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 Trial
Copenhagen Business School
Digital Competition in Financial Services
Skills you'll gain: Technology Strategies, FinTech, Digital Transformation, Business Technologies, Financial Services, Financial Regulation, Business Strategy, Market Dynamics, Competitive Analysis, Business Modeling, Systems Thinking, Innovation, Governance
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
987 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
EIT Digital
Value Creation Through Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Closing (Sales), Business Modeling, Cold Calling, Design Thinking, Customer Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Technology Roadmaps, Innovation, Sales Process, Market Research, Technology Strategies, Market Analysis, Target Market, Marketing, Business Strategy, Forecasting, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Planning, Competitive Analysis, Business Strategies
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
717 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Starweaver
Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®)
Skills you'll gain: Process Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Business Analysis, Risk Analysis, Backlogs, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Business Process, User Requirements Documents, User Story, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Business Modeling, Business Process Improvement, Business Intelligence, Business Risk Management, Business Strategies, Financial Analysis, Performance Measurement, Business Planning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
257 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Application of AI, InsurTech, and Real Estate Technology
Skills you'll gain: FinTech, Financial Services, Emerging Technologies, Market Analysis, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Real Estate, Insurance, Artificial Intelligence, Investment Management, Asset Management, Market Trend, Machine Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
559 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
ESSEC Business School
The Fundamentals of Revenue Management: The Cornerstone of Revenue Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Revenue Management, Forecasting, Budgeting, Hospitality, Financial Forecasting, Hotel Operations, Strategic Marketing, Target Market, Market Dynamics, Consumer Behaviour, Competitive Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate & Commercial Law II: Business Forms, Financing & Governmental Regulation
Skills you'll gain: Bankruptcies, Securities (Finance), Commercial Laws, Loans, Banking, Financial Regulations, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business, Financial Regulation, Organizational Structure, Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
383 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Administración financiera y su función en la empresa
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Management, Corporate Finance, Performance Measurement, Capital Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Budgeting, Financial Modeling, Business Management, Stakeholder Management, Governance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Washington
Speaking to inform: Discussing complex ideas with clear explanations and dynamic slides
Skills you'll gain: Presentations, Public Speaking, Microsoft PowerPoint, Verbal Communication Skills, Communication, Storytelling, Constructive Feedback, Concision, Drive Engagement, Target Audience
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
428 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Analysis I: The Role of Accounting as an Information System
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Revenue Recognition, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Cash Flows, Accrual Accounting, International Financial Reporting Standards, Financial Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
693 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Planificación y gestión estratégica para Pymes
Skills you'll gain: Sales Management, Customer Relationship Management, Financial Analysis, Business Modeling, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Financial Statements, Strategic Decision-Making, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Competitive Analysis, Value Propositions
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
964 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Startup Valuation Methods
Skills you'll gain: Financial Modeling, Entrepreneurial Finance, Business Valuation, Excel Formulas, Financial Analysis, Investments, Private Equity, Securities (Finance), Entrepreneurship, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
719 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Interactive Brokers
ESG Investing: Financial Decisions in Flux
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Corporate Sustainability, Investment Management, Financial Market, Investments, Financial Data, Market Trend, Market Analysis, Business Ethics, Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Issue, Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Governance, Financial Services, Fixed Asset, Financial Analysis, Data Collection, Equities, Due Diligence
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
121 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months