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

University of London
How to Finance and Grow Your Startup – Without VC
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurial Finance, Business Modeling, Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Customer Analysis, Growth Strategies, Business Development, Financial Modeling, Customer Acquisition Management, New Business Development, Market Analysis, Revenue Management, Business Strategy, Cash Flows, Strategic Partnership
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
470 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The 3D Printing Revolution
Skills you'll gain: 3D Modeling, Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing and Production, Manufacturing Processes, Industrial Design, Prototyping, Entrepreneurship, Business Economics, Innovation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Sustainability, Business Strategy, Business Strategies, Global Marketing, Strategic Thinking, Strategic Planning, Organizational Strategy, Governance, Strategic Partnership, Business Ethics, Value Propositions, New Business Development, International Finance
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Workday
Workday in Action Series
Skills you'll gain: Workday (Software), Benefits Administration, Payroll Processing, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Accounting Software, Compensation Management, Human Capital, Workforce Management, Human Resources Software, Recruitment, Business Process Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
85 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure
Skills you'll gain: Anomaly Detection, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Ethics, Machine Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
801 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Copenhagen Business School
Social Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Growth Strategies, Team Oriented, Marketing Communications, Business Modeling, Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Structure, Marketing Effectiveness, Market Opportunities, Communication Strategies, New Business Development, Business Development, Strategic Partnership, Business Strategies, Community Development, Program Evaluation, Social Sciences, Business Strategy, Performance Measurement, Fundraising
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
389 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
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
874 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
New York Institute of Finance
Supply Chain Finance and Blockchain Technology
Skills you'll gain: Working Capital, Supplier Management, Supply Chain Management, Blockchain, FinTech, Supply Chain, Cash Flows, Business Metrics, Customer Analysis, Financial Market, Market Trend, Transaction Processing, Market Dynamics, Market Analysis, Risk Modeling, Stakeholder Management, Emerging Technologies, Sales Prospecting, Financial Analysis, Financial Services
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
372 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Diseño y Creación de un Emprendimiento Social
Skills you'll gain: Business Modeling, Design Thinking, Ideation, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Project Design, Business Strategy, Community Development, Social Sciences, Corporate Sustainability
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
993 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Business Analytics Capstone
Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Analytics, Business Intelligence, Analytics, Peer Review, Business Analysis, Performance Measurement, Marketing Analytics, Data Strategy, Business Solutions, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategies, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Marketing Effectiveness, Digital Advertising, Advertising
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
767 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Glasgow
MBA Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Business Administration, Leadership Studies, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Financial Data, Innovation, Corporate Sustainability, Accounting, Business Modeling, Change Management, Business Economics, Project Management, Business Strategies, Global Marketing, Digital Marketing, B2B Sales
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
198 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Evaluación de Proyectos de Inversión
Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis, Capital Budgeting, Project Finance, Return On Investment, Financial Modeling, Investment Management, Cash Flows, Feasibility Studies, Risk Analysis, Business Strategy, Strategic Decision-Making
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
490 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks