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Portfolio management

Module information>

Academic Direction
Queen Mary University of London
Also part of
Global MBA
Modes of Study
Online

This module focuses on investment decision-making and improved portfolio management from an applied perspective.

Study as an individual module

The module introduces state-of-the-art methodologies which are used by professional portfolio managers. It develops skills based on modelling of asset price procedures and empirical research findings. It also takes a wider view considering a variety of issues concerning portfolio managers.

Topics covered

  • Economic Analysis & Investors Expectations
  • Asset Allocation
  • Mean-Variance Theory: CAPM & APT
  • Fixed-Income Portfolio Management
  • Equity Portfolio Management
  • Alternative Investments Portfolio Management
  • Risk Management
  • Implementing Portfolio Decisions: Trading & Transaction Costs
  • Monitoring & Rebalancing
  • Evaluating Portfolio Performance

Learning outcomes

If you complete the module successfully, you should be able to:

  • understand and evaluate major portfolio management and risk concepts including the mean-variance optimiser and resampled efficient frontier.
  • describe and assess perspectives of economic analysis in capital market expectations.
  • explain the Black-Litterman approach.
  • demonstrate the applications of fixed-income securities, risk management, portfolio rebalancing and portfolio evaluation.
  • critically discuss the relation between economic activity and investor expectations.
  • apply portfolio management concepts and techniques to their specific business problems.
  • construct advanced portfolios and perform better on CFA examinations.
  • utilise professional financial tool skills and case studies to support decisions.
  • work both independently and in teams to create and manage financial strategies.
  • present highly technical financial material to non-practitioners simply and clearly.
  • synthesise and use information and materials from a variety of different sources to support an argument.
  • apply research skills into negotiations and conflict management problems and the application of these in the assembling and analysis of facts and situations.

Assessment

This module is assessed by:

Coursework (50% weighting):

  • There is one item of coursework for this module which contributes to the final assessment mark for this module.
  • Coursework: a written essay of a maximum of 2,000 or 2,500 words (deadline – weeks 9-12) The coursework is designed to check student progress, extend and reinforce concepts covered and also test individual performance.

Examination (50% weighting):

  • The final piece of assessment will be an unseen written examination of 2 hours’ duration.

Essential reading

The following is provided as part of the module materials after you register:

  • Maginn, J. L., Tuttle, D. L., Pinto, J. E. and McLeavey, D. W., Managing Investment Portfolios: A Dynamic Process, Wiley & Sons, 2007
  • Elton, E. J., Gruber, M. J., Brown, S. J. and Goetzmann, W. N., Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis (ninth edition), Wiley & Sons, 2014

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