ICM233-Current Topics in Investment Management

Module Provider: ICMA Centre
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mr Alan Pendleton
Email: a.pendleton@icmacentre.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides insight into a number of different areas of Investment Management which fall outside those normally covered by standard Investment modules and which may generally be regarded as Alternative Investments suitable for long-term institutional investors

Aims:

Current Topics in Investment Management is an applied debate on the issues and trends affecting the investment management industry and as such the topics may vary and/or be updated on a year-to-year basis. The purpose is to give the student a clear overview on industry structure and the forces of change – something that has been identified as a key information need by investment management firms in regard to their future management hires. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, the successful student will be able to discuss the critical role that savings and financial intermediation play in our economy; describe the structure and activities of the major investment management firms – pension funds, long only funds and hedge funds; performance measurement and attribution plus alternative investments from commodities and hedge funds to Infrastructure investments.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The lectures will be drawn from a range of topical issues in the Investment Management arena. And are supported by a Consolidation Session to link the content of the lectures together.

Example topics covered in previous years include:

Infrastructure Investments

Machine Learning

Private Equity Funds

Bonds & Inflation

Hedge Funds

Commodities

Due Diligence

Fixes Income & Pe rformance Measurement

Real Estate

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

6 2-hour lectures including one overview and revision lecture

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		12
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		68
Revision and preparation		20
Total hours by term	0	100	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Class test administered by School	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

These are normally scheduled in Weeks 6 or 7 and 10 or 11 in the Spring Term

Mid-term tests MT1 – Test lasting 90 minutes covering topics 1 to 3 and worth 50% of final grade, comprising 20 MCQs and a two essay questions (from a choice of 3)

MT2 – Test lasting 90 minutes covering topics 1 to 3 and worth 50% of final grade, comprising 20 MCQs and a two essay questions (from a choice of 3)

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Average of 50%

Reassessment arrangements:

As per university policy.  Candidates who resit will take a Test lasting 90 minutes, worth 100% of the resit mark and will be required to answer 3 essay questions from a choice of 6. The Test does not include any MCQs.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 29 March 2022