ISL 535 - Financial Markets and Institutions

This course gives an introduction to the main features of financial institutions and markets. The first part of the course covers interest rates and securities pricing, including rate of return calculations, how markets determine the overall level of interest rates, and why different securities pay different interest rates. The second part of the course covers financial markets, related financial institutions and the assets that are traded on these markets, including the money, bond, stock, and derivatives markets.

This course gives an introduction to the main features of financial institutions and markets. The first part of the course covers interest rates and securities pricing, including rate of return calculations, how markets determine the overall level of interest rates, and why different securities pay different interest rates. The second part of the course covers financial markets, related financial institutions and the assets that are traded on these markets, including the money, bond, stock, and derivatives markets.

Mishkin, F. S. (2007). The economics of money, banking, and financial markets. Pearson education.

Mishkin, F. S. (2007). The economics of money, banking, and financial markets. Pearson education.

Evaluation grade in the course will be determined by attendance, quizzes, a mid-term examination and a final examination. No extra credits will be granted.  
Specific grade determination will be as follows: 

• Attendance 5% 
• Quizzes 20% 
• Mid-Term Examination 25% 
• Final Examination 50% 

This course follows IZU's attendance policies. The University says that you can have four unexcused absences, but the University does not really differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Weddings, funerals, illnesses (cold, flu, vertigos etc.), missing the shuttle in the morning and having a regular job in or out of the campus are not excused absences. In fact, the lecturer will not accept any excuse for being an absentee. Do not bring any medical reports for your illness. It will not be accepted as an excuse. So plan accordingly. If you have more than four absences, you will fail the class. In this case, you will not be allowed to take the final exam. Your letter grade will be DZ.

The lecturer will take attendance at the beginning of each lecture and will upload it to the KAMPUS system directly. Please do not forget that coming to class more than ten minutes late will be considered an absence, but please come to class even if you're going to be marked absent because the information we learn in class is important.  If you leave before the end of a lecture, you will be marked absent for this lecture.

The easiest solution to all of this, of course, is just not to miss lectures.