A rigorous introduction to the full field of finance. Students should gain an appreciation of the role of financial markets and institutions in our economy as well as an introduction to the responsibilities, concerns, and methods of analysis employed by corporate financial managers. We focus on the two fundamental aspects of financial decision-making: time value and risk (modern portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model, and alternatives). The concepts of time value and risk are used to value the two basic financial assets, bonds and stocks, as well as real assets, investment projects, and companies. In addition, the course introduces derivative securities (options, futures) and discusses their application in a wide variety of settings (real options, contingent claims valuation of equity). The course also covers the theory and practice of capital structure decisions (Modigliani and Miller, taxes, bankruptcy costs, asymmetric information, agency) and dividend decisions. The course will include a thorough discussion of market efficiency and an introduction to the field of behavioral finance. A unifying theme of the course is how no-arbitrage conditions and the law of one price can be used to value most financial assets. The emphasis in this course (both in and out of class) will be on problem solving. Prerequisite: COMM 3010, 3020, and 3030.

Provides an overview of corporate & global strategy, introducing frameworks for valuing companies, assessing the impact of strategic initiatives on firm value, & understanding corporate communication strategies & techniques. Topics include corporate governance, diversification, mergers & acquisitions, alliances, international market entries, DCF & relative valuation methods, corporate reputation management, investor & media relations.

Provides an understanding of contemporary cash and derivative equity securities and markets. Both investment theory and its practical applications are considered. The primary perspective for most discussions is that of an institutional investor, although applications to personal finance are included. Both U.S. and international equity and fixed-income markets are discussed. Topics include asset allocation, portfolio theory, market efficiency, models of asset pricing, program trading, and equity options and financial futures. Prerequisite: Fourth-year Commerce standing or instructor permission.

This course covers the valuation and use of derivative and fixed income securities in corporate finance and investment management. The securities covered include calls, puts, exotic options, forwards, futures, swaps, floating rate notes, credit derivatives, and other structured products.

This course introduces students to essential foundational concepts in financial economics. Students learn to value simple streams of future cash flows and apply this skill to more complicated settings, including valuing marketed securities like stocks and bonds, valuing projects within firms, and valuing firms as a whole. Along the way, they are introduced to the concepts of arbitrage absence and market efficiency and their impact on valuation.

This is a research oriented class that examines how firms can leverage customer analytics to successfully create, manage, and grow brands. The class provides marketing managers and operational business leaders with the analytical tools to develop and operationally execute brand strategies that enhance customer engagement and loyalty.Prerequisite: 4th Year Commerce

This course focuses on two questions. How do global macroeconomic conditions drive returns across asset classes? How do global investors use this information to build better portfolios? Topics will include issues in measuring economic data, the role of models in investing, portfolio analytics and allocation methods, factor-based investing, global growth, inflation and monetary policy, credit cycles, foreign exchange economics, and other timely topics in asset management.

This course provides the fundamental concepts in finance that are required for further finance courses in the real estate minor. It introduces students to foundational concepts and attendant empirical analytical techniques in finance, including valuation, capital structure, and theories of the firm. Drawing on cases and examples from real estate and other asset classes, the course exposes students to the diversity of markets in which individuals and firms interact. This is the pre-requisite course for application to the Real Estate Minor.

Comm 4230 covers practical uses of information technology in financial settings. You will learn by doing: you will develop technologies that manage an online portfolio of stock and options, and will design and code financial strategies to compete in the yearly McIntire Hedge Tournament. Through these activities you will gain a hands-on understanding of SQL, advanced Excel, and VBA/macros. More at http://webs.comm.virginia.edu/Grazioli/Comm4230.

This course introduces students to the field of advertising and promotions and the role these play in the overall marketing program of an organization. The course covers the strategic aspects of marketing communications and the executional tactics used to carry out such strategic initiatives. Students work with a real client on a case study provided by the American Advertising Federation's (AAF) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC).