IC101: Introductory Securities and Markets

Module code: IC101

Module provider: ICMA Centre; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr John Chessher, email: j.r.chessher@icmacentre.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Ms Nur Amalina Borhan, email: n.borhan@henley.edu.my

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to provide an economic, accounting, business and management framework for understanding financial institutions, market players, financial markets, and the importance of financial intermediation. Participants will gain an understanding of commercial and investment banks, the international credit, bond and other markets. Developments in financial technology in the financial services industry and in particular in relation to the question “what is money” will help prepare students for interviews and a career in finance, accounting or business management. A key part of the module is on ‘sustainable finance’ which involves understanding the science of climate change and how this can be translated to developing ratings for companies depending on how environmentally friendly they are. This is then widened to ratings of companies on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues including diversity on boards and in senior management, equality of opportunity and pay, avoidance of child labour in developing countries and modern slavery.

The module lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Nur Amalina Borhan.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Explain the role of financial intermediation in society including the provision of liquidity and a means of transferring resources over time, and describe the role of different types of financial intermediaries 
• Assess credit and liquidity risk 
• Explain ‘what is money’ and how countries are converting to electronic money and cryptocurrencies 
•  Critically discuss how the banking industry is changing, in particular regarding environmental, social and governance issues and how the finance industry can mitigate climate change impact

Module content

The module is in two halves. The first half covers financial institutions, credit risk, maturity transformation and liquidity, the economics of banking and types of money including cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies. In the second five weeks, we focus on sustainable finance and its important contribution to achieving Net-Zero by 2050. The second part focusses on the role of the finance industry in mitigating climate change impact and also covers social and governance issues relevant to corporates and financial companies such as diversity, equality of pay for equal work, salary and bonus differentials.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Brief description of teaching and learning methods

• Formal lectures, in which students are strongly encouraged to ask questions
• Seminars, in which students are encouraged to develop their analytical skills and where there is the opportunity to explore issues in more depth
• Face-to-face/Online availability for student consultation.

This module may be taught in a different Semester if you are studying at our campus in Malaysia.
For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

In addition to the total 200 hours, students studying at the Malaysian campus will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of independent study totalling 240 hours of student learning time per semester per module in compliance with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). The breakdown of study hours may differ at the Malaysian campus. For further details please refer to the module handbook

Study hours

At least 28 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

40% weighted average mark from both assessments.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Ongoing feedback throughout all lectures, seminars and workshops.

Reassessment

Additional costs