Economics 305:
Intermediate Microeconomics

[ Basic Information | Objectives | Online Course Resources |
| A. Course Requirements | B. Grading Policy | C. Attendance Policy |
| D. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy | E. Snow Policy | F. Disability Policy | G. Course Outline ]


G. Course Outline (page 2 of 2)

Topic
Reading Assignment (* = optional)
IV. Fundamental Analysis
A. Dividend Discount Models for Use in Fundamental Analysis
1. Fundamental analysis Kolb:  Chapter
2. Simple dividend discount models (review)
3. Two variations on a common theme
4. Improved dividend discount models
5. The three levels of fundamental analysis:  an overview
 
B. Economic Analysis
1. Interest rates Kolb:  Chapter
2. Inflation and economic growth
3. The business cycle
4. Of what use is economic analysis to a fundamental analyst?
 
C. Industry Analysis
1. Factors that influence the fortunes of all companies in an industry (market) Kolb:  Chapter
2. Of what use is industry analysis to a fundamental analyst?
 
D. Company Analysis
1. Accounting background Kolb:  Chapter
2. Financial ratios used in fundamental analysis
3. Risk analysis
4. Of what use is company analysis to a fundamental analyst?
5. A final word
 
E. Forecasting Cash Flows
1. Trend-line forecasts Kolb:  Chapter
2. Incorporating economic, industry and company analysis
 
F. Forecasting Discount Rates (Required Rates of Return)
1. Beta once again Kolb:  Chapter
2. The CAPM pricing equation *Shiller:  All
3. Forecasting the risk-free rate *Glassman & Hasset:  All
4. Forecasting beta
5. Forecasting the market risk premium
6. Forecasting the discount rate
 
G. Putting It All Together
1. Forecast cash flows Kolb:  Chapter
2. Forecast discount rates
3. Calculate the intrinsic value
4. Compare the intrinsic value to the current price
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 
V. Technical Analysis
A. The Technical Analyst's Approach to Investing
1. Underlying philosophy Kolb:  Chapter
2. Investment strategy
 
B. A Sample of the Tools of Technical Analysis
1. Chartists Kolb:  Chapter
2. Contrarians *Thaler:  Chapters 11-12
3. "Smart money" followers
4. Market timers
5. Anomoly seekers
 
C. Lessons for Individual Investors
1. Can technical analysts beat the market? Kolb:  Chapter
2. Investors beware
 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top ]

 
VI. Efficient Markets Analysis
A. The Efficient Markets Hypothesis
1. What is an efficient market? Kolb:  Chapter
2. The three forms of the EMH *Malkiel:  All
3. Implications for makets
 
B. The Efficient Market Analyst's Approach to Investing
1. Underlying philosophy Kolb:  Chapter
2. Investment strategy
3. Evaluating fund performance
C. Optimal Portfolio Choice
1. Depicting attitudes towards risk Kolb:  Chapter
2. Portfolio risk and expected return
3. Depicting investment opportunities:  one safe, one risky asset
4. Optimal portfolio choice:  one safe, one risky asset
5. Optimal portfolio choice:  two risky assets
6. Optimal portfolio choice:  multiple risky assets
7. Markowitz diversification in practice
 
D. Market Valuation of Risk
1. Beta, diversifiable and non-diversifiable risk Kolb:  Chapter
2. The CAPM pricing equation
 
E. Are Markets Efficient?
1. Evidence suggesting efficiency Kolb:  Chapter
2. Evidence suggesting inefficiency *Thaler:  Chapter 13
3. Implications for individual investors
 

End of second of two pages

 
[ UNCA | Department of Economics | Back to Top | Main Econ 305 Page ]

 
Copyright © 2001 [Chris Bell, Department of Economics, UNC Asheville].
All rights reserved.  Revised: March 30, 2006 .