Welcome to the South African
Institute of Financial Markets

Financial Instruments

An intensive workshop offering participants the opportunity to get to grips with the different instruments traded on the JSE and over-the-counter markets in South Africa. This workshop will explain the nature of the various instruments, their application and uses as well as the risk involved in trading in these instruments. The jargon used in the markets will be demystified.

Financial Analysis and Forecasting (NEW)

This workshop familiarizes participants with the principles of financial reporting and analysis enshrined in the financial statements with a view to enabling them to make informed decisions using financial statements. The workshop covers tools and techniques of financial analysis and how financial ratios can be incorporated in predictive models of forecasting company failure.

Basic Financial Market Calculations

This one-day workshop is aimed at providing insight into the basic calculations for people working in financial markets. A step-by-step approach will be used to explain the use of the HP10b financial calculator. Delegates will have the option to either bring their own, or purchase a financial calculator from SAIFM. Foundational to the program is developing the ability to calculate the value of a single cash flow, multiple cash flows and the application of these calculations for pricing and valuing financial instruments. The ability to determine a rate of return on an investment and convert a nominal interest rate to an effective yield will also be clearly explained. Many practical examples will be conducted to cement concepts.

Derivatives Markets Explained

An intensive workshop offering delegates the opportunity to develop their skills in differentiating between the different classes of derivatives.

The workshop will identify the different participants and their role in the derivative markets. Both the over-the-counter and exchange-traded markets will be examined.

A clear understanding will be given of derivative contracts’ characteristics, pricing, application, settlement and risks.

Investment Portfolios and Unit Trusts

A workshop offering delegates the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in differentiating among the almost countless number of unit trusts available. The workshop will identify the different asset types contained in unit trusts, their risks, returns and valuations; and the combinations in which they are used in collective investments. The never ending debate of active versus passive management of investments in unit trusts will also be covered. A prominent feature of the discussion includes the performance of different types of unit trust during various phases of the business cycle. This will be discussed with the objective of enabling investors to structure a portfolio of unit trusts giving a certain preferred risk and return profile against the backdrop of a constantly changing economic environment. Technical issues will be covered in a simple and easy-to-follow manner.

Banks and Bank Risks (NEW)

The workshop will explain the role of banks in the economy and the functions performed by them as well as describe the main risks that banks face namely capital risk, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and strategic/business risk. The workshop will analyse how these risks are incurred and best practice ways of managing them.

Risks Controls for Financial Markets (NEW)

The objectives of the workshop are to highlight best practice principles and recommended practices for effective controls and provide detailed and practical guidance for the implementation of these principles and practices across the most important risk types.

From Basel I to Basel III (NEW)

The objective of this workshop is to outline the development of the Basel international capital standards since 1988. It explains how each generation of standards, from Basel I to Basel III, has changed to reflect changes in the financial system, address deficiencies in previous standards and respond to regulatory arbitrage i.e., banks’ efforts to circumvent the intended constraints placed upon them.

Quantitative Tools of Risk Management (NEW)

There are a number of quantitative concepts and tools that underpin various risk measurement techniques and capital management calculations.

The objectives of the workshop are to outline these concepts and tools and provide detailed and practical guidance for their use in capital management and option pricing and risk measurement.

Settlement in a Strate Environment

An informative one-day workshop giving one insight into the mechanics of South Africa’s Central Securities Depository. Candidates will gain an understanding of the T+3 On and Off-market processes adopted in the Strate Equities environment.

Financial Market Operations (NEW)

A well-trained and efficiently organised financial market operations department is essential to complete every transaction. The operations department provides a vital service to the front office by ensuring that all funds flow in a timely and correct manner and that all the necessary documentation is completed.

The Regulation of Financial Markets (NEW)

This one-day workshop will assist participants to practically manage regulatory changes, particularly those introduced and proposed after the 2007/08 financial-crisis. The workshop provides an introduction to the principal elements of the regulatory environment for South African financial markets. It outlines the respective objectives and roles of existing and proposed regulators, their supervisory approaches, the key concepts of authorisation, supervision and enforcement and the powers available to the regulators in the event that a firm, or an individual, breaches regulatory requirements. In addition major financial reforms such as those aimed at bringing all derivatives trading under the scrutiny of public authorities will be outlined.

Payment Systems and other Financial Market Infrastructures

FMIs include systemically-important payment systems, central securities depositories (CSDs), securities settlement systems, central counterparties (CCPs) and trade repositories. The objective of the workshop is to introduce the key features, regulation and oversight of financial market infrastructures and describe the main elements of payment and securities settlement processes and systems.

An Introduction to Securitisation and Covered Bonds (NEW)

The objective of the workshop is to describe what securitisation and covered bonds are and how they work. It will also indicate how they are regulated and treated by regulators with specific reference to the Basel III capital framework.

Raising Investment Capital

This is an interactive workshop where participants will be acquainted with the capital raising landscape in order to become more effective at identifying sources of money and gaining access to institutional capital.

The workshop will cover methodologies and practical strategies to fund investable projects and businesses and will equip participants with the tools, skills and confidence to raise investment capital successfully.

Debt Instrument Solutions

The objective of this session is to help delegates gain an understanding of the new Debt Instruments Solution (DIS) system.