MPC provides training in four main focus areas:
- Global Markets
- Capital Markets
- Investment Management
- Corporate Finance
Additionally, seminar series are offered to clients looking for training in multiple topic areas.
Investment Management
In this focus area, we examine the best practices used by asset managers to generate required investment returns. Courses include management of equity, debt and alternative investment vehicles.
Fundamentals of Portfolio Management [5 days]
This seminar provides an understanding of the principles applied to structure portfolios by asset managers. We begin the course by exploring the basic concepts of Modern Portfolio Theory, the framework on which much of today’s asset management procedures is based upon. We then develop the asset allocation process, including several examples and exercises. Next, we examine fixed income and alternative asset management approaches and strategies. Finally, the seminar concludes with a look into best practices used in portfolio measurement and return attribution. At the conclusion of the training, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the principles outlined in Modern Portfolio Theory
- Distinguish between various asset allocation strategies most often employed by asset managers
- Develop fixed income portfolio management strategies depending on risk and return objectives
- Explain the portfolio benefits of using alternative investments
- Examine risk adjusted return measures and other techniques used in portfolio attribution analysis
Fixed Income Portfolio Management [2 days]
In recent years, international bond markets have grown significantly in size and complexity as new derivative products continue to be introduced. As such, the skills needed to evaluate investment opportunities in fixed income markets have evolved, and many new techniques must be considered. Synthetic (derivative) fixed income markets often dictate pricing in cash markets, a new phenomenon requiring a vastly different set of skills needed to assess opportunities and provide timely solutions. The course is intended for professionals seeking to enhance their skills and market knowledge in today’s challenging fixed income environment. This comprehensive seminar covers the following:
- Overview of corporate debt instruments including high yield markets
- Bond prices & yields
- Duration and convexity
- Active and passive fixed income strategies including benchmarking
Equity Portfolio Management [2 days]
Over the past five years, equity investments have outperformed other asset classes. This course provides insight into the best practices employed by global equity asset managers, focusing on:
- The asset allocation process
- Fundamental investing and valuation
- Quantitative analysis and investing
- Technical analysis
- Active and passive equity “styles”
- Portfolio performance measurement and attribution
Alternative Investments [4 days]
Alternative Investments begins with an overview of the global alternative investment universe. Next, we explore the fundamentals of today’s portfolio management – Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) – that serve as the core strategy for asset allocation commitments to alternative investments. From this basis, we will spend Days 2-4 developing and assessment investment assets and strategies in real estate, commodities, private equity and hedge funds. The course concludes with the evaluation of alternative strategies, including best practices in benchmarking and attribution analysis.
Fund Selection [3 days]
This program explores the following issues in detail relevant to developing, analyzing and instituting a fund of funds portfolio, including:
- Statistical and theoretical approaches to Investment management
- Managing a portfolio of managers
- Private equity fund evaluation
- Alternative strategies
- Portfolio performance measurement incorporating Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS)