International Portfolio Management Fin 263 Syllabus Fall 2015 Lee Hall Mondays 6:30pm-9:20pm Brandeis University International Business School Christopher B. Alt PhD CFA Victoria Samatova TA Course Objectives and Methodology: International Portfolio Management FIN 263 focuses on security analysis and portfolio management throughout the global economy. Within this context, students will review various approaches to asset allocation and the valuation of stocks, bonds, and selected derivative securities. Throughout this course, students are expected to master both the theoretical constructs of investments and portfolio management and their application to current industry practice. office hours: after class Sachar 1G cell (617 281-1636) chrisalt01@gmail.com TA – Victoria Samatova cell (858) 768-1158 victoriasamatova@gmail.com Learning Goals A. Understand the fundamental principles of global investment management: 1. How foreign exchange issues influence investment decisions and risk management 2. What factors determines global asset valuations and returns B. Gain a quantitative understanding of: 1. Equity markets and instruments 2. Fixed income markets and instruments 3. Selected alternative investments Derivatives’ use in shaping investment decisions C. Acquire a basic understanding of: 1. 2. 3. 4. Domestic and international capital asset pricing models Pros and cons of international diversification Evaluation of global investment performance Structuring the global investment process Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately. Academic Integrity: You are expected to be honest in all of your academic work. Please consult Brandeis University Rights and Responsibilities for all policies and procedures related to academic integrity. Students may be required to submit work to TurnItIn.com software to verify originality. Allegations of alleged academic dishonesty will be forwarded to the Director of Academic Integrity. Sanctions for academic dishonesty can include failing grades and/or suspension from the university. Citation and research assistance can be found at LTS - Library guides Prerequisites: Fin 201a (Investments) Textbooks and Other Readings: Required: Global Investments, Solnik & McLeavey (SM) (6th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009). Investments, Bodie, Kane & Marcus (BKM) (10th edition, McGraw Hill Irwin, 2014). Case & article packet from Harvard Business School online https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/access/38057469 Recommended: Wall Street Journal International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 2 Grades Class Participation First Case Second Case Third Case Midterm Final Exam Total 10% 10% 10% 10% 30% 30% 100% Class Participation and Homework Problems Class participation will be based on the quality and quantity of a student's contribution to classroom discussions. All students are expected to come to class prepared (having already read and reviewed the material) and ready to discuss the assigned readings. No wall flowers allowed (i.e. everyone is expected to participate in class discussions). Laptop use in the classroom is discouraged because it thwarts active participation in class discussions. Class notes will be distributed (on LATTE) so students only have to add their own margin comments. Homework problems are assigned for each class and are helpful both in boosting students’ mastery of investments and for exam preparation. Because of time constraints, only a limited number of homework problems will be discussed in class but solutions will be distributed (on LATTE). In addition, the teaching assistant(s) for this course will be available to review solutions to homework problems. Additional problems are available through EZTest Online. Other additional materials are available through the text book publishers. Classroom Etiquette Name tents (last name, first name, American or nickname) – bring to every class Cell phones and similar technology MUST always be turned off when you are in the classroom because they are a distraction to class discussions. Students should view this class as a business meeting with corresponding expectations for what is expected of the professor and the other students. Business casual (e.g. leave the hats off). Just first names (e.g. Chris; no need for Dr. Alt or Professor Alt). International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 3 Cases Cases are an integral part of this course. To prepare cases, you are expected to form groups (4-6 students) and work in a collaborative fashion. Prior to second class, email me names of students in your group. If you don’t, I’ll assign you to a case group. For each case, one or more students selected at random will be called upon ("cold calling") to present his (her) group’s analysis and proposed solution to the assigned case. Each group will also submit a written case analysis no later than the Sunday prior to class. These situations simulate what happens in the real world when your boss calls you in at the end of the week and asks you and your team: a. to have a report on a topic for him (her) at the scheduled staff meeting next week, and, by the way, b. "keep it short". Most cases will be accompanied by case guidance questions (posted on Latte). Some cases will also have spreadsheet data supplements (also posted on Latte). The cases must be typed and can be no longer than 5 pages plus exhibits. An integral part of case analysis is careful quantitative analysis. As appropriate, please email me a copy of your report and its accompanying spreadsheet. And remember – spreadsheets NEVER explain themselves. That is your job in your case writeup. It is a key way in which you will be evaluated. For selected cases, only an abbreviated, summary case writeup needs to be submitted (by Sunday prior to class). For these case write-ups (1 page maximum), you need to: 1) “set the stage”, and 2) identify key issue(s) and make recommendations as to what the key decision-maker(s) should do. International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 4 Course Calendar Alt International Portfolio Management FIN 263 DATE Mo 8/31 Fall 2015 TOPICS PREPARATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS Introduction Introduction & Discussion of Course Objectives Mo 9/7 BKM Ch. #1 The Investment Environment Review BKM Ch. #2 Asset Classes and Financial Instruments Ch. #2; Probs 5-8, 10, 13, 15 No class – Labor Day Th 9/10 Brandeis Foreign Exchange Monday SM Ch. #1 Currency Exchange Rates Ch. #1; Probs. 1, 4, 11, 15, 19 SM Ch. #2 Foreign Exchange Parity Relations Ch. #2; Probs 2, 4, 8-9, 11, 15 FX markets and transactions Desai article Mo 9/14 No class – Rosh Hashanah Mo 9/21 SM Ch. #3 Foreign Exchange Determination and Forecasting (skim pp. 91-103) Ch. #3; Probs 3, 6-7, 9-10 FX group case analysis and summary writeup Groupe Ariel S.A.: Parity Conditions and Cross-Border Valuation case International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 5 Course Calendar Alt International Portfolio Management FIN 263 DATE TOPICS PREPARATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS Mo 9/28 No class - Sukkot Tu 9/29 Brandeis Monday – no class due to schedule conflict Th 10/1 Location Fall 2015 Investment Vehicles: Conventional and Selected Alternatives TBD BKM Ch. #4 Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies Ch. #4; Probs 2-3, 7, 15-18 SM Ch. #8 Alternative Investments - ETFs (skim pp. 332-378 Ch. #8; Probs 1-2 Mo 10/5 No class – Shmini Atzeret Mo 10/12 Equity Securities Mo 10/19 SM Ch.#5 Equity: Markets and Instruments (skim pp. 166-177) Ch. #5; Probs 2-4, 11, 13 ADRs - Kuemmerle article BKM Ch. #3 (pp.59-76) MSCI group case analysis and summary writeup MSCI and the Chinese A Shares case Fixed Income Securities BKM Ch. #16 Managing Bond Portfolios Ch. #16; Probs 3-4, 7-9, 12, 15-16 SM Ch. #7 Global Bond Investing (skim pp. 265-268, 276-284, 300-307) Citicorp: 1985 group case analysis and writeup International Portfolio Management Fin 263 Ch. #7; Probs 3, 5, 9, 13, 17 Citicorp: 1985 case March 14, 2016 6 Course Calendar Alt International Portfolio Management FIN 263 DATE Fall 2015 TOPICS PREPARATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS Swaps and Risk Management Mo 10/26 BKM Ch. #22 Futures Contracts BKM Ch. #23 Futures, Swaps, and Risk Management Review Ch. #23; Probs 6-7, 12, 21-22 SM Ch. #10 Derivatives: Risk Management with Speculation, Hedging, and Risk Transfer (skim pp. 464-478) Ch. #10; Probs 2, 5-7, 9 FX Swaps – Kester article Global financing with swaps group case analysis and summary writeup Th 10/29 Walt Disney Company’s Yen Financing case Midterm exam review session Location? Mo 11/2 Midterm Exam Mo 11/9 BKM Ch. #20 Options Markets: Introduction Review SM Ch. #10 Derivatives: Risk Management with Speculation, Hedging, and Risk Transfer (pp. 464-478) Ch. #10; Probs 15-17, 19 FX hedging group case analysis and summary writeup Hedging Currency Risk at AIFS case Currency Risk Management Mo 11/16 SM Ch. #11 Currency Risk Management Ch. #11; Probs 3, 6, 12 FX hedging strategy group case analysis and writeup Hedging Currency Risk at TT Textiles International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 7 Course Calendar Alt International Portfolio Management FIN 263 DATE Mo 11/23 Mo 11/30 Fall 2015 TOPICS PREPARATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS International Diversification BKM ch. #25 International Diversification Ch. #25; Probs 1-4 SM Ch. #9 The Case for International Diversification Ch. #9; Probs 1, 3, 6, 8, 20 Privatization Privatization fundamentals HBR privatization articles – Moore; Johnson/Loveman Privatization group case analysis and writeup Mo 12/7 Th 12/10 Privatization of Rhone-Poulenc – 1993 case Portfolio Performance Evaluation BKM Ch.#24 Portfolio Performance Evaluation Ch. #24; Probs 5, 9-11 SM Ch. #12 Global Performance Evaluation (skim pp. 523-534, 548-555, 568-569) Ch. #12; Probs 3-5, 8-9 Final Exam Review Class TBD 6-9pm Final Exam tentative International Portfolio Management Fin 263 March 14, 2016 8