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2021/2022  KAN-COECO1050U  Asset Pricing

English Title
Asset Pricing

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as 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 50
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Advanced Economics and Finance
Course coordinator
  • Kathrin Schlafmann - Department of Finance (FI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Finance
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 18-06-2021

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • 1) link utility, expected return, risk aversion, and portfolio choice
  • 2) discuss and apply mean-variance portfolio analysis
  • 3) discuss and apply static capital asset pricing models and factor models
  • 4) discuss and apply the concepts of stochastic discount factors / state pricing and their asset pricing implications
  • 5) discuss and apply dynamic models of consumption and their asset pricing implications
  • 6) discuss and apply models of firm behavior and their asset pricing implications
Course prerequisites
This is a mandatory course for the MSc in Advanced Economics and Finance. It is assumed that students have knowledge similar to the entry requirements for this programme. The course has 42 confrontation hours and there is a high level of interaction betw. lecturer and students, and in general a high work load.

The course assumes mathematical knowledge up to advanced college level or 1st year under-graduate level. This means basic analysis, univariate calculus, linear algebra, and probability.

To sign up send a 1-page motivational letter, a 1-page CV, and a grade transcript to ily.stu@cbs.dk before the registration deadline for elective courses. You may find the registration deadlines on my.cbs.dk ( https:/​/​studentcbs.sharepoint.com/​graduate/​pages/​registration-for-electives.aspx ).

Please also remember to sign up through the online registration.
Examination
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
Asset Pricing - midterm:
Sub exam weight30%
Examination formWritten sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Assignment typeWritten assignment
Duration2 hours
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)One internal examiner
Exam periodWinter
AidsClosed book: no aids
However, at all written sit-in exams the student has access to the basic IT application package (Microsoft Office (minus Excel), digital pen and paper, 7-zip file manager, Adobe Acrobat, Texlive, VLC player, Windows Media Player), and the student is allowed to bring simple writing and drawing utensils (non-digital). PLEASE NOTE: Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the exam.
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

The learning objectives for this partial exam are learning objectives 1), 2), and 3).

Asset Pricing - final:
Sub exam weight70%
Examination formWritten sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group examIndividual exam
Assignment typeWritten assignment
Duration3 hours
Grading scale7-point grading scale
Examiner(s)One internal examiner
Exam periodWinter
AidsClosed book: no aids
However, at all written sit-in exams the student has access to the basic IT application package (Microsoft Office (minus Excel), digital pen and paper, 7-zip file manager, Adobe Acrobat, Texlive, VLC player, Windows Media Player), and the student is allowed to bring simple writing and drawing utensils (non-digital). PLEASE NOTE: Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the exam.
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

All the learning objectives are relevant for this partial exam.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Asset pricing theory is the subject of uncertain cash flow valuation in terms of risk adjustments. Empirical work typically infers these risk adjustments, imbedded in low average prices, from high average returns. For example, the equity risk premium inferred from time-series evidence on returns suggests an adjustment that is an order of magnitude too large to be rationalised by neoclassical theory. Return anomalies are also pervasive in the cross-section of assets as evidenced by a vast literature that rejects the Capital Asset Pricing Model in favour of a multiple priced risk factors. 

 

This course provides a first principles account of discrete time asset pricing theory. The course begins by discussing how to represent investor preferences. The utility function representation of preferences is then applied to a host of optimal portfolio choice problems in a single period setting. The stochastic discount factor approach to asset pricing is introduced. We then turn to dynamic models of asset pricing where we discuss classic asset pricing anomalies in the context of consumption based models. We introduce some well studied solutions to these anomalies including the introduction of Epstein-Zin preferences, ambiguity aversion and habit formation. Finally, we discuss production based models and talk about intertemporal risk.

 

The syllabus is both exciting and extensive covering:

 

•    Choice Under Uncertainty, Utility Functions, and Risk Aversion
•    Static Portfolio Choice
•    The Capital Asset Pricing Model and Multi-Factor Models
•    The Stochastic Discount Factor, State Pricing and Risk Neutral Probabilities
•    Present Value Relations

•    Consumption Based Models
•    Production Based Models
•    Intertemporal Risk

 
Description of the teaching methods
• pre-recorded lectures
• on-campus classes with quizzes and exercises
• summary / revision class
Feedback during the teaching period
The students will receive continuous feedback in the form of regular in-class quizzes with oral discussion and in an online discussion forum. In addition, the students will receive feedback related to the midterm exam and can receive more individual feedback in office hours.
Student workload
Lectures 42 hours
Preparation 139 hours
Exam 25 hours
Further Information

PhD students taking the CBS PhD course in Asset Pricing are following a large part of this course and may be present during the lecture sessions.
Expected literature

Indicative: 

•    ‘Finance Decisions and Markets: A Course in Asset Pricing’, John Campbell
•    ‘Theory of Asset Pricing’, George Pennacchi
•    ‘Asset Pricing’, John Cochrane
•    Papers and Course Notes
Last updated on 18-06-2021