English   Danish

2020/2021  KAN-CCMVV2006U  Financial Models in Excel and VBA

English Title
Financial Models in Excel and VBA

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 100
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Peter Raahauge - Department of Finance (FI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Finance
Teaching methods
  • Online teaching
Last updated on 11-02-2020

Relevant links
Learning objectives
Use Excel, VBA, and the methods used in the course-exercises to solve problems similar or slightly different from the problems solved in exercises of the course.
Course prerequisites
The course is oriented towards a master-student (FIR or similar) with solid quantitative skills and the following background:

1. Master course in portfolio theory,
2. Master course in bond and option analysis

Compared to the Financial Models in Excel-course this VBA-version requires solid familiarity with Excel and more quantitative skills.

Students without this background should not expect a satisfying result from this course.

Due to overlap, students cannot follow both this course and Financial Models in Excel.
Examination
Financial Models in Excel and VBA:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Aids Limited aids, see the list below:
The student is allowed to bring
  • USB key for uploading of notes, books and compendiums in a non-executable format (no applications, application fragments, IT tools etc.)
  • Any calculator
  • In Paper format: Books (including translation dictionaries), compendiums and notes
The student will have access to
  • Access to Canvas
  • Access to the personal drive (S-drive) on CBS´ network
  • Advanced IT application package
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Description of the exam procedure

Exam answers are handed in in Excel files.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The aim of the course is to provide capabilities of practical implementation of financial theory using realistic data.

 

It is imprtant to note, that the teaching format is fundamentally different from the traditional teaching approach at CBS, and requires more slef-management and self-motivation from the students.

 

The course is taught using a "flipped classroom"-approach where lectures are provided online as screencasts together with scheduled physical lectures. The former will assist the students in understanding theory and methods necessary to solve exercises.  The latter will be informal and driven by problems and questions raised by the students on an individual basis.

 

Compared to Financial Models in Excel, the course utilizes the the students quantitative skills and VBA to a greater extend.


The course is very exercises based, and the main workload consists of solving exercises in Excel for each of the 14 topics dealt with during the course.

The course provide lectures online as screencasts and physical lessons. The former will assist the students understanding and ability to solve the exercises. The latter will be driven by problems and questions raised by the students.
The topics/exercises dealt with in the course are as follows:

  1. Introduction to Excel (Names, array functions, matrix/vector calculation, the Excel-solver, regression analysis etc.)
  2. Monte Carlo, return properties, and portfolios.
  3. Traditional Portfolio Theory
  4. Black-Litterman
  5. Empirical tests of the CAPM
  6. Factor Models
  7. European, American, and Bermuda options in binomial grids.
  8. Black-Scholes and implied volatility
  9. Volatility predictions (Moving average, ARCH, GARCH)
  10. European and Asian option prices based on Monte Carlo
  11. Portfolio choice under parameter uncertainty
  12. Bonds, duration, and immunization strategies
  13. Term structure estimation
  14. Interest rates modelling
Description of the teaching methods
The course is very exercises based, and the main workload consists of solving exercises in Excel and VBA for each of the 14 topics dealt with during the course.

The course provide lectures online as screencasts and physical lessons. The former will assist the students understanding and ability to solve the exercises. The latter will be driven by problems and questions raised by the students.
Feedback during the teaching period
For the main part, the physical lectures will be used for interaction with the students, where individual questions and problems are discussed and solved.
Student workload
Course Introduction and explanation of the "flipped classroom" tea 2 hours
14x12 hours work outside classroom (online) with 14 worked examples 168 hours
Scheduled "flipped classroom" classes with instructor 31 hours
Exam preparation 5 hours
Further Information

Term papers are not allowed due to the special nature of the course
Expected literature

Simon Benninga, Financial Modelling

  • ISBN-10:0262027283
  • MIT Press
  • 4. edition

Notes and exercises
Last updated on 11-02-2020