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

Status: Free
Special Competitive Studies Project
AI in National Security: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Public Sector Missions
Skills you'll gain: Public Safety and National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Training Programs, OpenAI, Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, Program Evaluation, ChatGPT, Technology Roadmaps, Policy Analysis, Governance, Scalability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
44 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
École normale supérieure
Transiciones energéticas y ecológicas en los países del Sur
Skills you'll gain: Economic Development, Socioeconomics, Financial Systems, Governance, Environment, Environmental Science, Systems Thinking, Sustainability Reporting, Environmental Policy, International Relations, Economics, Public Policies
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
69 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Algorithmic Trading
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Financial Trading, Market Data, Portfolio Management, Technical Analysis, Financial Market, Market Trend, Real Time Data, Investment Management, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Python Programming, Predictive Modeling, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Applied Machine Learning, Risk Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Goldman Sachs
Fundamentos de Finanças da Empresa com o 10,000 Women da Goldman Sachs
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statements, Income Statement, Return On Investment, Balance Sheet, Financial Analysis, Business Metrics, Financial Data, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Small Business Accounting, Cash Flows, Financial Management
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
95 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Blockchain Opportunities Beyond Crypto Assets
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, FinTech, Emerging Technologies, Cryptography, Accounting and Finance Software, Technology Solutions, Supply Chain, Technical Services
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
73 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Leadership in the Family Business
Skills you'll gain: Succession Planning, Governance, Leadership and Management, Leadership, Business Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Leadership Development, Talent Management, Organizational Structure, Business Continuity, Entrepreneurship, Conflict Management, Business Economics, Decision Making
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Strategic Product Development
Skills you'll gain: New Product Development, Product Strategy, Product Development, Innovation, Agile Product Development, Team Management, Product Roadmaps, Market Opportunities, Technology Roadmaps, Portfolio Management, Technology Strategies, Business Strategy, Business Modeling
Build toward a degree
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
The Blockchain System
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, Data Sharing, Cryptography, Transaction Processing, Supply Chain Systems, Distributed Computing, Data Integrity, FinTech, Emerging Technologies, Version Control, Data Validation, Real Estate
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru
Strategy and Finance for the lifecycle of a Social Business
Skills you'll gain: Cash Flows, Financial Market, Financial Analysis, Decision Making, Stakeholder Management, Business Valuation, Risk Analysis, Return On Investment, Finance, Strategic Decision-Making, Financial Modeling, Capital Markets, Business Risk Management, Peer Review, Corporate Finance, Capital Budgeting, Social Sciences, Equities, Risk Management, Corporate Sustainability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
30 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Program Financial Planning with ClickUp
Skills you'll gain: Program Management, Project Planning, Project Management Software, Innovation, Budget Management, Financial Planning, Process Flow Diagrams, Agile Methodology
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free
University of Rochester
Technology Commercialization, Part 1: Setting up your Idea Filtering System
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Business Priorities, Commercialization, Prioritization, New Product Development, Entrepreneurship, New Business Development, Market Opportunities, Decision Making
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
48 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad de los Andes
Mi nueva empresa: los siguientes pasos
Skills you'll gain: Team Building, New Product Development, Leadership Development, Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Performance Analysis, Innovation, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Business Modeling, Business Analysis, Business Communication, Growth Strategies
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks