COURSE NUMBER:  MBA 232.1

COURSE TITLE:  Financial Institutions and Markets

UNITS OF CREDIT:  3

INSTRUCTOR:  Sam Olesky

E-MAIL ADDRESS:  olesky@haas.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE: http://bspace.berkeley.edu

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30 PM

PREREQUISITE(S): MBA 203

CLASS FORMAT: Lectures, discussion, cases, and outside speakers.

REQUIRED READINGS Textbook: Financial Markets and Institutions, Sixth Edition, Frederic S. Mishkin & Stanley G. Eakins, 2009, Pearson Prentice Hall.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Class participation 35%, midterm exam 30%, final exam 35%.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

The course will cover the following institutions: commercial banks, investment banks, securities firms, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, insurance companies, and pension funds.

The course will cover the following markets: money markets, bond markets, mortgage markets, foreign exchange markets, stock markets, and derivative markets.

Relevant securities and instruments will also be covered.

The study of institutions will be based on their current business compositions and operational, profit, and regulatory/legal concerns. We will study markets through their functions and current transformations.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

Sam Olesky is the Managing Member of Olesky Capital Management, LLC an independent investment advisory firm that conducts principal investing and trading, manages a hedge fund, and separately managed accounts for trusts, partnerships, individuals, endowments, and foundations. Prior to founding the Olesky Capital in 1998, Mr. Olesky was employed with TD Waterhouse, Inc. where he was First Vice President over a large group of areas, including Client Services, Electronic Brokerage, Banking Services, Corporate Actions, Retirement Plans and Regulatory Response and Quality Assurance.  Mr. Olesky joined TD Waterhouse in 1989.