clear and simple to understand.

By Senén M C

•

Jun 22, 2020

Muy buen curso para aprender conceptos básicos e intermedios a la hora de calcular el valor de una inversión, conocer los principales productos de inversión y calcular su rentabilidad.

By B B R

•

Aug 27, 2021

Highly benificial course for finance professionals and who is interested to grow in finance field. And the curriculum design is highly appreciated. Overall wondrful course to take up.

By Walter M Q

•

Jul 18, 2020

This is one of the best courses Coursera have, don't hesitate if you have interest into financial markets and investments, it will give you great basic knowledge.

By Savdar I

•

May 19, 2020

Highly recommended for aspired financiers who's looking forward to establish a career in finance world such as hedge fund, private equity, investment bank etc.

By DUY K T

•

May 18, 2020

The best course for those who are interested in Financial market and already have a basic understanding of this field - a good choice from a good foundation

By Bhoomika G

•

Jan 12, 2017

It was a good course but unfortuantely I cant enroll for the entire series as I would not be able to pay for the course and there is no option of fee waiver

By Cristian A Q G

•

May 1, 2020

Una temática muy bien manejada, y una profesora con la facilidad de explicar cada tema de la forma más comprensible posible. Sencillamente excelente!

By Peiyang L

•

Apr 29, 2020

Very interesting course and help conquering problems by moduls, detailed illustration by prof and good excercises and handouts for students, likes!!!