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

Columbia University
Computational Methods in Pricing and Model Calibration
Skills you'll gain: Regression Analysis, Derivatives, Financial Market, Market Data, Financial Modeling, Securities (Finance), Risk Modeling, Financial Trading, Financial Systems, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Numerical Analysis, Equities, Estimation, Applied Mathematics, Python Programming, Process Optimization, Probability Distribution, Data Analysis
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
38 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investment Banking: M&A and Initial Public Offerings
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Valuation, Financial Modeling, Corporate Finance, Due Diligence, Underwriting, Negotiation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
75 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Firm Level Economics: Markets and Allocations
Skills you'll gain: Supply And Demand, Market Dynamics, Economics, Game Theory, Market Data, Market Analysis, Business Economics, Operational Efficiency, Financial Regulations, Behavioral Economics, Resource Allocation, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Competitive Analysis, Performance Metric, Governance, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Strategic Decision-Making
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Applying Data Analytics in Finance
Skills you'll gain: Financial Data, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Portfolio Management, Performance Measurement, Financial Forecasting, Trend Analysis, Financial Analysis, Analytics, Forecasting, Financial Market, Statistical Analysis, Investment Management, Risk Management, Equities, Regression Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
216 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Cape Town
Fintech Startups in Emerging Markets
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Business Modeling, Blockchain, Cryptography, Financial Regulations, FinTech, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Financial Regulation, Entrepreneurial Finance, Emerging Technologies, Financial Systems, Innovation, Business Planning, Business Strategies, Market Opportunities, Business Strategy, Mobile Banking, Banking, Machine Learning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
232 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Business
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Data Visualization, Excel Macros, Data Validation, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Cleansing, Data Modeling, Business Intelligence, Financial Modeling, Workflow Management, Data Management, Microsoft 365, Consolidation, Data Integrity, Data Entry, Business Reporting, Productivity Software
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
62K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
New York University
Overview of Advanced Methods of Reinforcement Learning in Finance
Skills you'll gain: Reinforcement Learning, Financial Trading, Financial Market, Derivatives, Finance, Market Dynamics, Financial Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Market Analysis, Credit Risk, Machine Learning, Risk Analysis, Probability Distribution
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
84 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
The University of Melbourne
The Language and Tools of Financial Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Accounting, Accounting, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Corporate Finance, Cash Flows, Business Valuation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
New York University
Reinforcement Learning in Finance
Skills you'll gain: Reinforcement Learning, Financial Trading, Financial Market, Derivatives, Markov Model, Risk Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Finance, Financial Modeling, Technical Analysis, Securities Trading, Portfolio Management, Market Dynamics, Machine Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Financial Analysis, Decision Making, Probability & Statistics
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
133 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Università di Napoli Federico II
Finance
Skills you'll gain: Market Liquidity, Financial Market, Portfolio Management, Securities Trading, Investments, Securities (Finance), Equities, Financial Trading, Capital Markets, Finance, Market Dynamics, Risk Analysis, Economics, Fixed Asset, Market Trend, Market Data, Investment Management, Derivatives, Technical Analysis, Asset Management
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to Financial Analysis - The "Why?"
Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis, Finance, Accounting, Financial Accounting, Business Valuation, Financial Statements, Financial Management, Balance Sheet, Corporate Finance, Income Statement, Entrepreneurial Finance, Risk Analysis, Cash Flows, Investment Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
270 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Università di Napoli Federico II
Asset Pricing Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Financial Market, Portfolio Management, Investments, Equities, Capital Markets, Finance, Market Dynamics, Risk Analysis, Economics, Risk Management, Probability, Decision Making
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months