Introduction to financial analysis

Introduction to financial analysis

The aim of this course is to help you understand the basic concepts and techniques used in financial analysis. You will be able to perform, analyze and interpret financial ratios for any company and understand their impact on financial results. You will know how to apply the common-size approach, which is a powerful tool for analyzing a firm’s operations from an economic perspective by accounting for its size.

In addition, you will be able to:

• explain how the main business concepts affect the financial statements;
• evaluate a company in terms of solvency, profitability and liquidity;
• identify the main discrepancies between two different sets of accounts through ratio analysis;

Introduction to Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities are debt instruments that pay a fixed interest rate. Examples of such securities include: bonds, notes, bills, mortgages, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, certificates of deposit and commercial papers. The key feature here is that the amount of money paid to the investor is known for sure before the investment is made. This amount includes both interest payments over time and principal payment at maturity.

The main difference between fixed income securities and equities (e.g., stocks) is that equities do not make periodic payments to investors until the company has liquidated its assets or gone bankrupt (in which case there will be no money left). In this sense, equity investors provide financing without any certainty on their expected return while fixed income investors receive a guaranteed stream of cash flows on their investment.

Introduction to Investment Management

An investment is an asset or security that has value and is expected to be profitable in the future. Investments can include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate and even art.

Investment risk is the chance that you’ll lose money on your investments. Even the most cautious investor who chooses their investments with care cannot avoid risk entirely—investments are always subject to some degree of risk.

Returns are the profits made on an investment as a percentage of its cost, or what you earn in relation to how much you invested. The following factors have an impact on return: inflation rate, interest rates and market fluctuation.

There are different types of investments at varying levels of risk—from very low-risk cash equivalents like savings accounts and Treasury bills to higher-risk assets like stocks and commodities. The exact level will vary based on your financial situation (i.e., whether you’re looking for a high or low-risk portfolio).

Introduction to Derivative Securities

This two-part course introduces students to the theoretical concepts, valuation and practical applications of derivatives.

The derivate market is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world with a daily trading volume exceeding $1 trillion.

Hence, this course is designed to provide participants with an understanding of how derivative instruments can be used in hedging and risk management as well as portfolio optimization.

Topics that will be covered in this course include:

• Forwards, futures, options and swaps – their uses in the real world;
• The history of derivatives;
• Valuation of derivatives;
• Derivatives trading, clearing and settlement;
• Regulation of derivatives; and
• Derivative risk management.

Financial Risk Management and Analysis

• Credit Risk: Any risk that have a negative impact on the value of a firm’s assets.
• Market Risk: The risk that is associated with the volatility of market prices, such as interest rates, exchange rates and equity prices.
• Liquidity Risk: The possibility that an institution will not be able to meet its financial obligations when they are due.
• Operational Risk: Any risk involved in operations that could result in financial losses, damage to reputation or both.

Economics of Financial Markets

This course will help you to:

• Understand how financial markets work and how the financial system fits within the overall economy
• Think about how economic theory can be used to analyze specific financial markets and products
• Use data to answer questions about finance and the economy

Corporate Finance I

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of corporate finance, including financial statements, cash flows, time value of money, financial analysis and corporate valuation. The topics covered in this class include:

• Introduction to Corporate Finance
• Financial Statements
• Financial Analysis
• Corporate Valuation
• Time Value of Money (1)
• Cash Flow Analysis (1)
• Capital Budgeting (1)
• Capital Structure (1)
• Financial Distress

Advanced Corporate Finance and Valuation

This course will cover the advanced corporate finance topics with a practical focus. The goal of this course is to help you evaluate the risk and return of investment and analyse the financial structure of a firm. In addition, valuation of a firm will be covered.

The course uses case studies and examples to demonstrate how these tools are applied in practice by corporate decision makers as well as by investors who analyze firms’ financial structures. Students’ understanding is assessed through class discussion, group projects, and assignments – on a range of topics such as mergers & acquisitions, capital budgeting and cost of capital estimation, option pricing theory, financial distress management strategies for corporations in crisis.

Applied Corporate Finance and Valuation

You will:

• Learn about the application of corporate finance principles and methods in the real world.
• Understand the principles of valuation and how to apply them to analyze companies and make investment decisions.
• Understand the application of financial theory and techniques to the analysis of specific investment decisions.

Investment Banking and Financial Institutions in the U.S.

In this course, students will learn about the operations and practices of investment banks, the structure of the U.S. financial system, the regulatory framework and the role of the Federal Reserve System.

Learn more about about the Master’s of Science in Global Finance at NYU Shanghai!

This program is offered in partnership with NYU Stern School of Business and allows you to earn a degree from New York University while studying in Shanghai. The Master’s of Science in Global Finance, which is also available at NYU Stern’s New York and Abu Dhabi campuses, is a terminal master’s degree that is designed to prepare students for careers in global finance.

The program has two separate components, one completed in Shanghai and the other at NYU Stern School of Business on the campus of your choice. Your journey begins with one year of study at NYU Shanghai’s Pudong campus. There you will take courses covering international finance, economics, quantitative analysis and an introduction to corporate accounting and financial statement analysis that provide a strong foundation for your studies as well as fulfill the requirements necessary to sit for CFA Level I exam.