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

Coursera Project Network
Python for Finance: Beta and Capital Asset Pricing Model
Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Investment Management, Exploratory Data Analysis, Return On Investment, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Financial Data, Data Visualization Software, Market Data, Finance, Equities, Data Analysis, Securities (Finance), Risk Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Python Programming, Data Manipulation
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
44 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Macquarie University
Analysing: Numeric and digital literacies
Skills you'll gain: Governance, Management Accounting, Data Storytelling, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting, Financial Modeling, Financial Data, SAS (Software), Business Analytics, Accounting, Financial Forecasting, Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Data Visualization Software, Dashboard, Analytics, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Performance Measurement
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Stanford University
Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Social Sciences, Sociology, Socioeconomics, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Behavioral Economics, Bayesian Network, Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Modeling, Markov Model, Probability Distribution, Probability, Simulations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
753 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Model Thinking
Skills you'll gain: Mathematical Modeling, Systems Thinking, Innovation, Behavioral Economics, Analysis, Strategic Decision-Making, Social Studies, Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Trend Analysis, Economics, Critical Thinking, Probability, Market Analysis, Human Learning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Yale University
Mercados financieros
Skills you'll gain: Investment Banking, Risk Management, Financial Market, Portfolio Management, Business Ethics, Investments, Finance, Behavioral Economics, Capital Markets, Business Valuation, Financial Policy, Banking, Financial Regulation, Securities (Finance), Leadership Studies, Non-Profit Accounting, Public Administration, Insurance, Economics, Mortgage Loans
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
523 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate Finance I: Measuring and Promoting Value Creation
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Working Capital, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Management, Corporate Finance, Return On Investment, Capital Budgeting, Cash Flows, Cash Flow Forecasting, Balance Sheet, Performance Measurement, Risk Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Maryland, College Park
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business
Skills you'll gain: Customer Analysis, Commercialization, Product Planning, Business Modeling, Strategic Decision-Making, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Market Opportunities, Business Planning, New Product Development, Sales Pipelines, Sales Strategy, Ideation, Customer Insights, Product Development, Team Building, Sales Presentations, Capital Markets, Finance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Management Accounting, Cost Accounting, Accounting Systems, Supply Chain, Accounting, Variance Analysis, Financial Accounting, Cost Management, Cost Estimation, Process Improvement, Decision Making, Financial Statements
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Profit Analysis using Economic Value Added
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
187 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
Advanced Competitive Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Customer Retention, Business Strategy, Growth Strategies, Compliance Management, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Partnership, Product Strategy, New Business Development, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
871 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
FinTech Foundations and Overview
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Financial Services, Banking Services, Financial Systems, Banking, Mobile Banking, Analytics, Emerging Technologies, Finance, Payment Systems, Blockchain, Consumer Lending, Business Strategies, Entrepreneurship, Big Data
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
523 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
EDHEC Business School
Global Financing Solutions (by EDHEC and Société Générale)
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Project Finance, Investment Banking, Securities (Finance), Finance, Corporate Finance, Banking, Loans, Asset Management, Corporate Sustainability, Derivatives
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
193 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months