The course Asset Pricing I will provide students with the main theoretical and analytical tools to study and understand the economics of financial markets and portfolio choices. After learning the different structure that financial markets can take and the key functions that these perform, learners will analyze how financial markets affect saving and investment decisions in an economy with no uncertainty.
Asset Pricing Fundamentals
Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.
Asset Pricing Fundamentals
This course is part of Finance Specialization
Instructor: Lorenzo Pandolfi
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
14 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Understand the principles underlying investors' portfolio choices and the criteria that determine the prices of financial instruments
Understand the main functions performed by the financial markets
Analyzing how the introduction of the financial markets influences the saving choices of households
Analyzing how the introduction of the financial markets influences the investment choices of businesses in an economy without uncertainty
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Assessments
20 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the Finance Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 6 modules in this course
By the end of this week, you will learn the various structures financial markets can adopt and comprehend their primary functions. You'll also be able to assess how the establishment of financial markets influences households' choices regarding saving and borrowing, along with companies' decisions regarding investment, all within an economy devoid of uncertainty.
What's included
31 videos4 readings3 assignments
This week you will learn the theoretical principles that underlie individual choices under uncertainty, that is, in the presence of risk, in light of expected utility theory. Additionally, you will examine how to characterize agents' attitudes towards risk and the primary criteria for comparing risky prospects. These criteria include first- and second-order stochastic dominance, as well as the mean-variance criterion.
What's included
21 videos4 readings3 assignments
By the end of this week you will understand how to analyze contingent claim markets and the risk neutral evaluation.
What's included
14 videos4 readings3 assignments
By the end of this week you will learn the principles underlying investors' portfolio choice and to analyze, in particular, how stock market participation depends on individual preferences and stocks' fundamentals (expected return and riskiness).
What's included
15 videos4 readings3 assignments
By the end of this week you will be able to identify the set of efficient portfolios in an economy with many risky assets and to analyze, in this economy, the portfolio choices of investors with mean-variance preferences, so as to characterize stocks' aggregate demand.
What's included
16 videos4 readings4 assignments
By the end of this week, you will learn the concept of equilibrium in financial markets. You'll apply this understanding to an economy featuring numerous risky assets and a riskless asset, all within a framework of risk-averse investors with mean-variance preferences. Additionally, you'll gain the ability to calculate equilibrium prices and expected excess returns. Furthermore, you'll recognize that these values are contingent upon the covariance risk of assets, which is quantified by asset betas.
What's included
17 videos4 readings4 assignments
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Finance
Università di Napoli Federico II
Rice University
Coursera Instructor Network
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
New to Finance? Start here.
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.