M.Sc in Banking and Finance, Specialization in Finance and Investments – Main Courses

Quantitative Methods

This  course  presents  useful  tools  and  methods  of  mathematics  and statistics,  which  are  based  on  matrix  algebra  and  probability.  Special emphasis  is  given  on  the  comprehension  and  use  of  the  examples  of regression and of the theory of stochastic evolution. There are also been developed  the  main  methods  of  evaluation  of  parameters  and  the properties of the estimators are analyzed. Finally, there applications with the use of the program E-views are provided.

Financial Reporting

The  accounting  status (financial  statements,  fund  flows) as  well  as the Greek corporate  tax  system  is  presented.  Profits disposal, fixed assets assessment, evaluation of real estate are among others the issues covered. Furthermore, accounting and taxation of reserve funds, requirements and shares, Good Will accounting. Enterprise transformations, redemptions, acquisitions, company splits.

Investment Analysis

The  goal  of  the  course  is  the  analysis  of  the  investment  and  financial decisions  of the  company. These decisions are  related  to the  economic status  of  the  company  as  well  as  to  the  risk  and  the  funding  of investments. The risk evaluation and the theory of the effective markets are also introduced.  A supplementary approach on the evaluation of investment plans is based on the theory of the financial rights.

Bank Risk Management

Modern banking has developed in a risk management environment. The course  describes  the  evolution  of  the  financial  system  abroad  and  in Greece  as well  as  the  current  challenges  that  it  has  to  cope  with.  It analyses the bank rate risk, the credit risk, the exchange risk, the country risk, the liquidity  risk  and the market  risk.  It  describes  the  methods  of handling  those  risks  and  the  evolution  of  financial  markets,  like  the derivatives market. It  analyses  the  bank  regulations  and  the  responsibilities  of  the regulatory  authorities.  It  introduces  concepts  like  “effective  market”, “arbitrage”, “prediction”, “refund curve”, “risk differentiation”, “value at risk”, “risk adjusted return on capital” etc.

Portfolio Management

The course covers the theory of evaluation of capital elements as well as the modern bibliography. It covers the relative theories and the empirical findings regarding the synthesis, the administration and the evaluation of portfolios of stocks and other securities. The students use EXCEL for the resolution of certain exercises and for the creation of a portfolio game.

Corporate Finance

The  course  focuses  on  the  analysis  of  the  financial  decisions  in  the framework of the maximization of the value of the firm. The risk and the strategy of the enterprises is analyzed, the shares policy and the forms of financing, focusing on the influence of the fund structure at the value of the firm. The first approaches are made by the environment of the perfect and effective markets and next the analysis is approached by the issue of asymmetric information.

Financial Derivatives and Applications

The course aims to make students familiar with the financial derivatives markets. Emphasis is given on the issues of pricing as well as static and dynamic hedging. First, futures and forwards will be presented. Then, the binomial and Black Scholes models to price options as well as the Greek hedge rations will be explained.

Governments, Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy

This  course  analyses  the  complex,  delicate and indistinguishable  at the non-insiders  interactions  among  the governments and the  central  banks with the money  and  capital  markets. It is designed  having in  mind the needs of the students of schools of business administration as well as of people who wish to comprehend the complex world where they live.

Applied Financial Econometrics