Course description
The ICMA Fixed Income Certificate (FIC) has been an essential qualification for market professionals for 50 years. With its emphasis on developing practical skills for trading, investment and risk management, the training will build upon your existing knowledge of the fixed income markets to give you the skills to compete in the global marketplace.
This is a demanding qualification aimed at developing a broad and in-depth knowledge of the key fixed income instruments and markets. Throughout the training there are many exercises which test and assess candidates’ knowledge, examining scenarios which will equip participants with practical skills in their day-to-day business activity.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
The programme is primarily intended for those working in client or market facing positions in fixed income within a bank or fund management company, although it has become increasingly popular with middle office and operations managers who require greater product and market knowledge. Other candidate profiles include those working for financial IT service companies, exchanges and central securities depositories.
As an intermediate level qualification, the FIC requires that candidates should already have some familiarity with the topics below:
- Fundamental Numerical Skills
- Overview of Financial Markets and Participants
- The Main Fixed Income Securities
Outcome / Qualification etc.
By completing the course you will be able to:
- Develop a broad knowledge of fixed income markets and credit products
- Understand at a deeper level the relationship between cash bond and derivatives markets
- Be proficient in the basic maths of the fixed income and derivatives market
- Be able to develop and apply rates trading and hedging techniques
- Understand structured securities, CDS and Interest Rate Derivatives and their uses
- Have an up to date working knowledge of current best market practice and regulatory considerations for fixed income and derivative markets
- Be part of a network of fixed income professionals around the world
Training Course Content
The ICMA Fixed Income Certificate (FIC) is a professional qualification that places strong emphasis on practical skills, based on a thorough understanding of valuation principles and the relationships between the cash and derivatives markets. The current programme covers the following subjects:
Trading the Yield Curve with Cash Market Securities
- Fixed income securities & interest rates
- Monetary policy & the yield curve
- Interest rate risk
- Trading views on the yield curve with cash instruments
- Financial fixed income trades
- Bonds with embedded options
- Inflation-indexed bonds
- Sovereign credit risk & sovereign ratings
- Fixed income market practice & regulation
Interest Rate Derivatives
- Short-term interest rate (STIR) futures
- Bond futures
- Interest rate swaps & swap futures
- Interest rate options
- Inflation derivatives
- Counterparty risk in derivatives
- Derivative market practice & regulation
Credit Trading
- Credit risk & credit spreads
- Default probability & expected recovery
- Credit analysis & credit ratings
- Securitisation
- Credit default swaps & credit default swaptions
- Credit trading & hedging with single name CDS
- Credit trading with index CDS
- Credit trading with CDS index tranches
- CDS pricing & revaluation
Course delivery details
Self-Paced Online Course
Delegates who sign up to our online courses will have access for 6 months to enable them to take advantage of the additional online resources, discussion boards and other functions of our new digital learning platform.
Online courses start at the beginning of each month – please note that payment must be received BEFORE access to these courses are provided.
Livestreamed Course
Our livestreamed courses are delivered via video conferencing accessed on our digital learning platform, using the most effective pedagogical approaches and incorporating interactive functions like virtual breakout rooms.
The FIC livestreamed sessions are delivered in 10 webinars spread over the course of four weeks. You will be given access to the course materials a week before the live sessions begin, and you will have access to those for a total of six months. During these six months you will have the option to keep working through the course materials at your own pace. Please note to ensure you book and take the exam within these six months.
Classroom Course
Our classroom courses are delivered in-person at a confirmed location.
The FIC classroom sessions will be delivered in Amsterdam over 5 full days of training. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided during the course but please note these courses are not catered. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know when you complete the registration form.
Delegates will be given access to our learning management system and the course materials before the live sessions, and will have access to those for a total of six months. During these six months you will have the option to keep working through the course materials at your own pace. Please note to ensure you book and take the exam within these six months.
Expenses
Livestreamed course fees
- ICMA Members: EUR 3,950 + VAT (if applicable)
- Non Members: EUR 4,950 + VAT (if applicable)
Classroom course fees*
- ICMA Members: EUR 4,850 + VAT (if applicable)
- Non Members: EUR 6,200 + VAT (if applicable)
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