Course Brief

Topics to be covered include:

  • Introduction
  • Open-Ended / Mutual Funds
  • Close-Ended Investment Companies
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts
  • Exchange-Traded Funds
  • Hedge Funds
  • Private Equity

 


Introduction

On completion, the candidate should:

  • understand the potential advantages and disadvantages of collective investment
  • know the difference between active and passive management

 

Open-Ended/Mutual Funds

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the characteristics and different types of open-ended fund/mutual fund:
    • US
    • Europe
  • know the purpose and principal features of the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) directive in European markets

 

Closed-Ended Investment Companies

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the characteristics of closed-ended investment companies:
    • share classes
  • understand the factors that affect the price of closed-ended investment companies
  • know the meaning of the discounts and premiums in relation to closed-ended investment companies
  • know how closed-ended investment companies’ shares are traded

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the basics characteristics of real estate investment trusts:
    • tax implications
    • property diversification
    • liquidity
    • risk

 

Exchange-Traded Funds

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the main characteristics of exchange-traded funds:
    • trading
    • replication methods
    • synthetic/non-synthetic

 

Hedge Funds

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the basic characteristics of hedge funds:
    • risks
    • cost and liquidity
    • investment strategies

 

Private Equity

On completion, the candidate should:

  • know the basic characteristics of private equity:
    • raising finance
    • realising capital gain
  • Topics to be covered include:

    • Introduction
    • Open-Ended / Mutual Funds
    • Close-Ended Investment Companies
    • Real Estate Investment Trusts
    • Exchange-Traded Funds
    • Hedge Funds
    • Private Equity