The course aims at providing models and methods to analyze the financial market, with special attention to the ESG companies and climate related assets. Financial data analysis and numerical applications are presented using spreadsheet computation and econometric software. At the end of the course, the students should have learned the fundamental financial tools and techniques that allow to understand the financial market. The aim is to develop a rational and critical attitude toward the interpretation of financial data. Moreover, students should be able to put the ESG sector in the general framework of the investment analysis.
For each topic, after a short introduction of the theoretical notions and models, the practical applications are presented and discussed with the help of examples and data. In the last part of the semester, presentations and flipped classrooms are used to enforce the learning and discuss some applied topics. During the lectures, financial data will be downloaded and analyzed using spreadsheet and other software.
Verifica Apprendimento
Teamworks and presentations to assess the students' skills in working with research papers, using data, and problem solving. Written exam to assess the theoretical notions, the models and the applications.
Testi
Reading list for general topics: - T. Roncally, Handbook of Sustainable Finance, http://www.thierry-roncalli.com/SustainableFinance.html - Bodie-Kane-Markus, Investments, 10th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2014. Chapters 7 and 8. - E.J. Elton, M.J. Gruber, S.J. Brown, W.N. Goetzman, Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis, Wiley, 2014. - T. Wegner, Applied Business Statistics, Juta Academics, 2013 For climate specific topics, the literature is indicated during the semester
Contenuti
- Quantitative background - Introduction to spreadsheet computation - Analysis of financial returns - Volatility, correlation, and portfolios - Portfolio theory and diversification - The CAPM - The three factor model - Market efficiency - Introduction to trading systems - The ESG rating - Sustainable portfolio allocation - Comparison of portfolio performances: traditional vs ESG investing - The reasons to invest in ESG assets
