341B2 - University of Alberta

Course Structure:
Introduction (Chapters 1, 2 and 3)
Financial Markets (Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7)
Financial Institutions (Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 12)
The Management of Financial Institutions (Chapter 13)
Central Banking and the Conduct of Monetary Policy (Chapters 15, 16, 17 and 18)
International Finance (Chapter 19 and part of 20)
((plus readings throughout))
Grade Determination
Assignment: 20% There is a 1,300 word (maximum) assignment, due on March 28 by
the end of the class. Papers can still be handed or emailed in later, but will lose 25% per
time period, as follows: A paper received later on the 28 th gets marked with the rest, then
that mark is multiplied by 0.75. For the 29 th , the factor is 0.50, the 30 th , 0.25, and zero
thereafter. You should ensure that you receive an email from me confirming that I have
received your assignment, if you send it late via email!
Note that you cannot merely email me a paper by the end of class – that will be hit
with the 25% discount. I want a paper copy handed to me in the room!
I want you to pick one bank, investment bank, brokerage or rating agency and describe
that entity’s history over the last three to five years (i.e. over the period during which the
U.S. housing bubble peaked and then collapsed). I will provide a list of the variables and
factors you might possibly cover (but you don’t have to hit them all!). You should
provide a bibliography of some sort, but I am not picky about format. (The bibliography
does not count towards the word count limit!)
Midterm I: 20%, Midterm II: 20%, Final Exam: 40% (the final will be
cumulative, but more heavily weighted (60%) to the material studied after Mid II)
The first midterm covers chapters 1 to 7 (+ readings) and will be on February 5.
The second midterm will cover 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 (+ readings), and will be held on
March 14. The midterms will be one hour long and will start at the usual class time.
The final is tentatively scheduled for April 22 at 9:00 AM (but you must check the date,
time and place later!!).
Note that as of the Fall 2010 term, the use of multiple-choice exams was significantly
reduced in this course.