Introducing The City - Online

Introducing the City takes participants behind the elegant facades of the great financial institutions to reveal the City of London as a major center of global banking and finance. Introducing the City explores the major financial and banking players, the products and services these players offer, and the regulatory environment surrounding the financial markets, including the new European Union regulations. Finally, the course compares the London market with its peers in New York, Frankfurt and Tokyo.

This is an asynchronous eLearning course that can be accessed 24/7 from any internet enabled computer.

Available TodayOnlineUSD$499
Instructional Method:
Self-Study
Level: Basic
CPE Credits: 10

Newcomers to the securities industry, traders, salespeople, back office professionals, staff assistants, compliance staff, auditors and IT professionals.
Students will be able to:
  • Identify the kinds of markets, products and services found in the City.
  • Recognise the difference between primary and secondary markets.
  • Describe what a central bank does
  • Recognise the nature and roles of banks, savings and investment products and institutions.
  • Identify the types of brokers and their roles.
  • Describe the role of venture capital companies and other funding sources for new businesses.
  • Recognise the concept of domestic money markets, the purpose they serve, and the major players who participate in the money markets.
  • Identify uses of the major money markets and how such markets influence economic stability.
  • Recognise the advantages and disadvantages of listing a company
  • Describe how a company is brought to market
  • Explain many of the terms and phrases used in connection with a listing on the stock market
  • Types of shares and their characteristics
  • Rights issues, bonus issues, and the valuation of rights
  • How shares are traded on primary and secondary markets
  • Valuing shares using P/E ratios
  • Describe the pros and cons of government and corporate bonds
  • Discuss the significance of credit ratings
  • Explain how bond prices are affected by changes in interest rates
  • Identify various types of bonds and bond market terms
  • Identify the major players and products in the foreign exchange market.
  • Recognise the difference between spot and forward rates.
  • Explain the difference between bid and offer rates.
  • Descibe the underlying factors that influence the market values of currencies.
  • Identify the fundamentals and uses of futures contracts
  • Recognise the basics of options contracts: the difference between calls and puts, and using them to manage risk
None
Individual Modules

Introduction to Financial Centres

  • Identify the kinds of markets, products and services found in the City.
  • Recognise the difference between primary and secondary markets.

Major Players in a Global Financial Centre

  • Describe what a central bank does
  • Recognise the nature and roles of banks, savings and investment products and institutions.
  • Identify the types of brokers and their roles.
  • Describe the role of venture capital companies and other funding sources for new businesses.

Money Markets Around the World

  • Recognise the concept of domestic money markets, the purpose they serve, and the major players who participate in the money markets.
  • Identify uses of the major money markets and how such markets influence economic stability.

Initial Public Offerings in the UK

  • Recognise the advantages and disadvantages of listing a company
  • Describe how a company is brought to market
  • Explain many of the terms and phrases used in connection with a listing on the stock market

Public Companies in the UK

  • Types of shares and their characteristics
  • Rights issues, bonus issues, and the valuation of rights
  • How shares are traded on primary and secondary markets
  • Valuing shares using P/E ratios

Bond Markets Around the World

  • Describe the pros and cons of government and corporate bonds
  • Discuss the significance of credit ratings
  • Explain how bond prices are affected by changes in interest rates
  • Identify various types of bonds and bond market terms

FX and the City

  • Identify the major players and products in the foreign exchange market.
  • Recognise the difference between spot and forward rates.
  • Explain the difference between bid and offer rates.
  • Descibe the underlying factors that influence the market values of currencies.

Introduction to Derivatives and Risk Management

  • Identify the fundamentals and uses of futures contracts
  • Recognise the basics of options contracts: the difference between calls and puts, and using them to manage risk
  • Discuss how and why swaps are used
  • Identify key considerations in evaluating suitable counterparties

Insurance and Reinsurance

  • Identify different types of insurance and the significance of insurance in the UK economy
  • Recognise the role of reinsurance and coinsurance in spreading risk
  • Identify elements of the business process of Lloyd's Market

Regulation in the UK Financial Services Markets

  • Identify the main types of financial regulations in the UK and their purposes
  • Explain the role of the European Union in initiating EU-wide standards
  • Recognise the need for greater international regulatory cooperation and the role of the Basle Accord in international bank supervision