International Finance

The course introduces students to the conceptual framework in which financial decision making of international firms takes place. Students will learn to assess the riskiness of a currency from a firm’s perspective and how to manage this exposure. In addition to the theoretical underpinnings of international finance we will cover the practical side of international financial decision making - the investment and funding problem. Thus, typical problems of global funding and international investment strategies as well as capital budgeting and capital structure issues will be analyzed from an international perspective. The course provides a sound understanding of international financial markets and institutions and aims particularly on international financial management.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to understand

How international financial markets function
What drives currency prices
How international debt markets operate
How to deal with international (financial) risk exposure
How to evaluate international projects

Key concepts

Main elements of foreign exchange markets
Main drivers of currency prices (spot and future)
International debt markets
International equity markets
International corporate finance and capital budgeting decisions
International costs of capital
Interest rate and foreign currency swaps

Course format

This course is offered in the part-time Master in Finance program and may be attended on a “no credit” basis by individuals not enrolled in the program. Course participants are visitors who are not responsible for assignments and do not take an exam or earn academic credits. As the number of seats in the course is limited, we recommend to register online early.

Faculty

Prof. Loriana Pelizzon, PhD

Course materials
Course materials except books will be provided in electronic form.

Language
English

Course fee*
€ 950 (fee is exempt from VAT). Goethe Business School students and alumni receive a 20% discount off the regular fee.

Certificate of participation
A GBS certificate of participation is awarded upon completion of the course.

Venue
House of Finance, Goethe University, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 3, 60323 Frankfurt

*Withdrawal and fee refund

In case the course withdrawal request is received two weeks prior to the start of classes, we will retain a withdrawal fee of EUR 50. In case the course withdrawal request is received less than two weeks prior to the start of classes, we will retain 50% of the payment made.

Loriana Pelizzon a Full Professor at the Research Center SAFE “Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe” at Goethe University Frankfurt and the Program Director of the SAFE Systemic Risk Lab. She is also a part-time Full Professor of Economics at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan. She graduated from the London Business School with a doctorate in Finance. Her research interests are on risk measurement and management, asset allocation and household portfolios, hedge funds, financial institutions, systemic risk and financial crisis.

Prof. Pelizzon has co-authored scholarly articles that have been published in the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Econometrics and Journal of Financial and Quantitative analysis among others and has been awarded by several prizes. She is a member of the EIOPA’s Insurance and Reinsurance Stakeholder Group, member of the EU independent expert advice team in the field of Banking Union and external expert for the EU commission on digital currency and blockchain technology. Loriana Pelizzon frequently advises banks, pension funds and government agencies on risk measurement and management strategies.