GRA 6531 Topics in Portfolio Management
GRA 6531 Topics in Portfolio Management
This is a case course that focuses on the dynamics of the portfolio management process and investment advice, blending academic theory with professional best practices. This is achieved mainly through the study and discussion of cases. The objective is to introduce a framework for a disciplined approach to global asset allocation and risk management. We consider both the investor and the asset manager's perspectives and the different challenges they face, as well as the ethical dimensions of both the manager/investor relation and of the invvestment process. Participants will gain understanding of the issues through real-world examples, cases study discussions and computer exercises. A basic knowledge of Excel is expected.
- Applied coverage of advanced investment portfolio management concepts and techniques, for equity only portfolios, for fixed income only portfolios and for mixed portfolios.
- Examine the practical solution of the portfolio management problem from both an individual and instutional perspective. Special consideration for pension, insurance, endowment, foundation and sovereign fund portfolios.
- Identify the portfolio obectives and provide asset allocation recommendations to a variety of potential investors, indivual, pension funds, soveriegn funds, insitutional investors, taking into account investor specific constraints, exisitng assets and future liabilities.
- Ability to evaluate the performance and the robustness of different investment management aproaches, as well as ther appropriatedness in light of an investor's specific circumstances.
- Ability to conduct a due dilligence process of an asset manager, investment product or investment service.
- Ability to assess the ethical dimensions of the behavior of investment managers, in particular what discharging the manager's fiduciary duty due to the investor entails and how to recognize and remedy conflict of interests.
Ability to think through critically the investment decision, asset allocation choice and implementation issues from both the investor and the investment manager or advisor point of view, taking into account both finance theory and practical constraints related to asset characteristics and market conditions, as well as the investor and advisor specific circumstances, to define both in quantitative and in qualitative terms an investment course of action, which should simultaneously be realistic, feasible and achieving the best outcome possible for both investor and advisor.
The course is mostly a case course. It will review and apply to real-life cases most of the following topics:
- Review of the Portfolio Management Process. The Investment Policy Statement
- Investment process - the investor/client perspective
- Risk and Return - Historical record
- Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation
- Strategic allocation across investor types: indivdual vs institutions, domestic vs international, foundations, pension funds, natioal reserve funds and sovereign wealth funds.
- Applying equilibrium models to asset allocation: The Black-Litterman Approach
- Risk Management and VAR
- Managing Currency Risk and the International Dimension in Investment Management
- Portfolio Performance Evaluation and Manager Assessment
- Indexing, Factor Investing and Active Management: Market Efficiency and Asset Management.
- SRI: Ethical Investments, Impact and Sustainable Investments and the Ethics of Investment Management
- Alternative Investments and Hedge Fund Strategies
- Trading and implementation
- Digital approaches to investment advisory and investment management
- Topics may be added and removed from the course to reflect on current issues and development in the asset management and investment field - lectures and class discussion may-be substituted to case studies.
Case discussions. Most learning will take place through student discussion of cases and/or computer assignments related to portfolio management. Case preparation is done in groups of 4 (exceptionally 3 or 5) members.
Lectures and class discussion may be substituted to case studies when needed.
When possible, guest lectures from practitioners in the asset management industry will be included.
Students will be responsible to prepare in groups a case or computer assignment for discussion prior to each class meetings. Each student must be prepared to present the case and to discuss her/his conclusions in the class room.
Students should be proficient in Excel.
Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class. However this class has an exam component based on class participation which requires attendance to receive a good grade.
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.
At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
Honour Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honour code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honour code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.
Any violation of the honour code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honour code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honour code, please ask.
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
Covid-19
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.
Teaching
Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.
GRA 6534 Investments or equivalent
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Class participation Weight: 20 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Participation is dependent on (a) class attendance, (b) contributions to the in-class discussion of the cases, and (c) individual case presentations. Exam code: GRA65313 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 30 Grouping: Group (3 - 5) Duration: 12 Week(s) Comment: Case write-ups and/or computer exercises Exam code: GRA65313 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 5 Grouping: Group (3 - 5) Duration: 12 Week(s) Comment: Write-up of case or computer assignment Exam code: GRA65313 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 5 Grouping: Group (3 - 5) Duration: 12 Week(s) Comment: Write-up of case or computer assignment Exam code: GRA65313 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Invigilation Weight: 40 Grouping: Individual Support materials:
Duration: 3 Hour(s) Comment: Written examination under supervision. Exam code: GRA65313 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Case teaching | 27 Hour(s) | In Class case discussion and presentation |
Teaching | 9 | |
Group work / Assignments | 72 | Case preparation & reports |
Feedback activities and counselling | 6 | Reviews |
Examination | 3 | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 48 |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.