Ministry of Education & Training Socialist Republic of Vietnam

University of Economics Independence – Freedom - Happiness

Ho Chi Minh City

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

MAJOR: FINANCE AND BANKING

MINOR: CORPORATE FINANCE (HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAM)

SYLLABUS
1. Course name: FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
2. Course code: ………………………………………………………………………..
3. Teaching Department: School of Finance
4. Level of competency: Undergraduate programs; 3rd-year students
5. Credit number: 3
6. Time allocation: (in credit for each type of activity)
+ In-class study (theories): 30 credit hours
+ Group works: 15 credit hours
+ Self-study: 45 credit hours
7. Prerequisite courses: Macroeconomics, Corporate Finance, Mathematics for
Economics and Management
8. Course brief description:
This course covers theories and practices related to financial investment management.
With the fundamental and specialized knowledge and necessary skills accumulating
from the course, students are expected to meet the demands of future careers in the
investment industry. The course concentrates on basic knowledge of the investment
environment, types of investment assets, investment funds, and how securities are
traded in the market. Furthermore, the specialized topics associated with risk – returns,
asset allocation, and asset pricing are extensively explored. Finally, students will know
how to construct and manage an investment portfolio aligned with the objectives and
constraints of individual and institutional investors in financial markets.
9. Course Learning Outcomes - CLOs:
As students completed the course, they will obtain the following outcomes:
9.1 Knowledge
- CLO1.1: Capture the fundamental investment theories and types of investment
assets
- CLO1.2: Know and explain the principles and types of transactions such as
buying on margin and short-selling stocks.
- CLO1.3: Describe the various types of investment companies, characteristics
and operation of investment funds.
- CLO1.4: Know how to calculate returns and risks for security and a portfolio.
- CLO1.5: Practice how to construct an optimal risky portfolio, and implement an
asset allocation process.
- CLO1.6: Explain the assumptions, construction methods, and applications of
the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) in determining expected return and
securities valuation.
- CLO1.7: Identify types of debt securities and apply valuation model to value
fixed-income securities.
- CLO1.8: Practice a stock analysis report and apply valuation models to value
stocks.
9.2 Skills
- CLO2.1: Have skills in searching and synthesizing necessary information for
stock valuation, portfolio construction, and capital allocation.
- CLO2.2: Have skills to apply fundamental knowledge of economics, finance,
and investment into the practice of building and managing portfolios.
- CLO2.3: Develop skills in using specialized and academic English, doing
research, using Microsoft Excel for optimization.
- CLO2.4: Have skills in teamwork and problem-solving.
- CLO2.5: Have skills in analytical practice, making investment
recommendations and decisions.
9.3. Autonomy and Responsibility
- CLO3.1: Develop the ability to be autonomous, constantly update information
in the financial market, and evaluate their influences on securities valuation,
portfolio construction, and management.
- CLO3.2: Compliance with Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional
Conduct and ensure independence and objectivity in analysis, evaluation, and
investment decision-making.
Course learning outcomes matrix

CLOs PLOs

PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO PLO
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.1 3.2

CLO1.1 P S H H P P P P

CLO1.2 P S H S P P P P

CLO1.3 P S H S P P P P

CLO1.4 P H H H S P P P

CLO1.5 P S H H S P P P P P

CLO1.6 P P H H S H H P P P P

CLO1.7 P P H H P P P P P P P P

CLO1.8 P P S S P H S P H H P P P

CLO2.1 P P S H H P S S S P P

CLO2.2 P P P H H P S S S P P

CLO2.3 S S S P S S S P P

CLO2.4 S S P H S P P P

CLO2.5 P P S S P H P P P P
CLO3.1 P P P P P P

CLO3.2 P P P P P P

Note:
Please fulfill the cells with below characters
P: Partial supported
S: Supported
H: Highly supported
or let them empty, if the course has no corresponding contribution to PLO(s)
10. Learning materials:
10.1 Textbooks:
 “Investments”, Bodie, Kane & Marcus, Tenth edition, McGraw-Hill (2014).
 “Đầu tư tài chính”( Vietnamese translation book) –Trần Thị Hải Lý, Vũ Việt
Quảng, Phùng Đức Nam, Lê Thị Phương Vy, Lương Thị Thảo- Nhà xuất bản kinh
tế HCM (www.lebi.com.vn)
10.2 References:
 CFA Curriculum
10.3 Others:
 Additional materials, academic papers, excel files, and case studies provided by
the lecturer
10.4 Teaching Staff:

Teaching Role Senior Lecturer

Name Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Phuong Vy

Telephone +84 933542255 (Ms. Vy)

Email phuongvyqt@ueh.edu.vn
 11. Course teaching plan:

Learning materials
Session Topic Teaching activity Student’s preparation C.L.O.
(textbook chapter,
(textbook chapter, section)
section)

Session 1 Reading Chapter 1 and getting

(4 credit Learning guide ready for Questions and
Introduction
hours Investments, Chapter problems CLO1.1
The Investment Environment In-class lecture
+LMS) 1 Reading materials provided by CLO2.1
Asset Classes and Financial and discussion
(1.1 – 1.6) the lecturer on LMS and getting CLO2.3
Instruments LMS
Investments, Chapter prepared for possible questions CLO3.1
2 (LMS) Online quizzes from these
Chapters
Session 2 Reading Chapter 3 and getting
(4 credit ready for Questions and
hours Investments, Chapter problems CLO1.2
How Securities Are Traded In-class lecture
+LMS) 3 (3.8 – 3.9 only) CLO1.3
and discussion
Reading materials provided by CLO2.1,
Mutual Funds and Other
Investments, Chapter the lecturer on LMS and getting CLO2.3
Investment Companies LMS
4(LMS) ready for possible questions CLO3.1
Online quizzes from these
chapters
Session 3 CLO1.4
Risk, Return, and the Historical Investments, Reading Chapters 5,6 and getting
(4 credit In-class lecture CLO2.1,
Record Chapter 5 (5.4 – 5.5) ready for Questions and
hours and discussion CLO2.3
Capital Allocation to Risky Assets Chapter 6 problems
+LMS) CLO3.1
Session 4 Capital Allocation to Risky Assets In-class lecture Investments, Reading Chapters 6,7 and getting CLO1.5
(4 credit (cont) and discussion Chapter 6 ready for Questions and CLO2.1,
hours Optimal Risky Portfolios Chapter 7 (7.1-7.4) problems CLO2.2
+LMS) CLO2.3,
Session 5 Reading Chapter 7 and getting CLO2.4
In-class lecture
(4 credit Optimal Risky Portfolios (cont) Investments, Chapter ready for Questions and
and discussion CLO3.1,
hours 7 (7.1-7.4) problems
Practice CLO3.2
+LMS)
Session 6 CLO1.6,
(4 credit CLO2.1,
hours Investments, Reading Chapter 9 and getting CLO2.2
In-class lecture
+LMS) The Capital Asset Pricing Chapter 9 (9.1) ready for Questions and CLO2.3,
and discussion
problems CLO2.4
CLO3.1,
CLO3.2
Session 7 CLO1.7
(4 credit CLO2.1,
hours Investments, Reading Chapter 14 and getting CLO2.2
In-class lecture
+LMS) Bond Prices and Yields Chapter 14 (14.1- ready for Questions and CLO2.3,
and discussion
14.3) problems CLO2.4.
CLO3.1,
CLO3.2
Session 8 CLO1.7,
(4 credit CLO2.1,
hours Reading Chapter 18 and getting CLO2.2
+LMS) In-class lecture Investments, Chapter
Equity Valuation Models ready for Questions and CLO2.3,
and discussion 18 (18.1 – 18.5)
problems CLO2.4
CLO3.1,
CLO3.2
Session 9
(4 credit
Review and Mid-term exam
hours
+LMS)
Total: 45 credit hours
12. Student workload:

Students are responsible for completely participating in the class, implementing the
tasks/projects required by the lecturer. Based on the published teaching plan, students are
responsible for reading/preparing the chapters before class and doing the
problems/assignments in/after class. Students should actively participate in lecturings
through individual and group activities such as raising and discussing ideas, presenting
projects, implementing practical assignments/study cases. Students sitting on exams or
implementing assignments/projects must adhere to the specific regulations.
13. Student assessment system:
- Attendance and contribution: 5%
- LMS activites: 5%
- Group assignment: 20%
- Mid-term exam: 20%
- Final exam: 50%
13.1 Attendance and contribution

- Bonus mark (contribution mark) is only given to students, groups who contribute to
the class lectures (i.e. asking and/or answering questions, making a presentation,
etc.)
- Penalty mark is based on attendance check. (See article 14.1 below)
13.2 Group assignment:
The groups (4-5 students) will choose one of the following two topics:
- Practice building an optimal risky portfolio including at least five securities listed on
Stock Exchanges in Vietnam and conduct asset allocation.
- Practice a stock analysis and valuation for a company listed on the Stock Exchange in
Vietnam.
13.3 Mid-term exam:
- The exam will have both theory and practical (calculation) MCQs.
- It will run for 30-60 minutes.
13.4 Final exam: Details will be announced later.
The exam could be online or offline. It combines multiple-choice questions, concept
checks, and numerical questions. It is a closed-book exam and runs for 60-75 minutes.
There is a minimum threshold mark set on this exam. If the final exam mark is
below or equal to 3, assess mark is only taken as a half.
Scoring guide and Rubrics
Rubric 1. Assessment of course attendance (an example)

Criteria Weight Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactor

(%) (100%) (75%) (50%) y
(0%)

student student
student student fails
actively barely
participates to participate
Positive attitude 50 participates participates
in-class in-class
in-class in-class
activities) activities
activities activities
student has student has student has
student has missed 20% missed 40% missed more
Sufficient not missed or less of or less of than 40% of
50
attendance time any teaching overall overall overall
hour teaching teaching teaching
hours hours hours
Rubric 2. Assessment of group discussion (an example)
Criteria Weight Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactor
(%) (100%) (75%) (50%) y
(0%)

student student student student fails

initiates and actively barely to participate
Attitude 20 leads participates participates in
discussions in in discussions
discussions discussions
student shows student student student
excellent shows good shows a mix shows poor
analytical analytical of good and analytical
and and bad and
Discussion skills 40
evaluation evaluation analytical evaluation
skills skills and skills
evaluation
skills
student student student student
produces produces produces a produces
creative and adequate mix of inadequate
Input quality 40
adequate inputs adequate and inputs
inputs inadequate
inputs

Rubric 3. Assessment of group presentation (an example)

Criteria Weight Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
(%) (100%) (75%) (50%) (0%)

contents contents contents are contents lack

exceed meet relatively many
requirements requirements adequate, important
Contents 10
on variety on variety but lack of aspects
some
important
 aspect
contents are contents are contents are contents lack
accurate and relatively fairly accuracy and
well accurate and accurate and supportive
supported supported supported studies, while
20
with studies with studies, with studies, containing
but contain but contain many major
some minor some major mistakes
mistakes mistake
structures of structures of structures of structures of
the contents the contents the contents the contents
and the slides and the and the and the slides
10
are very slides are slides are are illogical
Structure and logical fairly logical relatively
visual aids logical
visual aids visual aids visual aids visual aids
are very are fairly are relatively lack intuition
10
intuitive and intuitive and intuitive and and
aesthetic aesthetic aesthetic aestheticity
presenter presentation presentation presentation
leads the is coherent lack is ambiguous,
presentation but coherency, preventing
Presentation well and uncapturing, but the audience
10
skills produces while important from
capturing and inferences aspects are understandin
persuasive are fairly understanda g important
inferences persuasive ble aspects
Interaction and 10 presenter presenter presenter presenter
gestures interacts well interacts interacts does not
with eyes and fairly well with eyes interact with
gestures with eyes and gestures, eyes and
and gestures but the gestures
interactions
are
 inadequate)
presentation presentation presentation presentation
time is is completed is completed takes more
excellently within within time than
managed, allocated allocated allocated
Time
10 with time, while time, but
management
flexibility some lacking
shown as flexibility is necessary
necessary shown as flexibility
necessary)
all acceptable most majority of the Group
questions are acceptable questions are fails to
sufficiently, questions are accurately produce
clearly and accurately answered, answers for
adequately answered, but the the majority
Question answered while proper Group fails of acceptable
10
responding orientation is to provide questions
provided for proper
unanswered orientation
questions for
unanswered
questions
group shows group shows group shows the Group
good collaboration little fails to
teamwork, in reporting collaboration collaborate as
truly and in reporting a team
collaborating answering and
Teamwork 10
and supporting questions but answering
one another in sometimes questions
reporting and lack
answering coordination
questions

14. Class policies and Rules

14.1 Attendance Requirement

 To comply with UEH class policy, class attendance is Mandatory. In this course,
you are allowed to miss maximum TWO classes at most without any affects to
your final grade. After two misses, your assess mark will be deducted 1 mark as
penalty for each additional absence. Roll will be taken at any time before class
dismissed.

 Students are expected to remain until the class is finished. If you have a suitable
reason for leaving before the class finishes, contacting the lecturer in person or via
email before class is appropriate, except for emergency situation at which you
should have a proof later on. Otherwise, an early leaving will be counted as an
absence.

14.2 Electronic Device Use and other class policy

 Electronic devices such as cell phones need to be turned off or set in silent mode
before class begins. Use of cell phones or other electronic devices for any
purposes other than learning for this course is NOT allowed.

 Private conversations should be held outside the classroom.

15. Student support:
Students who need relevant support after class can email to the lecturer or directly meet the
lecturer by appointment at School of Finance’s Office (Room 902). Online learning activities will
take place on the course’s LMS page.
Students can also get information support about academic issues, student affairs and others from
their designated academic advisor. TP.HCM, day month year

Dean Elaborator
(signature and full name) (signature and full name)