Data Driven Finance I
Jones Graduate School of Business
Rice University

Instructor

Kerry Back
J. Howard Creekmore Professor of Finance and Professor of Economics
kerryback@gmail.com

Course Description

This course is an introduction to investments, including the analysis of corporate investment projects. We begin with foundational issues such as retirement planning and mortgage calculations. The next part of the course describes markets, assets, and properties of returns. We then study study how to construct efficient portfolios of assets. The final part of the course pertains to the financial analysis of corporate projects.

Our analysis tool throughout the course will be python. Python is both more transparent and quicker to write than are spreadsheets, which are conventional for a lot of the topics we will discuss. Code will be posted at the “Code Binder” link above.

Grades will be based on weekly assignments and a take-home final exam.

Honor Code

The Rice University honor code applies to all work in this course. Each student must do his or her own assignments, but it is allowed and in fact encouraged for students to seek advice from each other.

Disability Accommodations

Any student with a documented disability requiring accommodations in this course is encouraged to contact me outside of class. All discussions will remain confidential. Any adjustments or accommodations regarding assignments or the final exam must be made in advance. Students with disabilities should also contact Disability Support Services in the Allen Center.