Derivatives - Their Growing Importance within Financial Markets

Introduction

Over the past 5 years, investors have strongly moved toward demanding more stable returns with lower volatility from investments. The use of derivative strategies, for risk mitigation, yield enhancement and for volatility reduction, to meet changing investor requirements, has triggered a major shift in global investment management and capital markets. This two day executive education program will cover the practical use, implications and risk/reward of derivatives usage in a range of evolving product categories.

This programme covers an explanation of foundation elements in the derivative categories of Options, Futures/
Forwards and SWAPS and builds a fuller understanding of how these instruments are used in a range of complex
products for practical results.

Product development within the field of derivatives and complex financial instruments is extensive and the programme seeks to review for how legislative changes and opportunities for product innovation will impact
wealth management in the coming years.

This programme will appeal to candidates in roles directly involved in the design and trading of derivatives, and also
those who engage in activities that require a good working knowledge of the characteristics of derivative products.

Such roles include:

• Fund Valuation teams
• Fund Administrators
• Treasury Staff in banks, financial institutions and non-financial corporations
• Sales and Marketing personnel engaged in the area of complex financial Instruments
• Institutional Investors
• Fund Managers
• Compliance Officers
• Accountants
• Risk Managers
• Regulator

Topics Overview

This Master Class will address topics such as:

• New products for both profit and protection;
• The changing role of derivatives post the financial crisis;
• Structured Products, the use of derivatives in Alternative Investments strategies;
• Using derivatives for risk control in company balance sheet exposures;
• Using derivatives for risk control in equity and bond portfolio management;
• New legislation on derivative usage;
• UCIT III and UCIT IV – opportunities for product innovation.

Master Class Leader - Kevin McConnell

Kevin, a Chartered Financial Analyst, is Head of Research at Bloxham Stockbrokers since 2001. He is a member of the CFA Institute in Ireland and is a Registered Stockbroker with the Irish Stock Exchange. Kevin specialises in covering the Banking sector and overall investment strategy for Bloxham, advising institutional investors and the in-house funds on investment decision making.

Over the past 10 years, Kevin has been heavily involved in a corporate advisory role to Irish public listed companies,
specialising in identifying strategies for maximising shareholder value. He was voted “Best Equity Strategist in 2009” in the annual Institutional Stockbroking Survey conducted by Finance magazine and his work is widely covered in the domestic and international media.

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