What are financial markets?

Financial markets are the online trading mechanisms where traders and investors work to buy and sell stocks and bonds, commodities and derivatives, foreign exchange, and more. There are stock markets, bond markets, cryptocurrency markets, foreign exchange markets, and others. Businesses go to financial markets as well to raise money for expansion, and companies join financial markets to raise visibility and reduce risks. Financial markets exist to create financial liquidity for companies to grow and for entrepreneurs to seek funding for their business ventures. Financial markets can increase investor confidence in an economy by making information available, thus reducing risk.

Why is it important to learn about financial markets?

It's important to learn about financial markets to gain insights on risk management, financial principles, and stock trading and see how the banking and securities industries operate. The financial markets represent the lifeblood of the world's economic drivers, including the major markets around the world, as well as the lesser ones in different countries. You'll need to know how financial markets operate, if you want to work in the area of finance, as a trader, investor, entrepreneur, or within a company as a financial analyst, market maker, or similar role.

What career opportunities can arise from learning about financial markets?

A few career opportunities available to someone with a good education and interest in financial markets include portfolio manager, bond trader, risk manager, investment banker, and similar roles. After proving yourself in these jobs, there may be opportunities later in venture capital, underwriting, and private equity fields. In the stock trading area, there may be jobs open to become a buy-side trader, a sell-side trader, or a hedge fund trader. Working in the financial markets ensures there are many other interesting areas to move into and explore later on.

How can taking online courses help me learn about financial markets?

Taking online courses about the financial markets can give you knowledge about interest rates, stocks, bonds, commodities, and more. You can learn how and why stocks and bonds move up and down relative to risk factors. You may also learn to analyze a stock's performance over time and learn more about risk and return opportunities. Over time, you may get insights into the operations of hedge funds, stock portfolios, and emerging markets.

What are the benefits of taking an online Financial Markets course?

Online Financial Markets courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Financial Markets skills. Choose from a wide range of Financial Markets courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Financial Markets courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Financial Markets, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Financial Markets Courses - Learn Financial Markets Online

Explore the Financial Markets Course Catalog

Interactive Brokers
ESG Investing: Financial Decisions in Flux
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Market Data, Corporate Sustainability, Investment Management, Financial Market, Investments, Financial Data, Market Trend, Market Analysis, Business Ethics, Regulatory Compliance, Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Governance, Financial Services, Finance, Fixed Asset, Financial Analysis, Environmental Resource Management, Data Collection
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
115 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Financial Technology (Fintech) Innovations
Skills you'll gain: Payment Systems, Payment Processing, FinTech, Blockchain, Mobile Banking, Credit/Debit Card Processing, Banking Services, Emerging Technologies, Investment Management, Wealth Management, Asset Management, Investments, Point of Sale, Mobile Security, Banking, Fundraising, Capital Markets, Consumer Lending, Market Dynamics, Digital Assets
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IESE Business School
Think like a CFO
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Income Statement, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Finance, Cash Flows, Operational Analysis, Financial Accounting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Balance Sheet, Financial Management, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Market, Equities, Capital Markets
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Infrastructure
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, FinTech, Interoperability, Payment Systems, Emerging Technologies, Financial Systems, Cryptography, Digital Assets, Finance, Banking, Financial Services, Governance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
McMaster University
Finance for Everyone: Decisions
Skills you'll gain: Finance, Financial Market, Peer Review, Business Mathematics, Market Dynamics, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Investments, Economics, Cash Flows, Decision Making, Writing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
859 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Copenhagen Business School
Digital Transformation in Financial Services
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Technology Strategies, Payment Systems, Financial Services, Digital Transformation, International Finance, Mobile Banking, Banking, Innovation, Blockchain, Financial Regulations, Business Technologies, Business Transformation, Financial Market, Business Architecture, Competitive Analysis, Analysis, Financial Regulation, Business Strategy, Business Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Michigan
Foundational Finance for Strategic Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Market Data, Loans, Finance, Microsoft Excel, General Finance, Corporate Finance, Securities (Finance), Mortgage Loans, Financial Analysis, Spreadsheet Software, Equities, Investments, Financial Market, Financial Data, Business Valuation, Investment Management, Financial Modeling, Capital Markets, Financial Forecasting, Financial Planning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Interactive Brokers
Forex - Trading Around the World
Skills you'll gain: Financial Trading, International Finance, Financial Market, Securities Trading, Equities, Capital Markets, Market Data, Market Dynamics, Market Liquidity, Market Trend, Risk Management, Market Analysis, Order Management
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
197 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Intuit
Financial Statement Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Analysis, Business Metrics, General Accounting, Cash Flows, Sales Tax, Payroll
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
627 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Geneva
Meeting Investors' Goals
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Investments, Business Ethics, Wealth Management, Behavioral Economics, Financial Market, Consumer Behaviour, Decision Making, Asset Management, Market Dynamics, Finance, Economics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Fundação Instituto de Administração
Data & Finance for the future
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Business Analytics, Regression Analysis, Business Valuation, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Inference, Financial Accounting, Balance Sheet, Cash Flows, Competitive Analysis, Financial Management, International Finance, Business Economics, Economics, Economic Development, Market Dynamics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Deep Dive
Skills you'll gain: Loans, Lending and Underwriting, Blockchain, General Lending, Consumer Lending, Derivatives, Credit Risk, FinTech, Financial Systems, Market Liquidity, Financial Trading, Futures Exchange, Securities (Finance), Digital Assets, Finance, Liquidation, Market Data, Transaction Processing, Asset Management, Fixed Asset
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
285 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks