"How the Financial Markets Really Work”
One-Day Interactive Programme
Venue : The Eliott Hotel
Speaker: Paul Meadows
Start : Breakfast as from 9:00am - 5:00pm
Members: £150 (full day)
Non-Members: £190
Includes coffee breaks and buffet lunch.
This practical and engaging one-day programme provides a clear introduction to how today’s global financial markets truly operate.
Foreign Exchange, Bonds, Equities and Derivatives are not separate silos — they are electronically interconnected parts of a single global ecosystem. This course focuses on real-world application rather than theory, cutting through jargon and demystifying the mechanics of modern markets.
No prior knowledge is required.
Session 1: The Financial Market Ecosystem & Foreign Exchange
An introduction to how global markets connect, followed by a deep dive into the world’s most liquid market — Foreign Exchange (FX).
Topics include:
The geography of global liquidity
Purchasing Power Parity & the Big Mac Index
Spot vs Forward FX
Forecasting currency movements
Is FX a zero-sum game? Can it be an asset class?
The Carry Trade explained
Crypto – currency or casino?
Case study: The world’s most traded currency pairs
Session 2: The Bond Markets – An Introduction
Understanding how debt markets function and why they matter.
Topics include:
Bond mechanics: Prices vs Yields, Par Value
Fixed, Floating & Zero Coupon structures
The bond universe: Sovereign vs Corporate
Risk-free rates & credit ratings
Asset-backed bonds, Eurobonds, Convertibles, Callable & Puttable structures
Yield curves: Normal, Flat & Inverted
Case study: Sovereign bond yields in practice
Session 3: Equity Markets & Equity-Linked Instruments
Exploring how stock markets operate and how they compare to other asset classes.
Topics include:
Equities vs Bonds – understanding the differences
The Equity Risk Premium
Corporate actions: Dividends, Buybacks & Stock Splits
Depositary Receipts for emerging market corporates
Securities lending – who participates and why?
Algorithmic trading & Dark Pools
Case study: Share turnover velocities across global exchanges
Session 4: An Introduction to Derivatives Markets
A practical overview of derivatives, their uses, and associated risks.
Topics include:
What derivatives are, who uses them and why
Exchange-Traded vs Over-the-Counter instruments
Swap Execution Facilities & Central Counterparties
Vanilla vs Exotic derivatives
Cash vs Physical settlement
Inherent risks – what can go wrong?
Wrap-up quiz
*Half-day options available upon request.