FINANCE 6515 PRINCIPLES OF INVESTMENTS COURSE SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Murad J. Antia

OFFICE: BSN 3121

PHONE: 813-974-6350 (Office) or 813-974-2081 (Finance Dept.)

E-MAIL: mantia@coba.usf.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Thursday 5:00 – 6.00 pm, and Friday 12.30 to 1.30 pm.

EXAMS: There will be three exams. They will be non-cumulative. The exams will be a mix of multiple choice, problems. Your grade will be determined by your exam performance and your grade on optional take home projects.

EXAM DATES: Exam 1 - February 24

Exam 2 - March 31

Final Exam - May 5 (6 – 8pm)

GRADING: The final grade will be an equally weighted average of the three exams. Grades will be “curved” to some extent. The plus and minus (for example, B+ or B-) system will be used to assign the final grade.

90-100 =A ; 80–89 = B ; 70-79 = C 60-69 = D

0-2 = Letter - ; 3-6 = Letter; 7-9 = Letter +

REQUIRED TEXT: The required text for the course is Bodie, Kane and Marcus, Investments, Sixth Edition: Irwin/McGraw-Hill Publishing. Because we will be following my class notes and text closely, it is recommended that you bring both to the classroom. My class notes, other notes and the projects will be posted on Blackboard (myUSF) during the course of the semester.

SEQUENCE OF CHAPTERS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22

TAKE-HOME PROJECTS: Will be posted on Blackboard (myUSF).

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND PHILOSOPHY: To understand the investment analysis and portfolio management process and the potential risks and returns associated with investing in financial assets. Students should gain a basic knowledge of:

(1) the various types of investment instruments

(2) trading mechanisms available in the financial markets,

(3) risk measurement and the relation of risk to security and portfolio returns

(4) analytical techniques used for the evaluation of financial assets.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is not compulsory. However, given the nature of the material, attendance is highly recommended. It is disruptive if a student arrives late or leaves early. Please try to be on time. Consistently showing up late for class is not an option.

ABOUT ME: I have an MBA from Duke University and a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Houston. I am also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). My first job was at USF as an Assistant Professor of Finance. After about two years at USF, I left to join Barnett Banks Trust Co. where I was Director of Equity Research and a portfolio manager for about eleven years. Subsequent to Barnett, I spent almost four years at AmSouth Bank as a portfolio manager. I returned to USF in the fall of 2000.