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ICMA Financial Markets Foundation Course

London: 20-22 September 2010

Luxembourg: 27-29 September 2010

Course Overview

The Financial Markets Foundation Course (FMFC) is a first level (introductory) qualification intended for anyone entering into a career in the financial markets. It does not assume any prior study or work experience other than a general knowledge of mathematics such as basic algebra and statistics. For those without that quantitative background, pre-course reading with a further bibliography is provided to allow candidates to acquire that knowledge directly.

The training program is intended to provide ‘breadth of knowledge’ to make it relevant to people pursuing careers in the front office, middle office and operations areas. Although not a formal pre-requisite for any other ICMA training course, it would provide useful background study for those taking the following ICMA intermediate courses, in particular:

The Certificate places an even emphasis on introducing and explaining the key concepts of each subject area and then developing practical knowledge and skills of each area. This reflects the fact that it is both introductory, requiring the introduction and explanation of key concepts, but also intended for market practitioners requiring applied thinking.

Target Audience

The FMFC is intended to be relevant to a wide range of job functions and areas; anyone who would benefit from an understanding of markets, participants and products – and how they all come together.

Candidates will come from organisations involved in both the sell-side and buy-side of the industry plus insurance, accounting, IT firms supporting the industry and the financial press.

The course is open to ICMA Members and non-members.

Course Content and Format

The FMFC syllabus is organised around two broad subject areas with a final review session to consolidate the learning ahead of the exam:

I. Overview of Financial Markets and Participants: Explore the nature of savings and flow of funds in an economy and the principle participants and their motivations.

II. The Main Financial Securities: the focus here is on the understanding the principle asset classes and basic valuation models.

FMFC Syllabus

The FMFC certificate is a two and one half day taught course with pre-course reading for those who wish to review algebra and statistics. It is delivered in ten sessions with two additional 60 minute review sessions at the end of days one and two. On the afternoon of the third day candidates sit the exam, which is comprised of 50 multiple choice questions.

Programme Director and Speaker

John D. Evans CFA: is a full-time member of the academic staff of the ICMA Centre, University of Reading. He is the Programme Director for the Centre's MSc Investment Management and is also Programme Director for the ICMA IFID certificate programme. Prior to academia, John spent twenty years in the fixed income market on Toronto, New York and London in areas of research, origination and sales and trading.

Details of the future seminars

Venue: ICE Education, London
20-22 September 2010
London, United Kingdom

Registration deadline: 13 September 2010
Please e-mail j.evans@icmacentre.ac.uk or call + 44 118 378 6498

This is an ICMA Executive Education course hosted by ICE Education. Based at ICE Education London offices at Milton Gate, 60 Chiswell Street. IntercontinentalExchange® (NYSE: ICE), is a leading operator of regulated global futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets. ICE's diverse markets offer contracts based on crude oil and refined products, natural gas, power and emissions, agricultural commodities including canola, cocoa, coffee, cotton, orange juice and sugar, as well as credit derivatives, foreign exchange and Russell Index futures and options.

IFBL Venue: IFBL Luxembourg, Luxembourg
September 27-29, 2010
Luxembourg

Registration deadline: 20 September 2010

Click here to register for the Luxembourg course. This is a joint ICMA / IFBL – ‘Institut De Formation Bancaire Luxembourg’ run course. Based at the Chamber of Commerce, IFBL is Luxembourg’s leading financial training institute offering a broad range of training courses, qualifications, conferences and e-learning programmes for financial institutions.

ACI Venue: ACI FOREX DANMARK Copenhagen
Date: TBC
Copenhagen

Please e-mail j.evans@icmacentre.ac.uk or call + 44 118 378 6498. This is a joint ICMA / ACI FOREX DANMARK run course. Based in Copenhagen, ACI FOREX DANMARK, the financial markets association aims to educate and heighten the professional and ethical level amongst members and elevate the effectiveness of currency markets.

Fees

London Course
The cost of the London FMFC is £1,500.00 for both ICMA & ICE Members and £1,950.00 for non-members with the following discount scale being offered:
2-4 candidates – 5% discount each*
5+ candidates – 10% discount each*
*Please note that discounts are applied by way of a refund to the organisation when registration has closed and the final number of candidates from the firm has been determined

Luxembourg Course
The cost of the Luxembourg FMFC is EUR 1,500.00 for both ICMA and IFBL Members and EUR 1,950.00 for non-members. The same scaled discounts as above apply.

Copenhagen Course
The cost of the Copenhagen FMFC is DKK 9,500.00 for both ICMA and ACI FOREX DANMARK Members and DKK 12,500.00 for non-members. Please note this is a new collaboration between ICMA and ACI FOREX DANMARK. Accommodation is included in the price as the Copenhagen course is a classroom based, residential course.

Please note that for anyone requiring accommodation to take the course either in Luxembourg or in London, will be required to arrange this on their own; it is a class-based but non-residential certificate programme.

Should you have any queries about the seminar or wish to register please contact:

John D. Evans
FMFC Program Director
+44 (0)118 378 6498

Further Information and Course Registration

To register for the London course please use our online registration system.

Should you have any queries about the seminar or your registration please contact:

FMFC Certificate Holders

The names of the successful candidates from previous examinations are included in our list of certificate holders.

"The course was extremely relevant and helped provide a beneficial overview of the functions connected to my compliance role"
Sarah Bennett, Compliance Officer, Morgan Stanley

"Great overview of financial markets for someone from a non-banking environment. Very practical knowledge gained, I recommend it!"
Ira Focke, Life-insurance project manager, AXA Group

"Absolutely useful in gaining a better understanding of the financial markets and a very good teacher too!"
Dario Villa, Legal & Compliance Department, Credit Suisse

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