Learning objectives
The course aims to illustrate financial markets and financial systems through the reading of data, providing the necessary reading keys to interpret both their role in the economic system and its evolutionary dynamics and the composition and evolution of financial markets. At the end of the course, students will have acquired:
1) the knowledge necessary to understand the characteristics and evolution of the financial system, in general of intermediaries and financial markets, through the collection and analysis of data;
2) the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to evaluate the quality of the data collected and understand the structure of the system and of the financial market;
3) critical capacity (independent judgment) to assess the adequacy of the solutions given to problems relating to the collection and interpretation of information and the creation of qualitative and quantitative documents in which such information is interpreted;
4) the ability to use appropriate technical language in communicating with financial market operators;
5) the ability to learn through the logical method of identifying problems and critical analysis of the solutions adopted.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisites are required. However, students are advised to have taken exams dealing with issues relating to the composition of the bank balance sheet. Also, it is advisable to have a basic knowledge of Office and in particular of Microsoft excel and power point.
Course unit content
After having illustrated the difference between the creation of reports and strategic plans, and scientific research, the sources of financial data are analyzed, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources, between free and private sources, qualitative and quantitative information.
This interpretation is used to critically address the reading of financial data of financial and non-financial companies.
In this perspective, some qualitative and quantitative methods for analyzing financial data are explored. The main objective is to learn where to find information, how to evaluate it and how to collect it in a database that allows its analysis.
In order to achieve this goal, some tools for analyzing the information collected are used during the course (excel and statistical software).
Full programme
1 Report and scientific research compared: the importance of data quality and databases
2 The difference between public databases and private databases (analysis of some databases available in UniPr) - 3. Use of Datastream
4. How and where to research financial data and how to create a database for data analysis
5. Use of excel to create a database and define variables
6. Purpose of using the data: scientific papers vs reports and strategic plans of banks
7. Tools for data analysis - qualitative and quantitative methods (with excel)
8. Tools for data analysis - qualitative and quantitative methods (with statistical software)
9. Exercises to put into practice what is illustrated in the theory
10. Implementation and presentation of a project
Bibliography
Material made available by the teacher on the e-learning page of the course.
Teaching methods
Acquisition of knowledge: The lessons will take place face to face. During the lessons both theoretical and practical topics will be treated.
There are also exercises, group work and practical tests on the PC.
Acquisition of skills to apply knowledge: For each topic there is a practical exercise that is carried out both individually and with group work. The use of excel and statistical software is also foreseen for data analysis and group work.
Acquisition of independent judgment: through practical tests, the student will acquire the ability to independently judge the quality of the data sources and which analysis techniques are best suited to solve the proposed problem.
Acquisition of learning skills: for each topic we will start from the illustration of the problem to be solved and the solutions adopted will be critically analyzed.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam is an oral exam. It is foreseen the realization of a group work or an individual project that will be evaluated.
The oral exam is structured as follows:
- Theory questions related to the topics covered during the course;
- practical test using the statistical software used during the course and / or using excel;
- presentation of group work or individual work carried out.
Other information
The course materials will be uploaded weekly to Elly platform. To download the materials it is necessary to register for the course with a password that will be communicated at the beginning of the course. The slides of the course should not be considered as a substitute for the course textbook, but - if anything - they are an integral part of it.
Recordings of the lessons will also be made available on the Elly page of the course.
